Virtual reality is in a bit of a weird place right now. After a lot of unfulfilled promise in the 1990s, it came back strong with the 2016 release of the Oculus Rift. For a while, it looked like VR, AR, XR, the metaverse, or whatever you wanted to call it, was going to be huge. Mark Zuckerberg was certainly convinced, and even Apple got in on the hype with its Vision Pro.

But by then momentum for alternate realities of every acronym was already in steady decline, and it only dwindled from there. The rate of development of new headsets has slowed, with many companies (including Apple) scaling back or shelving their efforts. While new releases like the Steam Frame and Pimax Dream Air are still happening, many of the most interesting developments in the space these days are on the enthusiast front.

That’s right, DIY VR is a thing, and with a couple hundred dollars in components, plus many hours of your time, you too can enter the immersive world of virtual reality while also experiencing the highs and lows of soldering, firmware flashing, and 3D printing. I rode that rollercoaster myself and learned why this is still a decidedly niche movement.

The DIY VR landscape is vast and varied. From simple cardboard viewers to full-blown DIY headsets, the possibilities are endless. But as someone who has lived the experience, I can say that while the thrill is real, the technical challenges can be daunting. The learning curve is steep, and the satisfaction of putting together a functional VR headset is indeed rewarding, but it’s a journey few are willing to embark on.

The question remains: is DIY VR a stepping stone to a future where VR is ubiquitous, or just a fleeting fad for tech enthusiasts? For now, it seems to be the latter. But for those who are in it for the long haul, the journey is the reward.