The Bigscreen Beyond 2e supports eye tracking, which is primarily integrated with platforms like VRChat and is designed to work with SteamVR and OpenXR standards[1][2]. However, the compatibility of third-party controllers with the eye-tracking feature specifically is not explicitly detailed in the available information.
General Controller Compatibility:
Bigscreen Beyond headsets, including the Beyond 2e, are compatible with SteamVR controllers, such as the Valve Index controllers[5][7]. This compatibility is based on the SteamVR tracking system, which is used by the headset. While other controllers might be compatible due to the SteamVR standard, the primary recommendation is to use Valve Index controllers for optimal performance.
Eye Tracking and Controllers:
The eye-tracking feature in the Beyond 2e is primarily focused on enhancing social VR experiences, such as in VRChat, by tracking eye movements[1][2]. It does not inherently require specific controllers to function; rather, it is a feature of the headset itself. Therefore, as long as you are using controllers that are compatible with the SteamVR system, they should work alongside the eye-tracking feature without any issues.
Third-Party Controllers:
While the Beyond 2e is designed to work with SteamVR-compatible controllers, using third-party controllers might require additional setup or compatibility checks. The key factor is whether these controllers are compatible with the SteamVR tracking system. If they are, they should work with the Beyond 2e, but the eye-tracking functionality itself is independent of the controller type.
In summary, you can use third-party controllers with the Bigscreen Beyond 2e if they are compatible with the SteamVR system. However, the eye-tracking feature is a headset-level functionality and does not depend on the specific controller used.
Citations:
[1] https://www.uploadvr.com/bigscreen-beyond-2-and-beyond-2e-announced/
[2] https://www.roadtovr.com/pc-vr-bigscreen-beyond-2-fov-boost-release-date-price/
[3] https://store.bigscreenvr.com/blogs/beyond/eye-tracking-for-bigscreen-beyond-with-eyetrackvr
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/virtualreality/comments/18ygi7u/eye_tracking_for_the_bigscreen_beyond/
[5] https://store.bigscreenvr.com/blogs/beyond/bigscreen-beyond-development-update-2
[6] https://petsymposium.org/popets/2024/popets-2024-0003.pdf
[7] https://www.reddit.com/r/virtualreality/comments/14mbafc/what_controllers_are_compatible_with_big_screen/
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBQzViR4xU4
[9] https://lavalle.pl/vr/vrbook.pdf