Micro-Star International’s gigantic virtual reality backpack is available for purchase if you’re in the market for the biggest wearable computer you can possibly buy. The backpack, called the VR One, allows players to make use of an Oculus Rift or an HTC Vive without being tethered to a laptop or desktop. Instead, you will just be tethered to a massive, eight-pound backpack computer, whirring away right behind your head.
The VR One starts at about $2,000 and goes up from there depending on the specs. To be fair, it is an impressive gaming PC, packing an Intel Core i7-6820HK processor, 16GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. You will be able to get some serious performance out of the VR One, but not for long stretches at a time.
Not only will the nearly 10 pounds of computer equipment on your back likely be less than comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, you’re only going to get about 90 minutes of battery life. You will be able to hot swap batteries if you bought a few extras and you have a pit crew nearby, but the added hassle seems to contradict the whole point of the rig — to provide a seamless, immersive, and untethered VR experience.
The MSI VR One comes with two batteries, and is available for purchase in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia, China, and Taiwan, according to Liliputing. The all-in-one backpack PC will start shipping on November 30.
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