VR Headsets for the Arena: Configuration, Challenges, and Solutions

VR headsets are one of the most important investments you’ll make and the key to delivering unforgettable player experiences.

To answer all your questions on this topic, we spoke with BATTLE START’s CTO, as well as testers and support staff. We’ve gathered the most important and up-to-date information, along with useful and not-so-obvious tips from our team.

Read on, take notes, and put it all into practice.

Unfortunately, the VR equipment market today isn’t much different from the smartphone market. You can order a basic device, but to get it working properly, you’ll need to buy several additional gadgets.

We’ve already written about which VR headsets to choose (Pico 4, Pico 4 Ultra, or Meta Quest 3) in this article. Now it’s time to break down in detail what else you’ll need for the equipment to function properly:

First, an additional strap or mounting system for each headset. This provides a more comfortable fit for the player’s head. But most importantly, it allows you to attach an external battery. On average, this gives you an extra two hours of continuous gameplay.

Second, the external batteries themselves. During peak hours, weekends, and holidays, we recommend having three charged power banks for each VR headset running non-stop: one connected, two ready to swap in.

Third, charging docks for those power banks.
Small tip: Power banks charge twice as fast when connected directly via cable rather than through a charging dock.

Fourth, power adapters. The more powerful, the better. Also, rechargeable batteries for the controllers. They cost more than single-use ones, but over the long run, they’ll save your budget.

With the setup described above, your equipment will handle even the busiest day.

Problem #1:

Visitors are complaining about blurry images, motion sickness, or discomfort? Do you think the headsets are outdated and it’s time to replace the equipment?

Before making such an expensive purchase, make sure the lenses have been wiped clean and check whether your arena’s instructors are adjusting the interpupillary distance for each player.

Head size, player's glasses, individual visual characteristics—all of this needs to be taken into account and adjusted, ideally for each guest.

Depending on the model, this is done either through the headset menu or manually using a special adjustment wheel. If you can’t figure out how to do it on your own, contact our technical support team for instructions.

Train your staff on this simple but critically important step, and your guests will enjoy our virtual worlds without disappointment.

Problem #2:

If you have Pico 4 or Pico 4 Ultra headsets and you’ve noticed that they’re overheating or glitching, the issue might be dust.

No matter how often you wipe down the equipment or how clean your arena is, the air is never sterile. A design flaw with these headsets is that dirt gets inside through the ventilation grilles (see photo).

So don’t rush to replace the equipment. Try having it cleaned first. Our technical specialists recommend taking your Pico 4 and Pico 4 Ultra headsets in for diagnostics and dust removal at least once a year.

A key point: Due to its different casing design, the Meta Quest 3 does not have this problem.

Problem #3:

You have Pico 4 and Pico 4 Ultra VR headsets that are only a few months old, but cracks are already starting to appear on the side straps. You don't understand where they're coming from, since you and your instructors handle the equipment carefully at the VR arena.

The reason is actually quite straightforward. Arena staff and/or your guests are holding and carrying the VR headsets incorrectly.

There's only one correct way to do it: hold the headset by the back (and heaviest) part of the strap.

If you grip it from the front (by the headset itself where the lenses are) or from the side by the movable strap, it will inevitably break. And that means extra repair costs for you.

Buying headsets is the easy part. The hard part? Making sure they run all day without issues and that guests aren't complaining about the image quality.

But it's worth it. Because in the end, a BATTLE START arena is all about premium quality — from the service right down to the best free-roam VR games.