Desktop VR

With desktop VR (and console VR), your headset is a peripheral to a more powerful computer that processes the heavy graphics. The computer may be a Windows PC, Mac, Linux, or a game console, although Windows is by far the most prominent PC and the PS4 is a bestseller in terms of console VR.

Most likely, the headset is connected to the computer with wires. The game runs on the remote machine and the HMD is a peripheral display device with a motion sensing input. The term desktop is an unfortunate misnomer since it's just as likely to be stationed in either a living room or a den.

The Oculus Rift (https://www.oculus.com/) is an example of a device where the goggles have an integrated display and sensors. The games run on a separate PC. Other desktop headsets include the HTC VIVE, Sony's PlayStation VR, and Microsoft immersive Mixed Reality.

Desktop VR devices rely on a desktop computer (usually via video and USB cables) for CPU and graphics processing unit (GPU) power, where more is better. Please refer to the recommended specification requirements for your specific device.

However, for the purpose of this book, we won't have any heavy rendering in our projects, and you can get by with minimum system specifications.