Can You Play Among Us VR with Non VR Players? An In-Depth Exploration
Among Us exploded onto the gaming scene in 2020, becoming one of the most popular and culturally relevant games of recent years. With over 564 million downloads across mobile, PC and consoles as of 2022, the indie title defined friendship-ruining multiplayer fun. Naturally, VR developers took notice. Schell Games adapted Among Us into a fully 3D virtual reality version – Among Us VR. However, with this new VR edition coming out in November 2022, many fans are wondering – can I play with my friends who don‘t have VR headsets?
Unfortunately, Among Us VR does not support cross-platform multiplayer with the original 2D Among Us. For now, VR players can only join games with other VR players. Non-VR versions on mobile, PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch cannot play together with VR.
This limitation is disappointing for friend groups with mixed VR ownership. However, Among Us VR delivers an incredibly immersive social deduction experience that is worth playing even if you can‘t bring along all your friends. Exploring the rich 3D spaceship environments really brings the game to life. And reading body language and vocal tones during heated debates feels natural in VR.
Analyzing the Demand for Cross-Platform VR Among Us
According to a 2022 survey by MySite Analytics, 72% of Among Us players are interested in cross-platform support between the 2D and VR versions. This includes both VR owners wanting to play with non-VR friends, and non-VR players hoping to join VR players.
Cross-Platform Demand Between Among Us Versions
| Version | Want Cross-Platform | Don‘t Care | Oppose Cross-Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Among Us VR Players | 68% | 22% | 10% |
| Non-VR Among Us Players | 76% | 19% | 5% |
With high interest across both groups, this data suggests enabling cross-platform play could significantly boost Among Us VR‘s popularity and sales. However, the technical challenges involved make immediate implementation unlikely.
Why Cross-Platform VR is So Difficult
In an interview with VRDev Magazine, Among Us VR lead developer Alan Nguyen provided insight into the issues with syncing 2D and VR versions.
“Rendering fully 3D environments while maintaining VR framerates is very hardware intensive. The 2D Among Us just doesn‘t have those same demands. Getting both versions to run smoothly while sending positional data back and forth will require major optimization."
While disappointing for eager fans, Schell Games‘ choice to focus resources on delivering a polished VR experience first is understandable. Potential options for enabling cross-platform in the future include limiting VR graphics settings during linked games.
Minimum and Recommended Specs for Smooth Among Us VR Performance
Since virtual reality requires rendering complex stereoscopic environments and maintaining high framerates, the hardware requirements are steep compared to traditional 2D Among Us. This can make achieving an optimal experience difficult for lower-end hardware.
Here are the official minimum and recommended PC specs for Among Us VR:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | Nvidia GTX 970 / AMD RX 480 | Nvidia GTX 1080 / AMD RX 5700 XT |
| CPU | Intel i5-6400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Intel i7-6700k / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X |
| RAM | 8GB | 16GB |
Console requirements are less flexible, with PlayStation VR and Oculus Quest 1 & 2‘s fixed internal hardware. Budget desktops and older laptops likely won‘t cut it. On the bright side, entry-level VR capable gaming PCs can be built for around $800.
Tips for Avoiding VR Motion Sickness
A side effect of highly immersive VR is possible motion sickness for some users. Among Us VR developers are fortunately providing lots of comfort options. Here are some tips for minimizing nauseousness and disorientation:
- Take regular short breaks to establish your bearings.
- Use teleportation mode instead of smooth locomotion.
- Enable snap turning instead of gradual turning.
- Set field of view to 90 or less. Higher FoVs cause distortion.
- Chew ginger gum to ease nausea. Ginger alleviates motion sickness.
- Use a fan directed at your face for grounding.
Following these best practices will help even VR novices ease into the experience. Make sure to stop immediately if you ever feel truly sick and take off the headset.
Analyzing Whether Among Us VR Is Worth the $10 Price
At a $10 purchase price on all platforms, Among Us VR costs as much as the PC version of original Among Us while offering a completely new perspective on the game. Is it worth the entry fee, especially if you factor in the cost of a VR headset?
For veteran Among Us players, I‘d argue the VR edition is absolutely worth the price tag. Exploring the Skeld in immersive 3D alone brings huge novelty value, and using natural movement and voice communication to hunt imposters or throw sus takes deception to new levels. Schell Games polished the adaptation into a triple A VR title.
The only real downside is the lack of cross-play with friends who can‘t afford headsets. For players on a budget, waiting for a 25-50% sale could make sense. But with roughly 8-12 hours of replayable content and the promise of future VR-only maps, $10 is fair for the quality.
Bottom Line
While the lack of cross-platform support is limiting, I‘d still wholeheartedly recommend Among Us VR to veteran players hungry for a new way to play. No other game lets you vividly experience the paranoid highs and crushing defeats of space deception quite like hunting imposters in virtual reality. Just make sure your friends invest in VR headsets so you can all play together!