When is VR cloud streaming finally going to arrive?
MIXED reader Marc M. wanted to know when streaming VR games from the cloud will be more widely available.
Do you have a question for the editorial team about anything VR or AR? Send it to tomislav@mixed.de with "Question" in the subject line, and with any luck we'll answer it in an article like this one.
This article's question comes from our reader Marc M.:
I would like to know if we can expect VR cloud streaming like Xbox Cloud Gaming in the near future? What is the current status?
Hi Marc,
VR cloud streaming is a promising concept because it combines the best of both worlds: the graphics and performance of PC VR with the freedom of a standalone VR headset that doesn't require a local PC.
There are many reasons why this type of cloud gaming or cloud gaming in general has not taken off yet. In many parts of the world, underdeveloped network infrastructure or long distances to cloud servers can result in high latency or unstable image quality. Because these parameters have an even greater impact on the experience in VR than on a TV or monitor, VR cloud gaming is even more technically challenging than traditional cloud gaming. In addition, the VR market is much smaller, which discourages rather than encourages investments in this area.
Meta prohibits apps in the Horizon Store that offer VR cloud streaming, which makes it difficult for providers to successfully market their cloud services. Plutosphere shut down its service in 2024 for this reason, followed by Varjo a few months later. The cloud computing service Shadow still supports VR cloud streaming, but the VR app required must also be sideloaded, adding friction to this solution.
Meta itself has been quietly testing an official solution for VR cloud streaming on Meta Quest under the codename Avalanche for many years. Last year, a test app even appeared in the Horizon Store, but was removed later. The use of cloud streaming for Meta's hyperrealistic VR environments recently raised hopes that Avalanche might soon launch as part of a beta test.
Meta Quest offers an Xbox Cloud Gaming app and, since early 2025, Nvidia Geforce Now (the latter also supports other VR headsets). However, both services only offer classic 2D streaming, not VR streaming. In 2020, Nvidia launched the CloudXR service together with Google, but the project has gone quiet in recent years.
It would make sense for Meta to team up with Microsoft or Nvidia to offer VR cloud streaming for Horizon OS. However, there are no hints or reports in this direction. We can only speculate as to when an official solution might come. Meta's Jason Rubin said in 2020 that VR cloud streaming is at least six years away from being ready for the market.
I could see Meta starting at least an open Avalanche beta in the next three to five years, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Kind regards,
Tomislav
Have you tried VR cloud streaming? 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.
