Virtual reality was supposed to be the next big thing. However, due to the high financial hurdle, it hasn't taken off as predicted. Now, game developers are trying to develop the big "killer app" for VR.

When game developer Valve launches a new game in the Half Life series, it's all about one thing: technical innovation.

That's also the case with Half Life Alyx, which was designed from the outset for virtual reality (VR). The game has received many positive reviews, and some people have even called it a VR masterpiece. But does that make it the "killer app" for VR - the game that will persuade people to spend thousands of dollars to buy the necessary hardware in order to play it?

"In my personal opinion, the killer app does not yet exist" for VR, says Phillip Steinfatt, co-founder of the VR-Nerds online community platform. "Guaranteed, people who were not previously interested in VR bought glasses for Half Life Alyx. But it's not something my neighbours have asked me about," he says. 

The main reason VR hasn't taken off as predicted is the high financial hurdle. PC-based VR needs a computer with a high-end graphics card as well as a headset.

The PC costs around US$1,400 , with another US$450 to US$900 for the headset and other accessories, Steinfatt says.

Currently, the cheapest option available is the Oculus Quest headset. That costs around US$500 . "The big thing about the Oculus Quest is that it's an all-in-one headset. You no longer need a computer and pay only as much as the next cheapest PC VR headset," Steinfatt says.

You don't have to worry about a cable connection between the headset and a computer, which can interfere with the VR experience or pose a trip hazard. On the downside, the VR experience is more limited and the headset is heavier and bulkier. 

For owners of a PlayStation 4, there's the option of PlayStation VR. The headset costs around US$250 , excluding the cost of an external camera and two move controllers if you want the full set-up.

The Sony platform recently got its own game with killer app ambitions: Marvel's Iron Man VR. The player inhabits the suit of the eponymous hero and uses the move controllers like the jet nozzles on the suit. It feels very real, and thus does exactly what VR is supposed to do. However, if you don't have a very solid "VR stomach", you may find yourself rapidly feeling sick.

Iron Man VR also shows another limitation of the current technology: A representation of Shanghai looks blocky and lacking in detail. That's because VR requires significantly more computing power than classic games.

VR games often promise more than they can deliver.

"If you look at a trailer for a VR title, you only see the graphics at the best quality that can be displayed on a screen," Steinfatt says. "That doesn't mean that the headset can do that."

 - dpa