Have you ever watched a movie in a cinema with only you in the audience? Watching a movie in VR is a bit like that: the screen is super huge, but there’s nobody around you in the screening room.
We often see questions on Discord or Reddit about how to watch movies in VR. Well, here we answer them, including how to watch videos on the Pimax Crystal!
Types of Videos for VR Headsets
Virtual reality has paved the way for totally new types of multimedia these days. Today there exist countless VR games and at least four different types of videos that you can watch on VR headsets:
2D videos
These videos are ordinary movies and series that we can watch on a screen like a computer or television. You can watch 2D videos on VR headsets almost the same way that you would watch them on a screen monitor. You can find these regular videos by downloading or watching them on YouTube. They have no special VR features and you can have an big screen experience just like that you are in the cinema or even you can choose the senses where you are watching videos.
180 or 360 Degree Videos
180-degree videos are videos that you can see from up to down and 360-degree videos, also known as surround videos, or immersive videos or spherical videos, are video recordings where a view in every direction is recorded at the same time. You can typically view them via personal computers, mobile devices such as smartphones, or dedicated head-mounted displays. Users can pan around the video by clicking and dragging. With a VR headset, you can turn your head and look around the environment to get an immersive experience.
3D Videos
3D videos are motion pictures made to give an illusion of three-dimensional solidity, usually with the help of special glasses worn by viewers. You may have the experience to watch a 3D film in the cinema, which may be the film of Avatar from James Cameron. With a VR headset, you can feel yourself dive into the story.
Virtual Reality movies
With full VR of interactive and immersible virtual 3D space, you can look around a 3D-rendered environment. This kind of video format takes into account both the 360° panorama and three-dimensional sense to let you feel full interaction. You can regard them as VR games but only for watching.
How to Watch on Crystal
Pimax Crystal, known as a PC VR and all-in-one dual-mode headset, owns more ways to watch videos.
Standalone mode
In all-in-one mode, you can download the Whirligig Media Player and watch it directly. Or you can get wireless streaming with your Crystral to a PC and watch it through a VR media player like Skybox.
Using Whirligig media player:
Step 1: Connect the Crystal to your computer and put the movie files in the folder 'Movie'.
In standalone mode, download Whirligig media player:
Configure the settings to your liking:
Open your movie to watch in VR!
PC VR mode
In PC VR mode, you can use DP wired direct connection or WIGig wireless connection, run the Pimax Store or SteamVR software, and select local video files to be played through the VR media player.
By VR Browser
What about all the streaming services without a native app? HBO Max, Hulu, and Paramount Plus may not have VR apps, for this situation, you can open the websites in a browser as a basic workaround. Open Browser in VR and visit the website for the streaming service you’re interested in viewing. You can use your member information to log in and start watching videos.
Apps for Watching Movies on VR Headset
CINEVR
CINEVR is a virtual, social and immersive movie theater to hang out with friends and watch premium movies in 2D, 3D and 360° in one of the 7 thematic theaters: Movie theater, 60s Drive-In, Beach in the moonlight, Haunted House, Antic theater, Spaceship or Imax. Plus, there are various movies on demand, including an extensive French catalog for those who are interested in foreign films.
SKYBOX
SKYBOX player has a long history with years of accumulation, leading to the truth that it is stable and fully functional. The home page scene and viewing scenes are mainly realistic style. In addition, it catches more on detail settings, such as a number of languages that can be changed directly.
Bigscreen
Rather than a player, Bigscreen is more like a multiplayer social interaction platform with movie watching at its core. Online resources are abundant, with movies, TV shows, YouTube and everything else, and you can invite or join other players into the virtual theater to watch movies together, using props like paintbrushes, popcorn and Coke bottles when watching movies. Playback function is not as complete as the special VR video player, but if you want to experience online movie watching, experience and other vr player interaction, this application must be the first choice.
Whirligig
Whirligig is a VR media player for the playback and viewing of video files and images. You can download it directly from Pimax Store. lt support a wide range of projection types, and render paths and has many other features to make your experience as enjoyable as possible.
VRChat
Ok, this isn't a real movie-watching app, but it's a free VR game, and in some worlds you can watch movies!
Summary
Watching movies on a VR headset is a fantastic experience, similar to going to the cinema. And with headsets like the Pimax Crystal, you can have a crystal clear VR-watching experience, better and bigger than any TV screen could recreate.
Plus, watching VR videos with friends is a great way to socialize and connect with each other, especially when it’s difficult to do in real life. The best part is that it’s easy to do when you want to find out how to watch a video with the help of this article. Thanks for your reading.
