Can You Play the Oculus Quest 2 Outside?

So you just got your hands on Facebook’s incredible standalone VR headset, the Oculus Quest 2, and are excited to jump into a massive catalogue of AAA games and experiences. There’s just one problem, you don’t have enough physical space to play!
When it came to the original Oculus Quest, some users found success in moving their play sessions outside, allowing them to harness the unlimited space afforded by mother nature to literally run throughout their virtual worlds; a risky move considering the fact that direct sunlight has the ability to damage the lenses and sensors. But what about the Oculus Quest 2? Can Facebook’s new-and-improved headset also be used outdoors? Well, the answer is yes and no.
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[@samegilman]

Just play outside at night with an IR Illuminator. Playing Walkabout Mini Golf was an amazingly immersive experience. Playing the snow level with a cool breeze actually hitting me was something special.

[@Rinzaiku]

and get bit by mosquitos? no

[@exclusivelymadeforthat]

@wormdragonfurry there isnt mosquitos EVERYWHERE, and you're startin to confuse me on what you mean by 'bit', its december theres no mosquitos

[@Rinzaiku]

@@exclusivelymadeforthat yes there are mosquitos, their there all year.

[@samegilman]

@@Rinzaiku lol no mosquitos where I live, though right now it's also a bit too cold to play outside at night as well. To deal with those pesky mosquitos though you could light a fire/tiki torches and use shitloads of deet.

[@exclusivelymadeforthat]

@@Rinzaiku wrong

[@ElChumies915]

I took my Oculus Quest 2 outside when it was sunset (I have a backyard where I have a lot of shade and still a lot of light) and I had no issues at all. Everything worked perfectly fine.

[@aliali-qy1vv]

So can I play at night?

[@shawthedawg]

​@@aliali-qy1vv i recommend having a flashlight outside or an ir light outside at night

[@kk_teh_corgo4120]

you could, but it only takes one ray of sunlight at the right angle to ruin your display

[@vileplanet7170]

What if I’m inside the shadow?

[@colevilleproductions]

if direct sunlight hits them, absolutely, but I'm more worried about the sensors and I can't find much about them getting damaged.

[@eflex7278]

how tho, the headset is on my head and take it off inside

[@colevilleproductions]

@@eflex7278 it won't ruin the display if the lenses are never exposed to sunlight, but the main thing to worry about would be the sensors. I'm just not sure if it will mess up the sensors.

[@adoginvrofficial]

@@colevilleproductions I done searching, and the cameras wont get damaged. The tracking would just work poorly due to brightness. So use no boundary and just be supervised or he careful.

[@Swordsoulreaver]

I attached a kind of veil to my quest, that goes over my head and blocks the sun from going into the headset on the off-chance that the angle is good enough for it to do so. It's an absolute blast playing outside, during cloudy hours of the day. Far more space and far lower risk of accidentally hitting something.

[@blackbird942]

Great idea could you explain how you attached it ? Was it a pretty thick veil or not? Just wondering how it would play it if it might weigh more when turning your head.

[@Swordsoulreaver]

@@blackbird942 It was thick enough that you could only barely see the sun through it, and I attached it by taking off the foam face cover, then putting the edges of the veil through from above and reattaching the face cover. It held in place well enough, and it didn't really add any weight to the headset. Hopefully my explanation makes sense. Essentially the face cover held it in place, I didn't modify any part of the headset to achieve it.

[@TheNeteenhu]

Hey friend, does that veil make the headset work properly during high sun? I really, really want to play it outside, but in my case, since I am from Brazil, we don't have lawns, we gotta go to the park or something, and most parks in here with proper spacing have no trees around for shades :/

[@Tdugg]

The amount of times this got re-uploaded lmao

[@mrsniper1652]

TM Johnson why did it?

[@Tdugg]

@@mrsniper1652 not sure lol. He hasn't said anything yet

[@cat1n282]

I actually tried playing gorn outside and my controllers worked, I think it’s due to the fact the weather was quite meh for where I live (England)

[@Jinx-rj7kx]

Same

[@streamstream2078]

Can I have a botta of wattah

[@Jinx-rj7kx]

@@streamstream2078 it’s Chewsday innit

[@rologaming9574]

@@streamstream2078 chewsday September 11th

[@lloo9263]

Eww British

[@teenvote]

From my experience in my backyard today, VRScout is totally wrong about the controllers. I used the VR Quest 2 late in the day so there was no sunlight problem (after 8pm CDT). Both the headset AND the controllers worked fine. I was able to use it for the tutorial, which involved picking up blocks, paper airplanes, rockets, a racket and ping pong ball, etc.

[@symple1496]

He did say more shade is better tracking

[@vincecult7020]

Bro their is no sunlight where I am it’s like 9 and it said tracking lost

[@sinrtb]

is it better or worse than quest 1? I found quest 1 worked fine starting at dusk as long as i had adequate artificial lighting. of course always have your headset on if the suns light is visible to avoid sunlight getting in. Thrill of the Fight is absolutely awesome when your roomscale is the size of the boxing ring.

[@DavidEasthope]

Knowing that the Quest 2 tracking cameras can see infrared and use it to track the controllers, I'd imagine that on a sunny day this is just too much "noise" for the tracking to cut through. The sun is, after all, a giant multi-spectral lightbulb. Being outdoors in just the right lighting levels could avoid this, such as just before sunrise or just after sunset, so there isn't a focal point of infrared from the sun causing that confusion. Plus, I can't imagine it's a good idea to overload the external cameras with a level of light that is literally orders of magnitude brighter than they were designed for. That said, I'd love to play something massively roomscale in a giant indoor or outdoor shaded space, like a warehouse or maybe an empty parking garage. I just got Doom 3 working in VR on my Quest 2 and it's an insanely fun experience. It would be amazing having a space as big as an entire level to play in.

[@TheStevieb1983]

LOL , I was just about to comment that you are reading directly from an article online word for word. Then I realized you wrote the article lol. Cheers!

[@vrscout]

Thanks so much for reading! Hope this helped

[@MunchPremium]

Playing it under a bridge where there is not direct sunlight would be great and immersive 100+1 km playpace lol

[@percz9879]

From experience I have played outside quite often and it’s simple, if it is cloudy fine thats the best time or when the sun has just set but u need to make sure that it defo won’t come out or rain

[@Azooart]

Hows your quest doing?

[@percz9879]

Great!

[@lovingbritt]

Thanks it's cloudy today and I wanted to workout in my garage with the door open

[@xsilverzx3616]

@@Azooartdoesn’t matter

[@tinkerduck1373]

I personally would be surprised if the wide- angle camera lenses could be damaged by the sun light. The internal lenses of the display which act like magnifying glasses in contrast are way more endangered imho (or rather the display). Just my 2 cents...

[@samegilman]

Completely agree. Our phone cameras don’t break and are hit my direct sunlight constantly. The inside lenses though, those could be damaged. This is all avoided by just playing outside at night!

[@EuphoricGlowYt]

no the like looky lenses not the camera lenses because it’s literal like a magnifying glass on grass on a sunny day

[@Johnny_Truluv]

It’s like putting a magnifying glass to your tv that’s the how it could get damaged

[@tinkerduck1373]

@@Johnny_Truluv A magnifying glass is the opposite to these wide angle lenses.

[@christopherfears2312]

Accidently was taken outside for literally 2 min. It got a Permanent yellow squiggly line that moves when you move your head.

[@TheRealDyscyples]

Ouch.

[@G46s]

Is it possible for it to be repaired?

[@vladioanalexandru4222]

Is it ok to play about an hour outside at night while it's 15 degrees celsius? I don't have enough space to play superhot so i thougt that I can play in front of my apartment.

[@MisterJoah]

would be so fun if you could play tennis in the garden with real life terrain measurements

[@chachee15]

what if we were under a huge tent? That would work right? Also if you do that does that mean its running off the wifi on your phone?

[@ItsJustTom]

play outside if you want ur display to fry

[@rKaiserP]

That is actually false if it is sunny outside and not too dark, you would want it to be cloudy and no sunlight at all.

[@ItsJustTom]

​@@rKaiserP if there is sun light that goes into the lenses you can burn ur display

[@rKaiserP]

@@ItsJustTom that’s what I just said

[@Storkshark]

@@rKaiserP ok

[@rKaiserP]

@@Storkshark tf was the point of saying ok to that

[@lordjarvis]

I tried a couple of times and it seems like the sunlight overwhelms the cameras

[@brianglossinger3350]

At night with an LED spot light works well for me. Does not not need to be super bright, works better with "shade" type lighting.

[@roisingtommy]

Simply do it on a cloudy day. No sun rays, no damage

[@YngExto]

More harmful rays come out during cloudy days tho :(

[@roisingtommy]

@@YngExto Tracking dont really work well unless it's shadowy

[@Cobber420]

so the lenses can get damadged by sunlight, but what about the tracking cameras?

[@Canyoufitmein]

Used it outside at night and the day, had zero problems but it wasn't sunny.

[@YouAreTroll]

Living in Chicago and having only had my VR goggles for less than three months I'm going to have to wait till the temperatures cooldown to try this outside more. I've tried it at night and during the day and it does not function properly during cold temperatures.

[@thatdudemark8357]

Can you play when its cloudy?

[@Jonathan360]

An umbrella hat might work too

[@jacobeu6414]

when your mom tells you to go outside:

[@jacobeu6414]

just checked cuz im getting it and freaking out that he loved my comment

[@jacobeu6414]

i recommend when its very hot just use big umbrella

[@boov218]

Oculus quest even said “keep it from direct sunlight

[@l_uminousss]

oculus*

[@boov218]

@@l_uminousss I said that?

[@l_uminousss]

@@boov218 you said Oculus quest, thats not the name of the company edit: the quest is a product they make

[@brightpri6692]

@@l_uminousss the product said that. The product. When you load it up. The product says safety tips. You cant take a rift outside Oculus quest said that.

[@l_uminousss]

@@brightpri6692 no, oculus said it, on their website, on their products and on youtube videos. O C U L U S said it. their product cannot make youtube videos or speak to tell people. edit: also, you said you cant take a rift outside. its a quest.

[@CzarScruffington]

Doing his part by masking up on his back porch 😂

[@truthsyrup5764]

wtf y?

[@alwaysyouramanda]

It’s super cloudy out. I might try it in the backyard

[@alwaysyouramanda]

I’ve got a refurbished quest 1 and it’s 9am

[@crazypeeps8641]

So it’s safe to play outside at night? Also during the day if there’s a window in the room you are playing, and sunlight comes through the window, will that damage the oculus? Also will household lights damage it?

[@dedemandgamer1019]

If sunlight comes through the window it wuill get damaged if the lens is directly exposed to the sun ray. And the household lights will not damage it no

[@crazypeeps8641]

@@dedemandgamer1019 Thank you so much!

[@owenkoehmstedt1175]

why is this man wearing a mask in his house

[@jeonsin2293]

Protecting himself from robbers with covid.

[@newgenxix4332]

Maybe he's hiding his facial hair so it doesn't get covid

[@flynnisterreality4393]

@Logan Dabbelt you mean Democratic states

[@guiden7349]

He’s protecting himself from the red guys

[@highlandstorm0137]

@Arthosla Oh, Covid-19's a lie?

[@Ilovemotard]

When i try to play outside i don't have the controllers in the right position, i lose the tracking... What's the problem?

[@actionchiropractic4238]

Great. Which means I just wasted my money on that Space Raiders game because I literally can’t play in Arena mode. If you can’t use the controllers then what’s the dam point?

[@MrKieMan]

can sunlight through a window damage the cameras on the quest 2?

[@THELONDONCHANNEL]

Can you drive your bike with the Q2 ,🤔 and how far will you get

[@benwillbur5791]

with passthrough turned on you could see around you in black and white, although it looks like you're inside a fishbowl sometimes. I wouldn't recommend trying it

[@supernet2ec2]

I've drove around with a quest 2 on. It's extremely hard due to how the quest captures visuals.

[@ROBDEWAND]

oooh the 6,5 is in feet not on meter thank god that would be stupid if it was no idea why it just doesnt show in meters that is much more clear then feet. I might use it underneet the shelter that is like 2,5 m/3m on like 8 m or so since the vader immortal thing i bought didnt warn me about the 2m by 2m ( well it just says 6,5 by 6,5 nothing behind it) like the boxing one did either way once i move next year i will keep a room pretty much empty just for this

[@bodyblend]

i did it and its very fun, i can run around

[@cagethelonewolf]

Just don't be in derict sunlight and you'll be fine. If its super bright you'll need to get inside

[@lordkiza8838]

You gotta play in the shade but it works I played quest 1 outside all the time

[@lenoxpI]

Someday somebody will make one that can handle the sun rays.

[@loganthousandsonssorcerer3206]

You can only really do it at night else the sensors will destroy themselves from sunlight

[@benregent257]

Cuz u see the KZbin videos of ppl playing in basketball courts in shooter games against friends

[@RNTV]

I have been starting my days by going outside and having a boxing match using the maximum play space allowed. It's freaking amazing. I go until the sun gets too high. I've never used it in direct sunlight and I don't plan to. Dawn or dusk though are amazing. My sons were playing Population One and I was dying laughing. They were all over the yard 😂

[@redwardthird]

CAN you? Sure. You can do lots of things. I CAN set my car on fire and run around it while it burns. But I'm not gonna.

[@jakestervr]

Would it hurt the tracking cameras

[@vrscout]

An excessive amount of sunlight has the potential to damage the headset, yes.

[@dormanricha]

Just cut up a pair of sunglasses and put them over the tracking cameras!

[@chadtv7049]

It will still damage the screen.

[@henryreusch6313]

There will only be damage if your lenses are open to sunlight. Put the Quest on indoors and walk out with it, problem solved.

[@user-jy5rm7of7g]

@@henryreusch6313yeah

[@rokit0402]

I have gr8 shade

[@jackwhitman9278]

I'm wondering about this too!

[@srshrudd6072]

@Serpent but the lens is covered by your face

[@srshrudd6072]

@Serpent ok thx

[@janX9]

Would rift s with guardian mode off work outside? Anyone actually try this? I moved into an RV and have no room for my PC or VR. I miss my man cave. (╯︵╰,)

[@brandonthefateful5095]

My p\brother put my VR in sun now their are 4 bright dots how to I get rid of them?

[@imakepeoplemadforfun1817]

You can't sadly

[@Adapto3]

You should say. Avoid sun at all cost! not when it is possible.

[@Huntorix]

I play outside late after noon where the sun is starting to go down

[@livbairos]

The only problem I had was I couldn’t use the hands or controllers

[@Th3Goober]

short answer: read the label

[@user-tj8hj7yp7b]

you could if you dont care at all about the well being of your headset

[@IvyClover56]

when mom says go play outside: (the video)

[@madmanthepope6448]

Can you do full body tracking with the quest 2?

[@weepgamer]

If you connect it to a PC, get basestations for tracking, get vivetrackers and pray.

[@sylohh4477]

you can use a xbox kinect and a free software look for sharkyh20 on youtube

[@CaptJackSwallows]

Us in Scotland will be fine

[@faynum1400]

1:45 why tf he gotta mask on inside

[@Ricky138]

I wish i had one but yeah

[@manuelmorales9888]

Save up like i did mate

[@fading_yba9295]

Very pog

[@BonBonBonni]

Yes, I think boxing games are the best for outside 😉!

[@nonstopboxing4874]

I box outside on thrill of the fight no problem

[@marcoalassus]

But a black plastic back over it

[@sipsopgamera7624]

You can bring a giant light to a dark play space outside and you are good to go.

[@Mooskers]

Thats of the lenses are exposed witch they are not

[@elijah34]

Hmmm. Can we? 🤔🤔🤔

[@MayronMagerl]

e46

[@BoldsRescue]

no

[@ArchangelExile]

Sunlight damages the screen, not the lenses.

[@key_gen]

I played with my window open next to me, no sun light just a winter breeze and the controllers don't work if its open

[@justcharger4803]

I saw this in my recommend and when i saw the title all i could think was if they do this there tracking cameras will be screwed

[@KevvStarrGaming]

Just put a tint up..

[@ickecloud6364]

NFT Technoligy

[@Thecoolfnafboy]

But you can play it at night

[@dinosquad999]

No

[@Airbender131090]

Wow! I thought you can use it outside… what is the poin of wireless VR then… useless…

[@amalgomyte5628]

Play on a cloudy day or under a porch. At least make sure daylight is visible under one side of the room and some cool lighting (not warm) on the other side of the room, and if possible, Razzle Dazzle.

[@jimbodestroyer1324]

So on a cloudy day it wont damage the lenses?

[@amalgomyte5628]

@@jimbodestroyer1324 I would refrain from doing it outside in general. Just make sure that direct sunlight does not hit the inside of the lenses or the cameras outside of the headset

[@jimbodestroyer1324]

@@amalgomyte5628 oh. Where I live there's sometimes days that are perfect 70 degrees with no rain but clouds just cover the sky. I was just wandering bc it always feels so nice. Plus, superhot on a trampoline just sounds so epic.

[@benregent257]

Came here looking if u need an internet connection to use the quest 2 outside ... Apparently noone else has asked or has a fucking clue

[@beybladeproductions5932]

well yes but no

[@jjinxx420]

why would you do this..

[@samegilman]

To have more play space

[@chadtv7049]

@@samegilman You get more play space but more play space isn’t useful if you don’t have a headset now because the screen is broken.

[@samegilman]

@@chadtv7049 I mean like the video says, anywhere that it’s bright enough to harm the lenses, the controllers lose tracking. If you’re playing in the shade or at dusk, there is very little to no chance of light damage. However, the best way to play outside is to simply play at night.

[@swervio9662]

To test it.

[@CommaderJohn]

Why the mask?

[@lordkiza8838]

Also it really bothered me you had a face mask on and the headset at one point WHYY

[@Mattrero]

Short answer: No

[@DYZYLink]

Lmao I hate seeing youtubers trying to spread awareness on Covid by wearing a mask when nobody is around

[@kaijoswilman]

Never do this, the cameras directly correlate to the lens

[@nickgirard9018]

No, the small lenses do not focus light, it is digital, the LED maximum is the maximum light output. However, the screen WILL be damaged FOREVER.

[@NoxmilesDe]

WTF are 6.5 🦶?!?

[@myboijt0813]

Ok imma guess ur 9

[@krung_]

this is painful to watch

[@baneboss6985]

Facebook is shit

[@pheonixyt1525]

As soon as I read the title of this vid, I knew this was stupid🤦

[@jadenrodriguez4793]

DONT TAKE VR OUTSIDE DUM