Pico just updated its best VR headset feature – and now I’m even more jealous my Meta Quest 3 doesn’t have it too

The VR landscape has just gotten a significant boost with Pico’s latest update to its flagship headset, the Pico 4 Ultra. The company has introduced a new motion tracker designed specifically for the waist, further enhancing the already impressive motion tracking capabilities of the headset.

Advanced Motion Tracking Comes to the Waist

When I reviewed the Pico 4 Ultra, one of its standout features was the pair of motion trackers that could be attached to your feet. These trackers provided incredibly accurate foot tracking, making VR experiences feel more immersive than ever. Now, Pico is taking this technology to the next level with the introduction of a waist motion tracker.

Launching today at £39.99 (around $50 / AU$85), this new tracker promises to extend the full-body tracking experience, allowing users to engage more naturally with VR environments. Whether you’re into VR exercising, dancing games, or using VR props like a hula hoop, this waist tracker is poised to revolutionize how you interact with virtual worlds.

Enhanced Immersion and Practical Applications

The addition of waist tracking builds upon the existing hand and foot tracking capabilities, creating a seamless and highly immersive VR experience. This is particularly beneficial for games and applications that require full-body movement, such as sports games or dance simulations. Imagine being able to kick a virtual soccer ball with your foot and simultaneously move your waist to dodge opponents – it’s a level of realism that sets Pico apart from its competitors.

Perfect for VR Enthusiasts and Beyond

While the Pico 4 Ultra’s motion tracking is undeniably superb, it’s not just gamers who will benefit from this update. Fitness enthusiasts can use the waist tracker to monitor and enhance their workout routines in VR, and developers can create more interactive and engaging apps that utilize full-body tracking.

Why Meta Needs to Catch Up

Meta, on the other hand, is still lagging behind in terms of body tracking. The Meta Quest 3 relies on AI and downward-facing cameras to predict body movements, but this method is not as robust or accurate as Pico’s physical motion trackers. The lack of robust body tracking in Meta’s ecosystem limits the potential of many VR apps and experiences.

The Software and Availability Gap

While Pico’s hardware is advancing rapidly, the software catalog and regional availability are areas where Meta still holds a significant advantage. The Meta Quest 3 has a more extensive library of applications and is available in more regions, including the United States. However, the absence of physical motion trackers for the Meta Quest 3 is a notable omission, especially given the impressive performance of Pico’s trackers.

The Future of VR Tracking

As VR technology continues to evolve, the importance of accurate and comprehensive motion tracking cannot be overstated. Pico’s commitment to enhancing this aspect of the VR experience is a step in the right direction, setting a new standard for what users should expect from their VR headsets.

In conclusion, the new waist motion tracker for the Pico 4 Ultra is a game-changer, and it’s hard not to feel envious if you’re a Meta Quest 3 user. As the VR market continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how other manufacturers respond to Pico’s innovations and whether Meta will eventually adopt similar technologies to enhance its own VR offerings.