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Home / News / Oculus looks set to introduce full-body tracking

Oculus looks set to introduce full-body tracking

Could this feature make VR good?

Meta Oculus Quest headset being used

Virtual reality (VR) is still very much in its infancy despite having been around for what seems like decades.

But current gear can’t yet provide a fully immersive experience. Oculus-owner Meta is looking set to change this by introducing body tracking in future Oculus devices.

Oculus‘ latest Software Development Kit (SDK) release contains an option for body tracking, as first noted by Upload VR. The SDK is an official resource released by Oculus to help developers prepare apps, so the information included there is reliable.

Neither Meta nor Oculus have made any announcement about the upcoming feature, it’s just been spotted in the SDK. That makes sense, as the feature will probably be a big selling point for the next Oculus device to include it.

It’s currently unclear which Oculus device will receive the new feature. We know that Oculus is working on a Quest 3 device, and a high-end device, so it could be featured on either of those. It’ll probably be the expected Quest Pro, as a higher-end model could come with new tech inside.

To enable the body tracking feature, it’s likely the Oculus devices will need new sensors. The current Oculus Quest packs cameras, and inertia sensors between the headset and controls. The inertia sensor will have to be more powerful, or Oculus will have to add an accelerometer and gyroscope.

Currently, VR headsets can only track your head and hand movements, unless you’ve got an expensive rig with movement sensors. Oculus’ new feature will likely be less reliable than dedicated sensors, but still a step up from no body tracking at all.

Adding body tracking right into a headset would be a big step forward for VR headsets, and make the experience more affordable. Let’s just hope the company gets it right.

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About

Connor is a writer for Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. He has been writing for around seven years now, with writing across the web and in print too. Connor has experience on most major platforms, though does hold a place in his heart for macOS, iOS/iPadOS, electric vehicles, and smartphone tech. Just like everyone else around here, he’s a fan of gadgets of all sorts! Aside from writing, Connor is involved in the startup scene. This exciting involvement puts him at the front of new and exciting tech, always on the lookout for innovating products.

Areas of expertise

Mobile, macOS, EVs, smart home