Picture this: you’re fully immersed in a virtual reality game, heart pounding, adrenaline rushing, when suddenly, the game becomes a matter of life and death. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey has turned this concept into a reality.

Luckey recently revealed his latest creation on his personal blog—a VR headset designed to take the virtual experience to unimaginable heights. This headset incorporates three embedded explosive charges strategically positioned above the forehead. With a narrow-band photosensor that detects a specific frequency, the charges can be triggered to instantly obliterate the user’s brain during a “Game Over” screen.

Now, before you start worrying about your safety, let’s be clear: this deadly headset is currently nothing more than a piece of office art—a thought-provoking reminder of the unexplored possibilities in game design. However, Luckey’s vision goes beyond simply shocking users. He is captivated by the idea of connecting real life to the virtual world, forcing players to reevaluate how they interact with the game and other players within it.

This fascination stems from Luckey’s love for Sword Art Online (SAO), a popular series of Japanese novels and anime that revolves around a virtual reality MMORPG. In SAO, players become trapped in their NerveGear headsets and face the threat of death through a hidden microwave generator if they die in the game or attempt to tamper with the headset. Luckey’s creation brings this thrilling concept closer to reality.

It’s not just about creating realistic graphics; Luckey believes that only the presence of serious consequences can truly make a game feel real. He draws parallels to the world of sports, where high stakes are an integral part of the experience. However, it’s crucial to note that while the consequences may be severe in Luckey’s vision, actual sports injuries rarely result in instant death.

Luckey acknowledges that his headset is uncharted territory in video game mechanics. Yet, similar ideas have been explored in the past. In 2001, the PainStation art installation subjected players to physical sensations such as heat, punches, and electric shocks when they lost a game of Pong. Additionally, the “Tekken Torture Tournament” of the same year administered non-lethal electrical shocks to participants based on the injuries sustained by their in-game avatars.

On the flip side, virtual reality has also been harnessed to alleviate pain. The Food and Drug Administration approved a VR pain management system that leverages established principles of behavioral therapy to address the physiological symptoms of pain. This system offers a skills-based treatment program that aids in pain relief.

While Luckey has yet to gather the courage to use his deadly headset, this project demonstrates his enduring passion for virtual reality. Even after parting ways with Oculus parent company Facebook (now Meta) amidst controversy, he remains deeply invested in pushing the boundaries of this technology.

In recent years, Luckey’s focus has shifted towards his military tech startup, Anduril. However, he couldn’t resist sharing some of his VR innovations in an April blog post, marking the tenth anniversary of Oculus’ founding. Though we can safely assume this deadly headset was not what he had in mind, it’s evident that Luckey’s imagination knows no bounds.

So, while the idea of a VR headset that can end your life may sound terrifyingly exciting, rest assured—this remains firmly in the realm of imagination and exploration.

To learn more about groundbreaking headset designs, check out NokiaMA Headset Design.