Bigscreen Beyond 2 & 2e: Rapid Shipping & The Rise of Eye-Tracked VR
Bigscreen Beyond 2 and 2e headsets are now shipping within days, marking a significant turnaround for the company after initial delays. This improved fulfillment speed coincides with growing adoption of the headsets within the VR community, accounting for 1% of SteamVR usage as of February 2026.
From PCB Flaws to Fast Fulfillment
Announced almost a year ago, preorders for the Beyond 2 and 2e initially faced a three-month delay due to a PCB design flaw. Shipping began in late June, but fulfilling the substantial backlog meant new orders faced considerable wait times. Bigscreen has now resolved this, with shipping times for many configurations reduced to just 1-2 days.
The fastest shipping times are currently available for orders including the Halo Mount and Universal-Fit Cushion. The Custom-Fit Cushion, personalized via an iPhone TrueDepth scan, adds 2-3 days to the shipping estimate. Orders with prescription lens inserts will still seize multiple weeks to fulfill.
Beyond 2e: Pioneering Eye-Tracked Foveated Rendering
The Beyond 2e distinguishes itself with integrated eye tracking, utilizing incredibly small sensors. In December, Bigscreen launched early access to eye-tracked foveated rendering, a feature that dynamically adjusts image quality based on where the user is looking, significantly improving performance.
Currently, foveated rendering is supported in titles including DCS, iRacing, and Microsoft Flight Simulator, with potential for broader compatibility through OpenXR 1.1. In some cases, users may need to install Matthieu Bucchianeri’s Quad-Views-Foveated from GitHub.
The Future of PC VR: What’s Next?
Bigscreen’s progress highlights key trends in the PC VR space. Faster fulfillment and increased availability are crucial for wider adoption. The integration of advanced technologies like eye tracking and foveated rendering are becoming increasingly important for delivering high-fidelity VR experiences.
The Rise of Foveated Rendering
Foveated rendering, enabled by eye tracking, is poised to become a standard feature in high-end VR headsets. By focusing processing power on the area the user is directly looking at, it allows for significantly improved performance without sacrificing visual quality. Here’s particularly important for demanding VR applications like gaming and simulation.
Beyond Gaming: Social VR and Beyond
While gaming is a major driver of VR adoption, the technology is finding applications in other areas. Eye tracking enhances social VR experiences by enabling more natural and expressive avatars. As VR technology matures, we can expect to see it used in fields like training, education, and remote collaboration.
FAQ
Q: What is foveated rendering?
A: Foveated rendering dynamically adjusts image quality based on where the user is looking, improving performance.
Q: How long does shipping take for a Bigscreen Beyond 2?
A: Shipping times vary, but many configurations now ship within 1-3 days.
Q: What is required to use a Bigscreen Beyond headset?
A: A powerful PC, SteamVR Tracking base stations, and input devices (controllers, etc.) are required.
Q: Is the Custom-Fit Cushion refundable?
A: No, custom-made accessories like the Custom-Fit Cushion are nonrefundable once manufactured.
Ready to dive into the world of high-fidelity PC VR? Explore the Bigscreen Beyond 2 and 2e today!
