Gaming is great on Apple Vision Pro if you've got an additional $1,000 in gear

Apple Vision Pro is great at gaming when you can find it

Apple Vision Pro is a futuristic mixed reality headset with lots of power thanks to the M5. The high-resolution displays make everything crisp and clear.

However, as I've reiterated many times over the past two years, developer support is nonexistent.

Those that do bother supporting the platform have been doing some amazing work. I wrote about Portal, a PlayStation Remote Play client that works on Apple Vision Pro. It has premium features that let me unlock 4K 3D streaming from the PlayStation 5.

It's quite the experience that can only really be found on Apple Vision Pro. Sure, other headsets might have enough power to pull it off, but not at the resolution and fidelity offered by Apple Vision Pro. It is an experience unique to the $3,500 headset.

Other, cheaper, headsets have two very familiar problems for anyone that has tried VR: the screen door effect and motion sickness-inducing frame rates. Neither are a problem on Apple Vision Pro.

The streaming capabilities of Remote Play and the upscaling and 3D effects provided by Portal on a device capable of showing Retina-quality software make for an amazing gaming experience.

Native gaming on Apple Vision Pro

I've been playing more native games on Apple Vision Pro and each offers a unique experience. I have around 16 games installed right now, and I'd be willing to say that's about the limit of "good" VR games on the platform. Perhaps 20 if you account for games I didn't get because they're outside of what I'd like.

One of the games, Spatial Ops, is actually quite fun! It really takes advantage of the mixed-reality aspects offered by Apple Vision Pro. I'm in my office with a 3D-rendered square on the floor showing my boundaries, I can easily see where my furniture is, and portals open up in five directions around me with enemies. I'm twisting and turning, looking up above me, shooting enemies in this rail-shooter style game.

Oh, and it actually uses the PSVR2 controllers. In fact, they're required.

A VR first-person shooter with disembodied hands holding guns shooting at masked enemies in a portal-like window — "Spatial Ops" is a showcase of Apple Vision Pro's abilities

It was reminiscent of arcade cabinet rail shooters, but if you could be inside a sphere of screens. I'm aware other VR headsets have offered similar experiences for years, and Apple Vision Pro isn't doing anything novel in that aspect.

However, the resolution and mixed reality fidelity, I believe, are unique to Apple Vision Pro. I'd love to see more games take advantage of the platform.

Of course, you can always hop into Job Simulator if you like, but it doesn't support PSVR2 controllers. You're kind of just grabbing at the air in that one.

I'm quite hopeful for the platform even if experiences are few and far between. Perhaps Apple will reveal an exciting game partnership or new slate of games coming later this year during WWDC 2026.