this post was submitted on 13 Oct 2025
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It's always cool to see such projects, and I was discussing about the topic just yesterday.
... but please, don't spend $150 on that. This is limited has it has :
so it's basically a more open but not standalone version of the Oculus Go. For context the Go is from 2018 and back then was $200 while being standalone. Note also that the Go is rootable, cf https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/unlocking-oculus-go/
There are also other DIY VR HMDs, e.g. https://github.com/relativty/Relativty from 2020 which similar limitations. In fact this made so much buzz back then the founder managed to ride the hype and make (sadly) a VC funded startup. I say sadly because the initial project was all open VR and openness but once the money was locked-in... well I let you check.
So... again this is VERY cool to build but please do not consider this anything but a way to learn. If you do want to play with VR with a limited budget consider instead an accountless (meaning no Meta involved) second hand Meta 2 then Alvr or WiVRn (cf https://lvra.gitlab.io/ for more).
But can I watch porn
If you go down that path check https://buttplug.io/ because the fun does not have to stop with just vision!
The kraken comes.
you know when you don't click the link but its so well named that you probably already know exactly what it is and what features it has?
Believe me it's even more than you imagine!
This is hilarious
You can do that with a phone in a cardboard box
The lack of controllers is the biggest impediment to these "Homemade VR" projects.
You might as well slap your phone in a Cardboard VR and use ALVR, and you'll be surprised at how convincing it is, but you'll quickly find there aren't many VR games worth playing with the standard gamepad.
Basic headset would be good for sim racing.
Might as well just chuck a phone in a cardboard box
Have tried, works better than expected IMO.
PS: for those who remember back then Relativty it became Unai then https://unison.co/ which according to LinkedIn (so take it via a grain of salt) went from 30 employees a year ago to half of that now
and maybe more importantly hasn't delivered anything I'm aware of. In itself that's no big deal, startups do that, but it's definitely quite far from the initial openness debut.
The reason this reminds you of Relativity is because that's what it is with modifications.
Note that despite the lack of OpenXR support by relying on https://github.com/relativty/Relativty#14-software-setup they might support some SteamVR games. That said, again, it's ~~6DoF~~ 3DoF and outdated so which actual games would be fun, not just playable, is a different question.
You mean 3dof?
There was a relativty fork vis3r that started writing a monado driver. Not quite complete but it could be a starting point for anyone wanting to make one.
Oops yes of course, thanks, fixed.
Neat, yes could be a starting point, any URL please?
https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/Anorak/monado/-/compare/main...master?from_project_id=2685 Pretty old code...
Old yet a starting point nevertheless so still quite useful, thanks for the pointer
Still good enough for driving and flying sims.
I think it's good enough for learning and doing something weird but Meta Quest 1 or 2 cost less (just checked 2nd hand local website and saw a few for 100€) and require 0 hardware work while providing 6DoF (leaning just a tad in your cockpit? Huge difference) and higher refresh rate.
Again, it's amazing to tinker but unless it's part of a both technical and ethical adventure then I believe there are better options out there already.
Those who want to use vr will buy, sometimes it's not about destination but about the journey. And this can inspire someone to further improve on design and maybe makes it even more user friendly, cheap and with no strings to shitty corpos.
Sure, that's literally how I started both comments but I can try to clarify a bit more my point : if you want to "just" use, this isn't great, but if you enjoy building itself, it might be even better.
FWIW I do both, including professionally, so I definitely get the point of making a headset, or anything really (I even do a bit of woodworking and welding) yourself or building thanks to the previous projects of others. I'm definitely NOT suggesting it shouldn't be attempted. I'm solely warning people who are solely, or even mostly, interested in a usable object while investing minimum effort in.
I second utopiah's point, if assembling one with your own hands sounds like fun to you, go for it. But a second hand Reverb G2 from ebay will almost certainly be both cheaper, and better for using it in almost every way, it would even have significantly higher resolution.
How would I use a meta 2 without an account?
For now you have to use non open-source software PrivateQuest to pair it. I recommend to factory reset it first but anyway instructions are there, can be a bit finicky but does work.
I've read that some are trying to port it to GadgetBridge which would be ideal.
Make a throwaway account…..