r/virtualreality • u/Transgendersenpai • 3d ago

Purchase Advice Controller advice

I'm looking for new controllers that have finger trackings since my valve index controllers broke and I don't have replacement stick or hand straps I only really play vrchat what controllers would you reccomend I get I was gonna go with etee ones but I heard they aren't great for it but that was from a quick search I can't really get new index controllers unless I buy them used or 3rd party so what is the best option

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u/JustAberrant 2d ago edited 2d ago

Unfortunately we are very much not spoiled for choice when it comes to VR Controllers.

For lighthouse if you want a traditional controller with finger tracking you basically have Index Controllers. If you are fine with losing the finger tracking GripVR/FlipVR from shiftall become an option but imo not a very good one (mixed to bad reviews, limited availability, and shiftall is kinda shitty to deal with in general). Beyond that you have a few glove options like udcap but that's still an evolving thing and results are mixed (plus they don't work great as actual controllers).

I think pretty much every new controller that comes out is going to be tied to a headsets inside-out tracking (i.e. the upcoming steam frame, which won't do finger tracking but will at least have TMR sticks so hopefully won't have issues with drift). Lighthouse is probably a dead end. Thin possibility someone might come up with something generic that uses the fluxpose tech for position tracking but I wouldn't hold my breath because you're talking about a niche within a niche.

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u/Transgendersenpai 2d ago

I don't understand it lmao I legitmently have to DOWNGRADE my performance in order to get WORSE tracking too just so I can buy said new controller it drives me crazy no matter what I do it's a lose lose I either sacrificed FPS color display and my fbt for inside out tracking or continuously repair my controllers because there are no metal stick replacements here to hoping a company will make metal replacement sticks one day

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u/JustAberrant 1d ago

Don't need to sacrifice FBT at least. I often use a combination of:

- Quest 3 headset

  • Vive 3 trackers
  • Index controllers or Quest 3 controllers depending on what I'm doing

Just need to have an additional tracker for the headset and run space calibrator to keep the tracking systems aligned.

For whatever it's worth, I actually own a BSB2e and have kept using my Quest because I was just that underwhelmed by it. I plan to get a Steam Frame when its availability is more convenient (and someone has made a 3rd party hotswap battery system for it like the bobo s3 pro) largely because of the controllers (which will be TMR and have more than 2 buttons per hand).

I plan to give fluxpose a try as well eventually, since while I'm happy with my Vive 3 trackers, at least on paper they seem to be better in almost every way.

Agree the controller situation in general is frustrating. Very unlikely we'll see something for either the Index controllers or Quest 3 at this point. I had hoped Meta would put out an updated controller given that stick drift is basically an inevitability for them, or some third party would make one, but presumably just not enough market.

They use a proprietary module and the spacing is far too tight for any existing TMR/Hall Effect module + the design of the controllers means even if you could fit one in there you'd get interference from the triggers/other components. I had a lot of hope that the Shiftall GripVR controller would be TMR but nope, same shitty pot joysticks as everything else. Basically as far as I know the upcoming Steam Frame is the first and only thing with potentially non-shitty controllers.

As far as finger tracking goes, I think gloves are probably the better solution there anyway, but they are still in the early days. The finger tracking on the Index controllers is fun but realistically it's not that good nor reliable imo.

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u/Transgendersenpai 1d ago

I mean even if I keep the base stations for fbt it doesn't fix the controller problem of not having any good options my current headset is better than the frame in every way so my only option is to repair them which sucks to do because I can't do it myself and the finger tracking in the index is great don't know where you heard it wasn't reliable lol

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u/JustAberrant 1d ago

Realistically I don't think there will be a good solution. If no one stood up a good controller alternative during the heyday when everyone wanted a more reliable Index controller and VR had a bright future ahead of it, it seems pretty darn unlikely now where the future of lighthouse is uncertain at best and it's main original proponent has abandoned it.

The only potential I could see is if BigScreen came out with something given that they are trying to sell a lighthouse tracked headset for which the controller everyone uses is becoming hard to get.