UK-based Roto VR has announced the Roto VR Explorer, a spinning chair designed to enhance VR experiences. The chair, priced at USD 799, is compatible with Meta Quest headsets and other VR systems. It is expected to ship in October 2024.

The Roto VR Explorer features an electric motor that can spin users at speeds up to 21 revolutions per minute, matching the user's head movements. It includes a proprietary motion-sensing head tracker, haptic feedback under the seat, and a USB port for charging VR headsets.

The company claims the chair can reduce motion sickness by providing real-world movements that coincide with what's seen in VR, potentially making the experience less disorienting. It also aims to address issues around 360-degree viewing in VR spaces, offering a solution for smaller areas where full-body movements may be restricted.

Analyst QuickTake: The chair offers another pathway for the XR industry to address motion-sickness concerns, although its steep price point and functionality will likely appeal only to a niche audience (the Quest 3 headset is priced at USD 499). Other firms addressing similar concerns include VMocion , whose technology claims to prevent motion sickness by sending impulses to the ear's vestibular system, which controls balance and spatial orientation.