The Apple Vision launched in February 2024 and created a lot of intrigue. Apple bills the device as a “spatial computer,” and it is essentially an advanced Virtual Reality (VR) headset with integrated Augmented Reality (AR) features. As well as the usual VR hand and head movement sensors, the Vision can detect and react to eye movement and offers advanced features.
It also uses video pass-through, so users can see video representation of what is around them with additional content overlaid. It has business, education, and personal functionality. It could also change the way many people enjoy gaming and iGaming.
Potential iGaming Benefits
An immersive experience is something that a lot of players look for when determining the best online casino options. “There’s nothing like the thrill of playing at the best online casinos for real money,” said Vlad Grindu.
With the Apple Vision, users could potentially play head-to-head poker games around their dining room table while enjoying a cup of coffee. Or have slot machines set up around the living room. They will be able to interact with the croupier and head off to cash out their chips.
It will offer greater immersion without the need to leave the house.
Augmented Reality Features
Pinning monitors isn’t the only way that gaming could change. The clear visor of the headset makes it seem as though the user is looking at the real world outside the headset. However, they’re viewing video footage from the pass-through videos, which allows augmented reality features from the virtual reality headset.
In the same way, gamers could augment casino tables into their living rooms- they could augment elements of video games into their daily lives. Games could take place in the living room. Players could face a zombie apocalypse in their lounge. They could raise and feed their virtual pets in their apartments.
Gaming Monitor Replacement
One of the features of Vision Pro is that it allows the pinning of displays anywhere in the user’s field of vision. This enables the user to create a virtual gaming monitor right in front of them. It could replace expensive gaming monitors or enable gamers to create monitors as large as walls. The headset costs are too prohibitive at the moment, but that will likely change in time.
Bringing Gamers Together
The headset could also bring gamers together. There is already a board gaming app, and we’ve covered the possibility of head-to-head poker games, but squads of players could team up and take on games together after meeting in their apartment.
Current Drawbacks
However, the device isn’t without its drawbacks in its current state. Apple does not give access to the cameras to third-party developers, which means that the most immersive experiences will likely have to come from official Apple apps. Apple might open up developer access, but there is no guarantee.
Some games are currently available, and users can play Apple Arcade games through the headset, although most of these do not take advantage of the tech the device offers. The Vision is also currently very expensive. Prices will likely drop over time, especially as newer, updated models are launched.
While the technology is far ahead of many VR headsets and AR devices, it is still some way behind the quality of gaming monitors and big-screen TVs with picture quality and refresh rates.
Conclusion
Apple Vision Pro was launched in the US in February 2024 and was described as the future of VR gaming. It offers improved refresh rates and better-quality visuals than many other VR headsets. Apple Vision already has a host of apps available through the app store, too. There are more than 1,000 Vision-specific apps already available with more to come.
Apple is not marketing the Vision Pro as a gaming headset and it will indeed have many real-life applications. Or, future versions of it will, at least. But, it does have the potential to change gaming and iGaming. In particular, it promises a more immersive online casino and video gaming experience that will keep players more entertained and fully immersed in their gameplay.
