Modders Discover Secret 'VR Mode' in Nintendo Switch

[Guest]

Modders discovered a secret "VrMode" in the Nintendo Switch that could hint at plans for the console to be a possible VR device in the future.

Modders Discover Secret 'VR Mode' in Nintendo Switch : Read more

 

[John Nemesh]

Without proper tracking, it would be just as limited as cell phone "VR". No thanks. There is also the possibility that this is just legacy code having to do with Nvidia's tech...

 

[stdragon]

At best, this could support 3D TV displays via stereoscopic output.

 

[acme64]

not a surprise. Nintendo is always testing bleeding edge tech. Their NES prototypes where wireless

 

[Jeff Fx]

Without proper tracking, it would be just as limited as cell phone "VR". No thanks. There is also the possibility that this is just legacy code having to do with Nvidia's tech...

It wouldn't even have the high quality 3DOF tracking that cell phone VR does, and 720p divided across 2 eyes is really bad resolution.
I expect that this was a bad idea that went nowhere after a single demo.

 

[cryoburner]

This is something I thought of when the console was first announced. It's likely that Nintendo was considering VR while designing the Switch, and while it's also likely that the existing hardware might not make for a particularly good VR experience, due to the device's size, weight and resolution, they could definitely make it happen in a "Switch Lite" with a 1080p screen released as a half-generation update.

It wouldn't even have the high quality 3DOF tracking that cell phone VR does

The joy-cons each include 3DOF tracking, so one of them could attach to the headset to fulfill that role. One of them includes an IR camera as well, which could be used in combination with an IR emitter (like the Wii's sensor bar) to also add positional tracking. And of course, there's also the possibility of them incorporating additional electronics into the headset peripheral itself, or an external camera sensor like the Oculus Rift uses.