The Future of VR: Darshan Shankar's Vision for Bigscreen's Beyond Headsets
In a world where virtual reality (VR) is rapidly evolving, Darshan Shankar, the founder of Bigscreen, has an ambitious vision for the future. He believes that their Beyond headsets could soon become one of the top five systems on Steam, revolutionizing the VR experience.
Shankar's journey with Bigscreen began over a decade ago, and the company is now celebrating 10 years of shared VR co-watching on Steam. But here's where it gets controversial... Shankar suggests they might keep the 'beta' tag forever, implying a continuous evolution and improvement of their platform.
As Valve prepares to launch its Frame headset, Shankar addresses the question of Bigscreen's support for flat-screen co-watching on devices like Steam Deck. He emphasizes their focus on VR, believing it to be their strength, and hints at exciting developments in their software, leaving us eager for more details.
Bigscreen recently introduced Dynamic Foveated Rendering for the Beyond 2e headset, a feature that promises enhanced performance through eye-tracking technology. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the VR experience, and we can't wait to hear from early adopters about their real-world performance.
Shankar highlights the popularity of the Beyond2, which has become the go-to upgrade for those seeking an ultra-lightweight, high-resolution VR experience while maintaining their preferred SteamVR tracking and controller setup. With a firm commitment to manufacturing Beyond2 with SteamVR Lighthouse tracking for the next two years, Bigscreen is ensuring a reliable and consistent experience for its users.
The demand for Beyond2 has exceeded expectations, with sales already outpacing its predecessor, Beyond1. Shankar acknowledges the challenge of keeping up with this demand, but remains optimistic about their growth trajectory.
According to the Steam Hardware Survey, Beyond headsets still have some catching up to do to reach the top five. But Shankar is confident, predicting that within a couple of years, they'll be among the elite, alongside Steam Frame and Quest 3. He teases future camera-based features, setting a high bar for innovation.
And this is the part most people miss... Shankar believes that the existing SteamVR ecosystem is larger than estimated, and with Valve's Steam Frame dropping Lighthouse support, Bigscreen is experiencing a sales boost. It's an intriguing insight into the dynamics of the VR market.
Looking ahead, Bigscreen is focusing on expanding its international presence. With plans to open a facility in The Netherlands, they aim to improve shipping times and support for European customers, solidifying their global reach.
As Bigscreen continues its journey, Shankar's passion for VR and commitment to enthusiasts shine through. With their innovative hardware and a focus on the VR community, Bigscreen is poised to make a significant impact on the future of VR. So, what do you think? Will Bigscreen's Beyond headsets live up to Shankar's vision? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
