The Human Within Review: Exploring the Frontier of Interactive VR Storytelling - PLUS: Deckard, Viverse, PSVR2, and BONO!
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PlayStation VR 2 just received a substantial $150 price cut, bringing the headset down to $399 - a revealing move that speaks volumes about its sluggish sales. Despite quality hardware and impressive OLED displays, Sony's VR platform has struggled against Meta's dominance, with no exclusive titles released in nearly a year. The situation draws uncomfortable parallels to Sony's ill-fated PS Vita, another promising device abandoned after underwhelming market performance.
Meanwhile, excitement builds around Valve's long-rumored Deckard headset. Leaked information suggests a late 2025 launch at approximately $1,200, featuring eye-tracking technology and potentially 4K micro-OLED displays. Most intriguing is the possibility that Deckard could function as a "Steam Deck for your face," allowing users to play their entire Steam library in VR - not just dedicated VR games. Newly leaked controller designs featuring a d-pad further support this theory, potentially revolutionizing how we think about VR gaming.
On the content front, Apple's immersive video ecosystem continues expanding with Bono's upcoming feature-length documentary and Prima, a new app that claims to deliver cleaner video than Apple's own immersive format. We follow up the second half of the show with our deep-dive review of "The Human Within," a $20 interactive VR film that blends live action, 360 video, and Unity environments into a cohesive 90-minute cyberpunk thriller with multiple branching pathways. Check out our 3D Gameplay embedded in the review! It's Stereoscope-ception!
The VR landscape continues evolving rapidly, with each platform fighting for its place in this emerging medium. Whether you're a hardware enthusiast tracking the next breakthrough device or a content creator navigating these new storytelling possibilities, join us as we explore what's working, what's not, and what might define the future of virtual reality.
Want more specialized content? Check out our new companion show Z-Axis, featuring in-depth reviews with 3D gameplay footage that showcases VR experiences in their native format.
Chapters
1. PlayStation VR 2 Price Drop (00:00:00)
2. Valve Deckard Headset Leaks (00:06:53)
3. Bono's Immersive Documentary (00:17:11)
4. HTC's Viverse WebXR Platform (00:23:32)
5. Prima App for Apple Vision Pro (00:28:49)
6. The Human Within VR Film Review (00:36:12)
7. Z-Axis Show Announcement (00:56:00)
12 episodes