Microsoft has announced its latest batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in November. Monthly subscribers have a lot to look forward to, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on day one of its release.
Kicking off the release slate is Dead Static Drive on November 5. This indie survival-horror game takes players on a 1980s-style road trip across the country. Dead Static Drive will share its date with Sniper Elite: Resistance, a tactical third-person combat game with rich sniper mechanics that sports a co-op campaign for playing with friends.
The very next day will feature the real star of this month's Game Pass releases, and no, I don't mean COD. I'm talking about Egging On, the platformer where you play as a literal egg trying to escape your hen house. You'll have to traverse harrowing obstacles and terrifying heights armed with little more than your fragile shell. Whiskerwood, a strategy and worldbuilding game where mice must build and manage colonies at the behest of a feline overlord, will be available on the same day.
The games keep coming over the following days with Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris and Pigeon Simulator available on November 11. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 drops on November 14 and will feature 16 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch.
Microsoft recently raised the price on the highest tier of the Xbox Game Pass subscription to $30 per month from $20 per month. That made Game Pass Ultimate 50 percent more expensive than previously. The tiers also underwent some rebranding as well, but the big thing to note is that you’ll need that $30/month Ultimate tier to play games on release day. This came after price increases in 2024 as well.
See the full list of Xbox Game Pass additions below, as well as a list of games leaving on November 15. The list also specifies which tier of Game Pass you'll need for each title.
November 5
Dead Static Drive— Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Sniper Elite: Resistance — Game Pass Premium
November 6
Egging On — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Whiskerwood — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
November 7
Voidtrain — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Premium
November 11
Great God Grove — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Premium
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Premium
Pigeon Simulator — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
November 12
Relic Hunters Legend — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Premium
Winter Burrow — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
November 14
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Leaving on November 15
Blacksmith Master (Game Preview)
Football Manager 2024
Football Manager 2024 Console Edition
Frostpunk
Spirittea
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chernobyl
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-game-pass-is-adding-cod-black-ops-7-and-ten-other-titles-in-november-193151259.html?src=rss
Google is bringing live lane guidance to Google Maps in cars with the company’s built-in infotainment system, starting with the Polestar 4. Using the vehicle's front-facing camera, Google Maps will be able to "see" the road just as the driver does. It will then create more detailed depictions of which lane a driver should be in and guide them using visual and audio cues.
Google says the new feature uses AI to analyze lane markings and road signs, which it then integrates in real time with Google Maps' navigation system. Google paints a picture of fewer missed exits, as its navigation system reminds drivers in the left lane that their exit is coming up on the right side of the highway.
Details are scarce on where exactly this will function. In Google's blog post announcing the feature, the company says it will expand live lane guidance to "more road types" in the future. We've reached out for clarification.
Live lane guidance with Google Maps will be rolling out on the Polestar 4 in the US and Sweden over the coming months. Google says it will expand to include more cars in partnership with other automakers.
Update Nov 4 3:39 PM EST: Google says the feature will only work on highways for now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/google-maps-is-adding-live-lane-guidance-for-the-polestar-4-192705050.html?src=rss
Sora is now available to Android users on the Google Play Store. The iOS version of OpenAI's text-to-video generative AI app is still only available in select markets and requires an invitation, but people are still extremely excited about making slop of their own; the app reportedly reached more than 1 million downloads in less than five days. And it didn't take long for the company to land in hot water over users creating disrespectful clips of Martin Luther King Jr. and drawing censure from the Japanese government over copycats of famous manga and anime.
Those aren't the only legal issues Sora has been skirting. OpenAI was sued by Cameo on claims of copyright infringement, and the very next day, the company released a feature called "cameo" for putting existing entities into Sora's gen-AI videos. Whatever it winds up being named, some form of licensing personas looks like it will be part of OpenAI's eventual monetization plans for Sora.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-sora-app-is-now-available-on-android-191722821.html?src=rss
Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas and the recently released The Outer Worlds 2, has announced that it's revisiting an RPG it released over a decade ago for a new update. Pillars of Eternity, a throwback isometric RPG, is receiving a turn-based mode as part of a new public beta on PC.
The new mode slows the game's "real-time with pause" combat down, building on the optional turn-based mode the developer included with Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire, a sequel from 2018. The game's director Josh Sawyer digs into the thinking behind the update in a trailer Obsidian released alongside the update announcement, but in brief, the mode attempts to faithfully adapt characters' stats for turn-based combat, while making it easy to switch from real-time to turn-based modes on the fly.
Obsidian last returned to Eora, the setting of Pillars of Eternity, in the excellent Avowed from earlier this year. That game translated the series' world and combat systems into a first-person RPG in the style of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Besides releasing The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian is also actively developing Grounded 2 in early access.
Pillars of Eternity's turn-based mode will be available in a public beta for PC starting on November 5. Obsidian is looking for feedback on the new mode ahead of a planned update to the game at some point in the future.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pillars-of-eternity-to-receive-surprise-turn-based-mode-in-new-update-191221448.html?src=rss
Samsung just announced the P9 Express series of microSD Express cards, which are primarily intended for use with the Switch 2 console. This is a good thing, as Nintendo's latest console only works with microSD Express cards and, to be honest, there aren't that many options out there for consumers.
The company boasts that these new cards feature maximum sequential read speeds up to 800MB/s, which is a mighty fine metric and in league with some of our other favorite cards for the Switch 2. The cards also include the company's Dynamic Thermal Guard (DTG) technology, which was originally developed for SSDs. This should help things stay cool while you're out there catching Pokémon or rampaging around as a cartoon gorilla.
Samsung
Of course, these cards aren't tied to the Switch 2. That's just the most common use case scenario. They'll work with just about anything, like tablets, drones, cameras and rival portable gaming consoles.
Samsung's P9 Express microSD cards are available now, and the price is in line with similar offerings. The 256GB model costs $55 and the 512GB version costs $100.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/samsung-has-a-new-line-of-microsd-express-cards-for-the-switch-2-190933303.html?src=rss
There’s a lot more riding on Amazon’s latest batch of Echo hardware than usual. After all, these are the first devices arriving alongside Alexa+, the AI-powered revamp of the company’s signature voice assistant. And unlike the $220 Echo Studio, the new Echo Dot Max is a more affordable ($100) and compact entry point into using Alexa+. It’s also another example of how confusing Amazon’s hardware lineup can get: the older Echo Pop ($40) and Echo Dot ($50) are also getting Alexa+. The Echo Dot Max isn’t the cheapest Echo, nor is it the best-sounding speaker Amazon sells. So, where does it fit?
The best way to think about this new speaker is that it occupies the same spot in Amazon’s lineup as the venerable and discontinued device simply named “Echo.” For years, the Amazon Echo was the company’s main speaker, but it no longer sells one with that pleasantly concise name. The Echo Dot Max steps in at the same price point, though. And while my testing has shown that Alexa+ is a solid step forward, the Dot Max hardware itself isn’t as good as what it replaces.
Design
The Echo Dot Max feels immediately familiar if you’ve seen any of Amazon’s spherical smart speakers from the last five years or so, but there are numerous design changes here. The 2020 Echo and current Echo Dot have buttons on top for adjusting volume and muting the speaker’s microphone. Those buttons are now on a front-facing panel that is surrounded by the Echo’s signature light ring. While I liked how the light ring encircled the bottom of the Echo, it’s definitely easier to see in this new front-facing position and it’s particularly better at displaying the volume now. Overall, it’s a fairly refined and subtle device, which is exactly what you want from a smart speaker. I tested the graphite model, but you can also get it in white or a much bolder purple. I prefer the fully spherical, globe-like appearance of the Echo Dot, but there’s little to complain about here visually.
Amazon's Echo Dot Max speaker.
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
I do have some quibbles about the front-facing volume and mute buttons, though. The Echo Dot Max is simply so light that if I press the controls I’ll push the speaker around the shelf it’s on. This is easily solved by putting your hand around it and pressing the buttons with your thumb, but if you reach out to it with your index finger it probably won’t stay in place. I guess you’re supposed to primarily interact with the Echo Dot Max with your voice, but top-mounted buttons would’ve avoided this problem. I imagine this isn’t as much of a problem with the similarly-designed Echo Studio, simply because it’s much larger and three times heavier.
Audio quality
I’m a pretty big music nerd and I’ve listened to many smart speakers over the years. I’ve come away impressed with the Echo devices I tested in 2018 as well as the 2020 Echo I spoke about earlier. At $100, that Echo punched well above its weight and sounded notably better than the identically-priced HomePod Mini and Nest Audio.
Unfortunately, the Echo Dot Max does not match that older speaker’s bonafides. Don’t get me wrong, it sounds just fine — better than a standard Echo Dot and in line with what I’d expect from a $100 speaker. It’s a good bit louder than my HomePod Mini, with plenty of volume to fill a medium-sized room on its own. If you’re looking to really pump music through a bigger room, though, you’re better off looking at the Echo Studio or something like the Sonos Era 100. You can also pair two Echo Dot Max speakers together for stereo playback and increased volume, but I didn’t get to test this so can’t say how it’ll perform in a larger space.
Side view of Amazon's Echo Dot Max speaker
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
My biggest complaint with the Echo Dot Max is that frequencies often felt a bit smushed together, without a solid bass thump separating itself from the clarity in the mid- and high-range frequencies. It doesn’t provide the most dynamic listening experience. When you look at the difference in the Echo Dot Max’s speaker components compared to the fourth-generation Echo, that’s not a surprise. That older speaker paired a 3-inch woofer with dual 0.8-inch tweeters, while the Dot Max makes do with just one tweeter and a smaller 2.5-inch woofer.
I want to reiterate that the Echo Dot Max still sounds good! The various beats, electronic glitches and vocals of Lorde’s “What Was That” came through clearly for the most part, and the modern disco vibes of “Jealous” by The Aces had a nice thump and the instruments were plenty punchy. The heavier, guitar-driven fury of albums like the new Deftones release Private Music and the 33-year-old Dirt by Alice In Chains came through loud and clear, while turning up the volume on the rave-esque vibes of “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” by Nine Inch Nails had plenty of life. But while the overall sound was pleasant enough, further listening made me realize that details like a good snap of a snare could get lost amidst a storm of guitars.
It’s a disappointment that Amazon took an undeniable step backwards here. Much like the Echo Studio that we just reviewed, the Echo Dot Max isn’t bad — it’s just underwhelming. It’s a little easier to forgive here, since the Dot Max is more of an all-purpose speaker rather than something designed to provide an exceptional listening experience. Again, it sounds totally fine for a $100 smart speaker, but given Amazon’s past success in providing surprisingly excellent audio, I was hoping for a lot more here.
Amazon's Echo Dot Max smart speaker.
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
Alexa+
The other piece of the puzzle is, of course, Alexa+, Amazon’s long-awaited update to its digital assistant. Somehow, it’s already been two years since Amazon first showed off the improvements it was working on delivering with Alexa+. But with these new devices, “early access” to the service is pretty easy to come by now.
I’ll admit that I’m not much of a voice assistant guy. I think a lot of that comes from not having a very smart home. I’ve been renting for the last eight months after owning a home for almost a decade, and there just hasn’t been much to do with Alexa (or any voice assistant) at the moment.
But even without home-based routines to run, lights to control or a smart thermostat to adjust, it was evident how much more conversational and context-aware Alexa+ is now. I did a lot of testing during the World Series and I made it a habit to ask Alexa what was going on in the series. We had several “conversations” about what happened in the previous night’s game, when the next game was happening, who the starting pitchers were and so forth. It was probably the most natural experience I’ve ever had using a voice assistant, even though using my natural language with a speaker still feels awkward. (I definitely said please to Alexa more than once.)
Once you’re set up with Alexa+ Early Access, you can use the same updated assistant in the Alexa app on your smartphone, either with your voice or in a chat interface. The chatbot-style Alexa experience is fine, but I actually prefer using my voice, because I felt like it was easier to have a conversation with it and just ask things as they popped into my head.
Another good thing about Alexa+ is that it felt fast and responsive. There are short pauses while it thinks about a response, but it usually got back to me quickly enough that continuing that natural language conversation didn’t feel stilted or awkward. Speed is a crucial factor towards making a voice assistant feel responsive, and Alexa+ on the Echo Dot Max hits on that point. Some combo of Amazon’s AZ3 chip and whatever is happening up in its cloud is getting the job done here.
As with any voice assistant, Alexa+ is, of course, not perfect. Most basic tasks like setting reminders, checking the weather and playing music all work reliably. But asking for specific songs or albums can sometimes go badly. Occasionally, Alexa wouldn’t be able to find a specific album I was looking for but it would play other songs by the artist; other times it would come up with completely unrelated music. This is an issue I’ve had with all assistants, but I was hoping Alexa+ might be smart enough to avoid getting too far off base.
I asked it to “play the latest release by the band Now, Now.” It’s an EP entitled 01 so I had a feeling Alexa might struggle with that. Sure enough, it said “sure, here’s new music from Now, Now” and played one of the songs from that release. Not bad, but not quite right. I then followed up and said “can you play this entire album?” That did not work. Instead, I ended up with the song “Ain’t it Funky Now” performed by legendary jazz guitarist and composer Grant Green. An outstanding recording, sure, but not remotely close to what I was looking for. Even asking “play the album ‘01 EP’ by the band Now, Now” got me Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later.” Sigh.
Worse than that were the times when Alexa+ just made things up. The Alexa app provides you with little suggestions for things to ask about, like “iconic music duets.” I tapped it, curious to see what it provided, and it pulled up a list of “iconic music duets that have left an indelible mark on the music industry.”
Among those was “Smells Like Teen Spirit” performed by the late Kurt Cobain and his wife Courtney Love. This happened? News to me! I followed up and asked for more details and got a response noting that “there isn’t a formal duet of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit.’” Best I can tell, it popped up because Love sang some unused lyrics from the legendary song on an episode of the 60 Songs That Explain the ‘90s podcast, back in 2023. This is a perfect example of the random inferences AI often draws, and it’s a good reminder that Alexa+, like all AI assistants, can make things up sometimes. This didn’t happen often, but it’s still something you’ll need to look out for.
Amazon's Echo Dot Max smart speaker.
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
Wrap-up
The Echo Dot Max more or less delivers on Amazon’s promises. It sounds better than smaller speakers like the Echo Dot or Pop, and it’s significantly cheaper than the Echo Studio. If you’re at all interested in music, it’s worth stepping up to the Dot Max over the standard Dot. Beyond just better audio, it’s also significantly newer (the Dot was last updated in 2022). Its more modern processor means it should have a longer lifespan than the standard Dot, making it a better option for people who are eager to try out Alexa+.
That freshly updated hardware is a reason to consider the Echo Dot Max over similarly priced speakers like the Nest Audio and HomePod Mini, both of which are five years old. And despite Alexa+ dealing with some growing pains, it’s a better option at this moment than the unproven Gemini for Home Google that is rolling out or the old, limited Siri that the HomePod Mini is still stuck with.
But the Echo Dot Max still feels like a bit of a missed opportunity to me. The old Echo sounded so good, and this speaker is just not as exciting in comparison. It’s a fine way to interact with Alexa+ and enjoy some tunes, I just wish it sounded a little bit better.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/amazon-echo-dot-max-review-disappointing-sound-but-alexa-is-a-star-190000721.html?src=rss
Nintendo's lawsuit against Palworld just hit a snag. The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has ordered a reexamination of a key Nintendo patent expected to be wielded in the case. Games Frayreports that the office is reviewing the Switch maker's patent regarding "summon subcharacter and let it fight in 1 of 2 modes." If we view Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit as a test bed for monopolizing game mechanics, the development can only be seen as a good thing.
Several factors make the reexamination unusual. First, Nintendo's patent in question (No. 12,403,397) was just granted in September. The review was personally ordered by newly sworn-in USPTO Director John A. Squires. The Trump appointee has historically sided with patent holders, making it harder to contest them. Stranger still, Games Fray says this may be the USPTO's first patent reexamination in over a decade.
Palworld
Pocketpair
Those ingredients suggest widespread blowback may be the driving force. Although Palworld developer Pocketpair is Nintendo's immediate target, it's easy to see the case opening a Pandora's box where developers fear using well-established game mechanics. Indie developers would be particularly vulnerable. The "slippery slope" commentary practically writes itself.
If Nintendo's patent is ultimately invalidated, we may be able to thank Konami. A 2002 patent application from the maker of Metal Gear and Castlevania was cited as prior art, casting doubt on Nintendo's claim. A separate Nintendo patent, published in 2020, was also listed as possible prior art. Games Fray's report dives much deeper into the legal weeds.
Nintendo now has two months to respond. During that period, third parties can come forward with additional prior art references. As a nervous industry eyes Nintendo's case as a potential test bed for monopolizing game mechanics, don't be shocked if gaming lawyers search far and wide for more examples.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendos-patent-on-summoning-fighting-npcs-is-being-reexamined-180949135.html?src=rss
Stability AI has partially succeeded in defending itself against accusations of copyright infringement. As reported by The Guardian, Stability AI prevailed in a high-profile UK High Court case, following Getty first suing the company in 2023 for allegedly using its copyright images to train its Stable Diffusion AI art tool without permission.
Getty’s original claim was that Stability AI had unlawfully copied and processed millions of protected images for training purposes, therefore abusing the rights of the original creators. However, the Seattle-based company eventually withdrew its claims of primary copyright infringement as it reportedly could offer no evidence that unauthorized copying for the training of Stable Diffusion had taken place in the UK.
Today’s ruling concerns claims of secondary infringement, to which the High Court judge, Justice Joanna Smith, ruled that "an AI model such as Stable Diffusion which does not store or reproduce any copyright works (and has never done so) is not an 'infringing copy'" under UK law. This was despite the ruling finding some evidence of Getty’s images being used by Stability, as evidenced by the presence of the former’s watermark. While the judge sided with Getty on some of its claims, she said that the evidence was "both historic and extremely limited in scope."
The High Court ruling likely won’t fill companies and creators concerned about AI-related copyright infringement with a huge amount of optimism, but unsurprisingly, both Getty and Stability AI have been quick to celebrate their respective victories. Getty's statement reads, in part:
Today’s ruling confirms that Stable Diffusion’s inclusion of Getty Images’ trademarks in AI‑generated outputs infringed those trademarks. Crucially, the Court rejected Stability AI’s attempt to hold the user responsible for that infringement, confirming that responsibility for the presence of such trademarks lies with the model provider, who has control over the images used to train the model. This is a significant win for intellectual property owners. The ruling delivered another key finding; that, wherever the training and development did take place, Getty Images' copyright‑protected works were used to train Stable Diffusion. The ruling also established a powerful precedent that intangible articles, such as AI models, are subject to copyright infringement claims in the same way as tangible articles. We will be taking forward findings of fact from the UK ruling in our US case.
The company added that it was "deeply concerned" that even "well-resourced companies" remain at risk of infringement due to a "lack of transparent requirements." It also urged the UK government to build on the current laws around this issue. Christian Dowell, general counsel to Stability AI, said the final ruling from the court "ultimately resolves the copyright concerns that were the core issue."
The ruling comes just days after Getty announced a new agreement with Perplexity AI that permits the latter to access Getty’s huge media library as part of its search and discovery tools. In a press release, Getty said a condition of the licensing deal was Perplexity committing to "making improvements on how it displays imagery, including image credit with link to source, to better educate users on how to use licensed imagery legally."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/uk-high-court-sides-with-stability-ai-over-getty-in-copyright-case-180029461.html?src=rss
It seems Apple is preparing to debut a low-cost Mac laptop in the first half of 2026. According to Bloomberg, such a system is in early production at the company’s overseas suppliers and Apple is testing the devices internally.
Apple’s aim with this laptop, per the report, is to draw people away from the likes of Chromebooks and cheap Windows PCs and into its own ecosystem. The company is said to be making the system with casual users, students and businesses in mind — the kinds of folks who use laptops for tasks like web browsing, light media editing and working on documents. Apple is also reportedly planning to aim the system at potential iPad buyers who’d still rather have a traditional laptop.
The laptop is said to have a new design with a “lower-end LCD display” and it’s expected to run on an A-series iPhone processor that’s said to deliver better performance than the M1. It’s also likely to have a smaller display than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air.
Performance is important, but the price point will be crucial if Apple wants to really compete with the proliferation of Chromebooks and entry-level Windows devices. The company is said to be ready to sell this Mac for “well under $1,000.” Chromebooks and Windows laptops often sell for just a few hundred bucks. Higher-end Chromebooks cost around $600, so Apple would likely have to sell this laptop for $700 or less for it to make a real splash.
Apple has traditionally focused on making premium devices, but would be a smart time for the company to enter the lower end of the market. Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10, including on devices that don’t support Windows 11 and owners of such systems (including businesses) may need to buy new laptops in the near future to have the latest security updates.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apple-may-release-its-first-low-cost-mac-laptop-in-early-2026-174143869.html?src=rss
Stepping into VR is about more than strapping on a headset and loading a game. The best VR headsets today are gateways to fully realized experiences, whether that’s gaming, fitness, creative work or simply spending time inside a richly rendered virtual world. As the hardware has improved, so has the sense of presence, with sharper displays, wider fields of view and tracking systems that make movement feel more natural and responsive. The result is VR that feels less like a novelty and more like a platform you can actually spend time in.
That said, not every headset is built for the same function. Some prioritize ease of use and standalone play, while others demand a powerful PC in exchange for higher fidelity. Compatibility also matters more than ever, especially as VR begins to overlap with mixed reality and early smart glasses experiments. Whether you want a simple way to explore virtual spaces or a high-end rig that pushes immersion as far as possible, this guide breaks down the best VR headsets you can buy in 2026 and explains who each one is really for.
I tend to judge candidates for the best VR headset on a few basic criteria: Ergonomics, immersion and controls. It's not that hard to shove a mobile display into a plastic headset and strap some cheap elastic headbands onto it. But it takes real design skill to craft something that's well balanced, includes a supportive headstrap, and doesn't feel uncomfortable after 30 minutes.
My test for ergonomics is fairly simple: How long can I wear a headset until I start to feel discomfort? For the most ergonomic devices, like the Quest 3, that could easily be an hour or two. But heavier PC hardware often feels cumbersome after just 15 minutes — you won’t find those kinds of devices in our list of the best VR headsets.
Immersion, meanwhile, comes from having high resolution screens with fast refresh rates, like a 120Hz refresh rate, helping users feel fully present inside a virtual world. Field of view is also a major element, as it describes how well VR screens can cover what you see. A narrow FOV makes it feel like you're peering through a pair of binoculars, which limits your sense of “presence.” The best VR headsets aim for a wider field of view, helping virtual environments feel more natural and fully surround you.
A wide field of view, on the other hand, can make it seem like you’re actually flying over the globe in Google Earth. We look at a few popular video games, like Superhot, Beat Saber and Pistol Whip, on every headset to judge how immersed we feel and how enjoyable the gaming experience is overall.
The best controllers fit naturally in your hands and offer accurate tracking. The industry has basically adopted the design of Meta’s excellent touch controllers, but we're also seeing intriguing leaps forward like Valve's finger tracking gamepads. We judge controllers based on how easy they are to hold, how they hold up to sweaty gameplay sessions and how easily headsets can track their position in space.
However, it’s important to look at a virtual reality headset’s specs as a whole, including compatibility with your existing hardware and the kind of experiences you plan to use it for. Depending on what you’re looking for in yourVR headset, you’ll want to consider factors like your PC’s CPU and graphics card if you plan to use the headset to play the best VR games. You might not need a super powerful PC, but you should check the minimum requirements for the headset you’re looking to purchase. If you’re not looking to invest in a VR headset solely for gaming, features like head tracking allow you to explore your environment just by simply moving your head in the simulator. This often results in a more immersive and realistic experience.
Other VR headsets we’ve tested
HTC Vive Focus Vision
The Vive Focus Vision is a sleek premium standalone VR headset that can also deliver solid PC VR. But it’s also running aging hardware, it’s riddled with software issues and it’s expensive compared to the Meta Quest 3.
Meta Quest Pro
As great as the Meta Quest 3 is, the Quest 2 is still a very good entry-level VR headset, and it’s worth considering if it’s on sale below its current $250 list price. The Meta Quest Pro, on the the hand, is an expensive boondoggle best ignored.
HTC Vive Pro 2
Outside of Meta’s hardware, the HTC Vive Pro 2 remains a fantastic PC headset, but it’s far more expensive than the Valve Index, which is more comfortable and offers better audio.
VR headset FAQs
How do VR headsets work?
At the most basic level, a VR headset is simply a high quality screen that you’re holding up to your face. For a wired headset, the actual work of rendering a game is done on either a PC or game console. For completely wireless devices, like the Meta Quest 3, that work is handled right on the headset. They rely on either external sensors, or sensors built into the headsets, to map your physical space. While you can use a traditional gamepad or keyboard and mouse in VR, they typically use motion tracking controllers to immerse you in their 3D environments.
What VR headset is best for full body tracking?
While we’re still waiting for a truly great haptic VR bodysuit to arrive, you can still achieve accurate body tracking with most Steam VR-compatible PC headsets. The Valve Index and HTC Vive Pro 2 both rely on room-tracking sensors that can map your body more effectively than the built-in sensors on competitors. You can also add HTC Vive Trackers to wrist and leg straps, as well as belts, for even better coverage. The Meta Quest 3 doesn’t have any easy body tracking solutions, but you can add Vive trackers when it’s plugged into your PC to mimic a Steam VR headset.
Only a few experiences, like VRChat, take advantage of full body tracking at the moment. Currently there aren’t any body tracking solutions for the PlayStation VR and VR2, but we’re intrigued by the company’s Mocopi body trackers, which were really announced in Japan.
What VR headsets are better than Oculus?
Oculus is the previous name for Meta’s VR hardware. Currently, Meta only supports the Quest 3, Quest 3S and Quest Pro, all of which are wireless headsets. As we explain above, PC VR headsets can generally achieve better quality virtual reality, since they rely on more powerful graphics hardware.
What VR headsets work with Xbox?
Currently, Microsoft’s Xbox consoles don’t support any VR headsets.
Recent updates
November 2025: Updated to include the Apple Vision Pro M5.
April 2025: Updated to include review scores for our top picks, where applicable.
November 2024: Added the HTC Vive Focus Vision to the "others we tested" section.
October 2024: Updated our "best cheap VR headset" top pick to be the Meta Quest 3S.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/best-vr-headsets-140012529.html?src=rss
