In case anyone has considered one of these and wasn’t sure if it was a gimmick, hassle, or waste of money, I figured I’d share my thoughts. I finally took the plunge and ordered a haptic suit. Initially, I woke up with buyer’s remorse when it arrived. I almost didn’t open it, fearing disappointment. However, after setting it up, I realized it’s not a gimmick at all!
Comfort/Design: The vest is well made, lightweight, comfortable, and flexible. It takes just 3 seconds to put on or take off.
Software/Support: bHaptics has created comprehensive software. There’s a Steam/PC app, mobile app, and Meta app, all of which can control the suit. You can fully customize how the vest works, creating and sharing profiles that adjust sound frequencies, intensity, location, and more. I was really impressed with this.
While not all newer games have native support, many have user-generated profiles available. You can use Audio-To-Haptics to split headphone audio for the vest, and there are thousands of custom profiles for various games and experiences.
Experience: Native games are fantastic. The suit enhances the immersion significantly, from feeling energy waves during teleportation to the impact of hits in combat. Playing Beat Saber with a custom profile feels like being in front of a concert speaker, and it truly elevates the experience.
The standout for me has been modded SkyrimVR. You can feel effects like healing spells sending ripples through your body, wind intensity variations, and even the sensation of rain. It adds incredible immersion, especially during fights.
Overall, I love it and highly recommend it. It’s easy to use after initial setup, taking only 30 seconds to get started. I hope more people buy these and push for developer support for even more native compatibility.