Virtual reality has been undergoing something of a renaissance of late, particularly given the recent focus on the concept of persistent, interconnected virtual worlds. We've already seen some of the spectacular possibilities it represents in titles like Half Life: Alyx and No Man's Sky.
Imagine witnessing the might of Subnautica's leviathans first hand, with no screen between yourself and the titans of the depths. Or the overwhelming paranoia of exploring an abandoned asylum in Phasmophobia, wondering what horrors await you around each corner. Or maybe you're more about losing yourself in the massive, immersive world of Zenith: The Lost City.
Modern titles such as Horizon: Forbidden West and Dying Light 2 are capable of stunning levels of detail and realism, and virtual reality can take that realism to an entirely new level. It's hardly news, however, that in order to support this level of realism, you need to have a seriously beefy rig. With the right hardware, virtual reality can go from immersive to incredible.
As the technology continues to develop, you will need to upgrade in order to get the most from it — even now, hardware that's more than a few years old may have trouble running newer VR titles, leading to dropped frames and higher latency.
Virtual experiences will only grow more immersive, evolving beyond simple head tracking and spatial voice. Games will only grow more realistic, with better visuals and more advanced AI. We're already seeing the development of technology that can map non-verbal communication such as a raised eyebrow or a slight frown onto the face of a 3D avatar, and the release of platforms like Unreal Engine 5.
Modern development frameworks, advanced game engines, photorealistic
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