Pico 4 Ultra set to power Varonia’s free-roaming VR arcades

Image: MIXED

Pico XR is teaming up with Varonia Systems to bring large-scale, free-roaming VR to a new level.

FACTS

Pico XR has announced a new partnership with Varonia Systems, a French startup specializing in VR solutions for expansive, free-roaming experiences. Founded in 2017, Varonia has built a solid presence in the French market, running more than 60 Virtual Games Park arcades across France, plus another ten locations worldwide.

Looking ahead, Varonia’s arcades will be equipped with Pico 4 Ultra Enterprise headsets, enabling high-end PC VR streaming for groups of up to 30 participants simultaneously. Varonia’s VR parks aren’t exactly cramped — players get to roam over more than 2,000 square meters of space.

CONTEXT

Pico’s ongoing push

Pico has been making a steady stream of announcements recently, with new projects and feature releases showing up at a regular clip. This all comes after the company weathered a significant round of layoffs in late 2023. Last year’s launch of the Pico 4 Ultra marked a major hardware update, and Pico has kept the momentum going with a series of software improvements.

The latest OS update, version 5.13.0.U, brought some notable upgrades: it now supports converting 2D photos to 3D images, adds compatibility with Spatial Photos from the iPhone 16, and includes a new performance tuner for optimizing applications. Pico’s own motion trackers — launched alongside the Pico 4 Ultra — have also received a boost. As of early April, the Pico Motion Tracker Waist version rounds out the company’s in-house full-body tracking solution.

On the developer side, Pico has taken steps to lower the entry barrier for independent XR creators. Individual developers can now release and sell their apps directly through the Pico Developer Console, no publisher or middleman required. The intention here is clear: make it easier and faster for both seasoned XR developers and newcomers to share their work with a global audience.

What do you think of Pico’s VR arcade ambitions? Join the conversation on Facebook, Bluesky or X or share your opinion in the comments below.

For feedback, topic suggestions, or other ideas, please email us at hello@mixed-news.com.

Note: Links to online stores in articles can be so-called affiliate links. If you buy through this link, MIXED receives a commission from the provider. For you the price does not change.