Playing games on a PC is undeniably satisfying and immersive, but one thing that is often missing is the tactile relationship between the player and the game. Controllers have come a long way, offering all manner of immersive handheld , but for mouse-and-keyboard enthusiasts, you're likely to be missing out on tactile vibrations that can help you sink deeper into the game's world.
Spanish tech startup OWO has a solution to this, with a new wearable haptics system that allows PC gamers to feel every moment of the game with more depth and immersion than ever before. By teaming up with Overwolf, they've also created an app that makes every sensation fully customisable in-game, with endless possibilities just waiting to be added. By wearing the innovative Second Skin and using this new corresponding app, you can easily change the calibration of the haptic of your favourite games and literally feel every second of play throughout your body.
We've rounded up the best examples of this new technology and found the top five games where this innovation will make a real difference to PC gamers. Read on for more examples of this technology enhancing the way games interact with their players.
Fortnite
Fortnite is a game with a whole host of tactile possibilities. You've got all the action here – running, jumping, getting hit, hitting back, interacting with your environment – the game is ripe for a bit of haptic . Fortunately, this is one of the games getting special custom treatment by OWO's new app, which does more than merely rumble your hands when you take damage.
Working with the game in mind, the wearable implementation will allow players to feel the wind rushing past them as they freefall from the bus, and get area-specific whenever they're wounded. Fortnite is a game that is too bright and boisterous for sterility, so this new technology will inject some colour back into your play.
Valorant
In a similar vein, Valorant seems to offer itself up for some innovation. The intensely fast pace coupled with the huge dramatic moves that players could only be improved with just one thing – haptics.
The new technology will add unbelievable depth to Valorant, giving tailored via different electrical pulses when players are hit, or when they are engaged in the midst of a fight. You'll be able to feel every moment of the game, down to the specifics of the weapons used, boosting your reflexive ability to fight back and come out on top.
League of Legends
League of Legends may not be what pops into your head when you think of haptic , given its isometric view and distance (both literally and metaphorically) between the player and their champion. Nevertheless, the game's popularity both as an esport and as a casual game necessitates it being included in any innovation for PC gaming fans.
What could feel better than the moment the enemy Nexus explodes on-screen? Taking that final victory and letting players feel it. Taking out the enemy is bound to feel more satisfying when you feel it resonating through your entire body.
Rocket League
Rocket League players are going to get a lot out of this technology. By wearing the Second Skin, players will feel the sensations of driving, the physical pull of high speeds, and the power of a running engine. Each satisfying smack of the ball will feel even more rewarding when you feel it bounce away.
It has the potential to improve your driving in-game, too, by giving haptic every time you collide with another player. You'll be more likely to steer clear if you know you'll feel the bump. Likewise, the feeling of scoring a goal is about to get even more exciting, as you feel the ball speed away from you.
PUBG
Any PUBG player worth their salt knows that you have to watch your back. Enemies can come from any angle, from any direction, and they always seem to have you in their sights. The worst thing that can happen to rookies and veterans of the game alike is to be hit with no idea where the shot came from. That momentary disorientation can cost you the entire round.
The OWO wearable technology really comes into its own here, as it utilises specific muscle areas all over the torso, allowing you to feel the exact place your character has been hit. You'll be able to feel the difference between an axe to the back and a sniper hit to the chest. Don't worry though, neither will actually hurt – but it'll provide you with that crucial reflexive advantage that can shorten your response time and help you come out on top.
The OWO Second Skin is currently available for preorder. Be sure to Overwolf now and explore their wide variety of game-enhancing apps.