While it may not have been quite as convincing as other VR offerings in the market, Nintendo’s Labo VR kit was a likeable experiment which proved that even on tech as humble as Switch, a decent virtual reality experience could be achieved.
VR modes have since been added to several key releases, and it would seem that Nintendo is keen to leverage interest in VR further as it has recently filed a patent for a revised Switch VR headset, made of plastic rather than cardboard.
Applied for by Nintendo in February 2018 at the Japanese Patent Office, the application details a ‘3D image display system and 3D image display device’ and was published on 22nd August 2019. The design is a close match to the Labo VR headset, right down to the fact that there’s no head strap and the console has to be held by the Joy-Con controllers.
However, there are some key differences. The interior of the headset is lined with foam for increased comfort, and the lenses are shielded so less light will be able to enter the device.
This would be a great way of allowing players to experience VR-based titles on Switch without having to full their houses with cardboard, assuming the price point is reasonable. Of course, not all patents make it into finished products, but we’d like to think this one has a good chance of getting to market – especially as it seems there is demand for more VR on Nintendo’s console.
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