Do you need hand controllers for elite ?

[Iron Body]

I'm still deciding between the pimax crystal lite and the bigscreen beyond.

The pimax is offered for £500 (excl vat) without the controllers. Which is much cheaper than the beyond.
The question is, do I really need controllers for the crystal if I only play ED ?

 

[HappyMoonMonkey]

You don't need the controllers for elite, they're not used in game. But you'll need at least one to navigate other VR menus.

 

[Iron Body]

You don't need the controllers for elite, they're not used in game. But you'll need at least one to navigate other VR menus.

So I can start elite without using a vr menu. and then carry on with elite ?

 

[HappyMoonMonkey]

So I can start elite without using a vr menu. and then carry on with elite ?

Yes you can.

 

[Iron Body]

Yes you can.

Thanks. I will probably get the pimax without controllers to start with and maybe add them later.

 

[HappyMoonMonkey]

Once you've got used to Elite in VR you might want to start playing with overlay programs. Some find it useful to overlay other information screens within their cockpit from programs such as EDCopilot or inara. I just find the virtual keyboard useful for typing things in (like chat and system names) without having to take my VR set off and looking at my physical keyboard. You'll need the controllers for that sort of thing.

 

[Helmut Grokenberger]

This might be different in different VR ecosystems. I play with a WMR headset and don't need my controllers at all to set up my session, but I also don't use any overlay software.

Elite itself doesn't support VR controllers at all.

 

[BinakAlgo]

Because I need to jump from VR to desktop to check web information (goods prices, routes, etc.), I use Virtual Desktop and I do need controls along with a keyboard and mouse to make my life a little bit easier, but Elite doesn't require them at all.