The big trend in Video Games is Virtual Reality. All of the big tech giants are betting on VR being the next big thing. With Virtual Reality Headsets, users escape into different worlds and environments. While this is great for gaming, it can also transform home-based workouts.
The fact is people who work out at home find it tough to stay motivated. VR make fitness fun. It’s the gamification of workouts to keep them challenging and interesting—all from the comfort of your living room. With many people making New Year’s fitness resolutions, let’s explore new workouts that are engaging and fun with VR fitness.
Getting a great workout in virtual reality
At first glance, VR and fitness may not seem like a natural match. However, it’s slowly becoming a match made in gaming heaven. Over the past couple of years, VR headsets have become lighter, more user-friendly, and even wireless. The two big players in this space are Meta and PlayStation VR. We will discuss their offerings in more detail below. However, there are also Smartphone Compatible VR headsets. These use your smartphone as a screen and don’t require a gaming console to operate.
Many fitness-oriented people may be new to the world of Virtual Reality. This blog does a great job getting people started with VR tech. Now let’s discuss the future of VR fitness with the two big platforms.
Meta Oculus Quest 2 for home-based workouts
Meta has gone all-in with VR. The Meta Quest 2 is their latest VR Headset with the Quest 3 slated to be released in February 2023. Their big VR fitness app is called Supernatural. Users explore new worlds, unlock challenges, and hit fitness milestones. There are four workout options: Box, Flow, Meditate and Recover. Each workout features expert coaches who you see face-to-face in virtual reality. These coaches keep you motivated and provide tips and tricks as you progress.
Box is a VR boxing workout that develops movement and agility while burning calories. Users learn how to jab, cross, weave, and punch. Learn the sweet science from the comfort of your living room in VR. Flow is a full-body cardio workout. Users find their inner rhythm as they strike targets to the beat of choreographed sequences.
VR can also help people relax and recover post-workout. Meditate promotes tuning into the present. Guided and non-guided meditations quiet distractions, allowing users to focus, breathe, and reconnect. Finally, Recover improves flexibility, mobility, and recovery time with coach-led stretching sessions. This is a good workout option to warm up, cool down or for a rest/recovery day.
Listen to your favourite music with VR Fitness apps
Everyone listens to music during workouts. The same happens in VR. The difference is users get access to a large music selection with world-class choreographers mapping each session. Learn dance moves to your favourite songs in VR. Enjoy VR workouts to your favourite music and work on your dance moves. With VR, fitness becomes a fun immersive experience that gets you up and moving to music.
PSVR2: Fitness is coming to the PS5
Sony is slated to release the new Playstation VR2 for the PlayStation 5 console in February. This blog tells you everything you need to know about the PlayStation VR2 launch details and pre-order information. In a nutshell, this new headset offers VR in 4K HDR with a 110-degree field of view with an OLED display. It features inside-out tracking with integrated cameras in the VR headset. A new Sense Technology combines eye tracking, headset feedback and 3D Audio. The PSVR2 also includes a built-in motor that gives physical feedback.
All of these specs provide a huge opportunity for VR fitness to go mainstream in 2023. The PSVR2 is launching with over 20 games. Not all of these games have been announced, but expect to see new PS5 VR fitness games. As console gaming continues in popularity, VR fitness games can get people off the couch and moving.
Fitness games with other consoles
You don’t need a VR headset to play fitness games. All the big gaming consoles—Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch—all have non-VR fitness games. These typically use controllers, cameras, and even smartphones to track users’ movements. These games range from sports to dance—all with the intent of getting people moving. Furthermore, they are fun to play with others. It’s an engaging way to work out with interactive elements, progress tracking, and challenges. Nothing is better than a little fun competition with friends and family.
Set your workout goals for 2023 with VR fitness
Video Games are here to stay. People love to game and it spans all age demographics. At the same time, VR is posed to be the next big thing in tech. To go mainstream, it has to offer additional benefits outside of gaming. VR fitness may be it. If people can game in VR and lose weight—they have a winner. Meta and PlayStation see this opportunity. They are betting big on VR fitness so expect to see more games released in 2023.
People are choosing to work out from home. At the same time, it can be hard to stay motivated, especially when you’re working out by yourself. VR fitness could be the missing piece for home-based fitness. It’s the best of both worlds—having fun playing games while getting active. Personally, I think the driving force of VR fitness will be the gamification of fitness. By conquering levels, challenges and other milestones, we progressively get fitter. Our fitness data and progress get quantified and displayed. We see our personal records and strive to beat them. To me, that’s the winning formula.
Is VR fitness right for you? Like most things, it depends. If you love gaming and you want to get more active, absolutely. Anything that gets you off the couch and moving is worth doing. If you’re looking to spice up your home workouts—and game at the same time, give Virtual Reality a try and see if VR fitness is right for you.
