What VR Headsets Work With Xbox One?

One of the first questions that pop up with each new release of a VR headset is; will it be compatible with the Xbox One? There are so many amazing games on the Xbox One that would become even more enticing if you could interact with them in a virtual reality environment.

The Forza Horizon series would be spectacular if you could feel as though you’re actually in the driver’s seat! However, VR isn’t exactly intended to work with Xbox One. Microsoft is saying that VR compatibility isn’t a priority at the moment, which is a huge disappointment to many gamers.

Luckily, there are a few ways you can get around this. Read on to find the VR headsets that can work with Xbox One!

What VR Headsets Work With Xbox One

As A Side-Note

Although these headsets will be able to connect to the Xbox One and stream the games, some of their features may not be able to work as well. The main feature that will be affected is the 3DVR (360-degree virtual reality), as the 2D games won’t have been adapted to match this. 

Now let’s get on to the headsets!

Oculus Rift And Rift S

The Oculus brand is well-known for its advanced VR headsets, and the Oculus Rift is no exception to this. Although it has been discontinued, those who already own a Rift (or buy one from Amazon) will still be able to connect their headset to an Xbox One.

The Oculus Rift comes with a pair of touch controllers that you can accurately throw and attack things with, in your chosen virtual reality setting. These connect seamlessly with an Xbox One, so you’ll be able to play whatever game you wish with the built-in motion sensors.

You can connect to an Xbox One through an app that fully supports the Oculus Rift, and is one of the only VR headsets that is entirely compatible with the Xbox One.  To do this, you will first need to download the Oculus app on your PC (you will need at least 4GB of disk space available). Then follow the instructions to create your account and set up your headset.

From here, you can set up your Xbox One controller by opening the Oculus app on your PC and selecting ‘Devices’ in the left menu. Next, you will need to find the option that says ‘Rift S and Touch’, and click ‘Pair Device’. Select ‘Pair Gamepad’. Now all you have to do is follow the instructions on the screen to add your Xbox One controller, and you’re good to go! 

GenBasic Quad HD

The GenBasic Quad HD is a brilliant standalone VR headset, but as an even better perk, it can be plugged into any PC or gaming console via an HDMI cable – making it the perfect choice for an Xbox One.

With its 1440p resolution and a wide field of vision (110-degree), you know you are going to get a pretty good quality video for your gameplay on the Xbox One. While the GenBasic headset does work with an Xbox one, the main issue is that motion sensors aren’t included.

This means that your VR experience will be limited unless you get the motion sensors separately. You will also need access to the Xbox Streaming App on your PC to be able to view the game through your headset. 

Although the GenBasic Quad HD is currently unavailable to buy, you will still be able to use this headset if you already own one! 

Oculus Quest 2

Microsoft hasn’t confirmed any attempts to make the Oculus Quest 2 compatible with the Xbox One, unlike the Oculus Rift, but there are ways to get around this and still use some Xbox apps with your Oculus Quest 2.

This will work if you have the ‘Xbox Console Companion’ and ‘Virtual Desktop’ installed on your PC. If you connect your PC to your Xbox, and then install and connect ‘Virtual Desktop’ to your Oculus Quest 2, you will be able to stream your Xbox games from your Desktop screen onto your Quest 2.

While this is one of the more difficult ways to get a VR headset to work with Xbox One (and not all of the games and apps will be able to stream on the Quest 2), this is the closest this particular headset is getting to the Xbox One. 

HTC Vive Pro and Pro 2

Amazon.com: HTC VIVE Pro Virtual Reality Headset : Video Games

Amazon.com: HTC Vive Pro 2 Headset Only : Everything Else

As with the other headsets, the HTC Vive Pro and Pro 2 are able to be connected to an Xbox One through the Xbox One streaming app on your PC. These particular headsets support the gaming console, as well as wireless connectivity, so you should be able to stream your Xbox One games through the Vive Pro and Pro 2 without the need for cables.

With its 5K resolution, 120-degree field of view and Hi-Res certified headphones, the HTC Vive Pro 2 is a must-have when it comes to playing the Xbox One games! 

Will Microsoft’s Xbox One fully Support Any VR Headsets In The Future? 

It is still unknown as to whether the Xbox One will become fully VR compatible in the near future, but there are rumors that Microsoft Flight Simulator (a VR-based PC game) may be added to the Xbox One apps. This would mean that there would have to be VR compatibility for the Xbox.

But to do this, Microsoft would need to release their own Xbox One VR headset that matches the success of other console VR headsets, such as the PlayStation VR, which is low in price and high in quality. This might be a few years in the future yet, but gamers are still holding out hope that they will soon be able to have a proper VR experience with their Xbox One.

Richard Jones
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