Virtuix’s VR Treadmill Set for September Launch

Major news hit the scene for VR motion gadgets today. Just an hour after Roto VR unveiled its new $799 spinning game chair, Virtuix dropped the anticipated release date for their Omni One VR treadmill: September 10th. It feels like we’ve been waiting forever, since this $2,595 setup (not including shipping) has been over a decade in the making.

The previous story we ran about it even had the headline, “A decade later, this VR treadmill is finally ready to ship.” That was back on April 3 last year. It’s interesting how technology sometimes advances at lightning speed, while at other times it’s like watching paint dry, especially in the hardware startup world.

Over these years, Virtuix has managed to attract a considerable amount of interest. Locomotion in VR is still a tough nut to crack. Trying to fool your brain into thinking you’re moving while actually standing or sitting still isn’t ideal and can lead to motion sickness.

Virtuix’s journey has paralleled a surge in interest around mixed reality, thanks to big names like Oculus/Meta, HTC, and now, Apple. The startup has successfully pulled in a hefty $40 million through a combination of venture capital and individual investments. The Omni One gained some fantastic exposure, too, by featuring as the model for a similar setup in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of “Ready Player One.”

The design of the Omni One is elegantly simple. Instead of a traditional mechanical treadmill, the system lets users slip on special shoes and simulate walking by gliding in place on a concave surface.

CEO Jan Goetgeluk expressed the company’s excitement in a statement: “With the official launch date set for September 10, we’re eager to welcome gamers into the Omni One community. The overwhelmingly positive reactions from our beta users have fueled our excitement, and we can’t wait to launch Omni One and transform the gaming experience for players of all ages.”

During the pre-order phase, Virtuix has already sold 3,000 units of the Omni One, hinting at a strong start for this innovative gaming peripheral.