VRchat is an online multiplayer game that is free to play. It's more like a social platform rather than a game. You get a complete experience of meeting people like various social media platforms.
Now, one of the most common questions you may have, is whether you need a VR headset to play VRchat or play without it. That's what I will be discussing with you here today. So, let's not waste any time and get right into it.
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How does VRchat work?
Before I get into the real thing, let's talk a bit of VRchat first. As I said, it's a game, to be specific, an MMO or massively multiplayer online game which functions as a social media platform.
Here, you can create your virtual avatar and interact with people all over the globe with their virtual avatar. Whenever you start the game, it creates a world and an online presence inside that world.
The online presence is based on various popular characters from different shows and games worldwide. It's almost like cosplaying in the virtual reality world. You can spawn in a random world with random people around you.
In short, it's a game where you get to live a life and interact with people you meet in the game. The whole thing is pretty realistic because your model can blink, lip-sync and have complete motion of all kinds.
Since it's a game, there are also plenty of mini-games designed for playing with the people around you. The goal of this game is simple, you just meet new people and befriend them.
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Can you play VR chat without a VR headset?
Now, if you don't have a VR headset, that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the fun of VR chat. You can still play the game using your keyboard, mouse, and headphone.
Also, there is nothing special that you have to do to make that happen. But the real question here is whether the game feels the same without a VR headset. Let's find out the answer to that very quickly.
Is it worth playing without a VR headset?
Unfortunately, I have to say the difference of experience between the game varies a lot depending on this. With a VR headset on, you will get a very immersive experience from the game that is unmatched. It's almost like existing in that virtual space by yourself. The interaction feels too real, which is the true essence of this game in the first place.
On the other hand, it becomes almost like most other games without a VR headset. You can move around and play the game with your keyboard and mouse. You can even talk with people using the microphone. However, when you are not using the VR headset to dive into that virtual reality world, the feeling is pretty different.
So, keeping this in short, I don't think playing the game without a VR headset is truly that worth it. You can still give it a shot and try it out if you don't have a VR headset.
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Where to find it and how to play it?
The great thing about VR chat is that it's free to play the game for all devices, except smartphones. If you want to play VR chat on your smartphone, you may need to buy it from Amazon.
Other than that, all you need is a computer that meets the minimum system requirements to play the game. And then, you download the game from Steam or Oculus and start playing it.
Remember, the better your PC specs are, you will get better graphics. This elevates the gaming experience and makes the whole thing much more realistic.
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Are there any affordable VR headsets?
The good thing is, you can find plenty of VR headsets out there with a pretty cheap price tag. One decent option would be the Google cardboard which is quite popular among people who try to play this game.
Other than that, there are BNEXT VR headset, Google Daydream View, Samsung Gear VR, etc. You can check these out, or you can dive deep into your research on the internet.
The main thing to notice here is that you will find many affordable options out there. And most of them should work just fine for you. So, that shouldn't be a problem at all.
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Wrap up
To sum up, you don't need to have a VR headset to play VRchat. You can still enjoy the game without a VR headset. However, for the best and most fulfilling game experience, you will need a VR headset for sure. Especially if you want to immerse yourself into the VR world, having a VR headset is a must. And it's genuinely worth it.
Graduated with a Bachelor of Audio Engineering and Sound Production. He has worked with a number of studios as a Recording Engineer, with over 10 years of servicing experience in both re-recording mixing and sound editing.
