Apple Vision Pro Is One of the Worst Headsets for Gaming
Apple really wanted the Apple Vision Pro to lead the VR market when it launched earlier this year, but after months of returns and rumors of delays in subsequent developments , it’s clear that demand isn’t quite meeting expectations. One potential cause of the problem? Well, the price is $3500. But other than that? The Vision Pro has yet to prove itself as a gaming device.
VR headsets and games go hand in hand
Since the launch of the very first Oculus Rift in 2016, modern consumer virtual reality technology has always been closely intertwined with gaming. One of the best-known VR headsets currently carries the PlayStation brand , and despite Meta’s attempts to promote the Quest family of devices as useful for everything from work to fitness , the company’s headsets still feature console-style controllers with motion tracking. and many exclusive big-budget games .
This support helps make the headset more attractive and create the feeling of having killer apps that give you a reason to wear it outside of air travel or other niche situations. But the Vision Pro is by design much less capable of supporting games. This is because Apple decided not to ship it with controllers.
There are two sides to this. First, Apple’s hand tracking is pretty good, so casually scrolling through the Vision Pro’s interface isn’t too different from using an iPad. It also makes the Vision Pro perhaps a little more accessible to non-gamers, again fitting its brand as less of a gaming device and more of, in Apple’s words, a “spatial computer.” But unfortunately, the lack of controllers also means that, in the odd situation where you want to play, your options are seriously limited. Despite Apple’s hand tracking being accurate, it still lags far behind sharp actions, and the lack of dedicated buttons means developers are limited in how they can use the device.
It’s a shame, because the Vision Pro, with its beautiful screens, easy-to-navigate interface, and M2 chip, definitely has the hardware to support more features than it actually has. This could be the best default gaming headset if it just supported motion controllers. Unfortunately, we were left with a much easier experience, sacrificed on the altar of fashion.
However, let’s say you’re not interested in big-budget VR games and just want to play some VR or AR while you’re at it. Is Apple Vision Pro suitable for casual gaming? Well, yes, but with big stars.
Gears & Goo on Apple Vision Pro
I recently got to check out an early build of Gears & Goo , the upcoming Apple Vision Pro exclusive game from veteran VR and AR developers Solution Games. The game is a cross between a real-time strategy game and a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) where you lead troops to destroy an enemy stronghold. It’s a smart choice for the Vision Pro, and it’s probably as impressive as a game could get on a headset (previous games tended to be easier than this one ), but still, I felt like the developers were stretching themselves. overcoming device limitations. If this is Apple’s best, that’s a red flag.
First of all, it’s good. The graphics here are truly breathtaking and nothing seems blurry or difficult to understand. The AR effect sells particularly well here: the game’s tiny cartoon critters actually feel like they’re in the same space as you. The controls were also surprisingly intuitive for a hands-only game, with your hands essentially replacing the mouse as you command your troops. There’s a lot of charm to be found here, playing in the game’s goofy setting as rival alien soda companies engage in a literal corporate war.
But once the shine of the first impression wears off, the feeling of a parlor trick begins to emerge. Although the game is a real-time strategy game where you create troops and choose how to build your home base, it is more limited than most games in the genre. You quickly realize that you have no direct control over your troops: once they are deployed, the only decision you can make with them is which “lane” of the battlefield you want them to attack – this is where the MOBA elements come in come in. Likewise, you can only build in a very small area right in front of you.
There are elements on the map that you can interact with, such as bombs that you can click on to blow up enemies passing by, but while the game tries to make you feel like a commander, the truth is that you’re basically ordering the type of army you want , cross off the menu and watch as it does all the work for you.
This isn’t inherently bad, and it works for the small mobile game style levels presented to you. But it’s also clear that the limited gameplay is due to the Vision Pro’s lack of controllers.
You’ll likely only be able to build your base in a very small area in front of you because it’s easier on the device. The same goes for the inability to directly give orders to troops. And the genre choices are almost certainly made so that players can play while seated, without having to use room-scale tracking. Again, it’s a smart choice, but not exactly an ambitious one.
Essentially, there’s nothing being done here that can’t be replicated outside of virtual reality, meaning it’s essentially an iPad game with a 3D coat of paint. In fact, the game will likely be better on this platform, as more precise controls will likely mean fewer restrictions in gameplay.
I only managed to play a few levels, so maybe things will get more difficult later, but this isn’t really the best first impression of what Vision Pro might deliver with its exclusives in the future, and it’s definitely not the case. This doesn’t bode well for continued support for third-party VR games. It should be a fun diversion for people who already own the headset, but unlike meta-exclusive games like Batman: Arkham Shadow , it’s unlikely to convince anyone who doesn’t already have the Vision Pro to rush out and buy it. Even if you don’t like more “hardcore” games, there’s not much unique here at the moment. Not only are you happy with an iPad, but you’re probably better off with it.
What about more traditional games?
So, VR gaming on the Apple Vision Pro may seem like a novelty at the moment, but what about using the headset as a monitor for 2D gaming? It worked better in my demo where I experienced the console game Lies of P on the Vision Pro, but I have two issues that prevent me from recommending it.
Again, let’s start with the positives. Back in the day, I had to play this game, a more traditional hack-and-slash RPG similar to Dark Souls , using the Vision Pro as an external monitor for the MacBook running the game. Connection was smooth, gameplay was responsive, and the beta ultrawide mode I was able to test allowed me to replicate a type of monitor that most people don’t have in real life.
Still, I’m left with the feeling that Apple is doing the bare minimum here. Case in point: If the Apple Vision Pro is supposed to be a “spatial computer”, why do I need a MacBook to stream a game? Released for Mac last year just a few months after the M2 hit the market, Lies of P is quite capable of delivering high performance on the M2 chip, so it makes sense to expect the Vision Pro to work with it natively. Instead, you’ll need an external computer connecting to it wirelessly, and in a situation like flying, that just adds volume and potential points of failure.
Meanwhile, I’m wondering why you’d want to use the Vision Pro to game anywhere other than on a flight or other situation where you can’t access a TV or large monitor. That’s because while the large VR display is certainly nice, I’m not sure wearing the Vision Pro for an entire gaming session is feasible.
This headset is premium, which means it has an all-metal design that is heavy on your face. I only wore the Vision Pro for about 45 minutes and was glad to take it off by the end. Meanwhile, I can usually work with the plastic construction of my Meta Quest 3 for several hours before I get tired. A cheaper Apple Vision product can’t come soon enough, and it’s not just about price.
So, while Apple Vision Pro works for non-VR games, I can’t see myself using it for them except in situations where I have few other options. And even then the experience could have been better.
Should gamers buy the Apple Vision Pro?
The power of the Apple Vision Pro should make it a contender for the title of best gaming headset, but the baffling decision to ditch controllers keeps it from holding that status. It’s one of the worst headsets for gaming right now, and gaming still takes up the majority of the overall headset market , which puts the Vision Pro in an awkward position overall.
I still think we’ll probably see Vision Pro controllers released by Apple in the future as it starts to become more attuned to the reality that VR headsets are specialty devices with a special appeal that can’t be made to appeal to a wider audience, and, therefore, it cannot be marketed with the same minimalist and luxurious approach as the MacBook. But until that time comes, Apple’s Vision Pro will remain a very powerful piece of hardware without any real-world experience that pushes it to its limits. For now, you can still get a better gaming experience for a lot less money.