It was only a matter of time before futuristic portrayals of the internet became reality, and a Korean company called bHaptics is doing just that. The company unveiled a new haptic feedback vest called the TactSuit at CES 2021 that can be used to make VR gaming experiences feel more life-like for an experience right out of Ready Player One.
The TactSuit that was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show this month comes in two types based on how many vibration points you want in the vest. The TactSuit X16, which will retail for $299, has 16 vibration points throughout the vest. The TactSuit X40, which will retail for $499, has 40 vibration points. The vests can be worn while playing PC, console or VR games and connect via Bluetooth to your other hardware to sync with your game and provide a more life-like gaming experience. Through the haptic vibration vest, you can physically feel what your character feels while navigating through virtual worlds.
The company unveiled the product at CES, but plans to make it available as soon as possible. Plans to ship out the first orders of the products are set for February 8th, and the company offers other haptic gear to immerse yourself even further into the game. However, the full experience is pretty pricey. It’s clear that these products will not be widely used among casual gamers, and since VR is still a fairly new industry with a lot of kinks to work out (it’s not uncommon for users to experience motion sickness when using a VR head set, especially if they’re not used to the experience), the TactSuit might be ahead of its time.
Regardless of its popularity or easily accessible price, the TactSuit X16 and TactSuit X40 will usher in a new generation of technology in the gaming world. The vest, which is a one size fits all model, weighs about 3.3 pounds and can run for around 18 hours on a single charge through its Lithium Ion battery. You can order a TactSuit here.
