Virtuix Set to Launch Its VR Treadmill in September

It’s an exciting time for VR peripherals. Not long after Roto VR introduced its $799 spinning game chair, Virtuix has stepped up and announced the release date for its much-anticipated Omni One VR treadmill: September 10. This treadmill, priced at $2,595 before shipping, has been a long time coming, with development spanning over a decade.

Reflecting on our last coverage about this ambitious project, back on April 3 of last year, we noted that, “A decade later, this VR treadmill is finally ready to ship.” At times, technology seems to sprint forward at a lightning pace; other times it drags along sluggishly, especially when it comes to hardware startups. The latter has often been the case for tricky VR innovations.

Virtuix, however, has managed to capture significant attention over the years. The challenge of locomotion in VR—convincing your brain to move while you’re stationary—remains largely unsolved and often causes issues such as nausea.

During its years of development, Virtuix’s journey aligned with the growing interest in mixed reality, fueled by industry giants like Oculus/Meta, HTC, and more recently, Apple. So far, the company has successfully raised $40 million from both venture capitalists and individual investors. A testimony to its potential impact, the Omni One even inspired a similar system depicted in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “Ready Player One.”

The Omni One system is cleverly straightforward. Instead of using a mechanical treadmill, it employs a passive design. Users wear specialized shoes that allow them to slide in place on a concave platform, creating the sensation of real movement.

“With our official launch set for September 10, we’re thrilled to invite gamers to join the Omni One community,” shared CEO Jan Goetgeluk in a recent statement. “The enthusiastic feedback from our beta testers has been incredibly encouraging, and we’re eager to revolutionize gaming for players of all ages with the Omni One.”

During the preorder phase, Virtuix reported selling 3,000 units, indicating strong initial interest in this groundbreaking VR experience.