VR Tracked Accessories: Gloves, Trackers, and Add-On Sensors

What tracked accessories do

A VR headset tracks where you look and, with controllers, where your hands go. Tracked accessories extend that coverage: gloves and hand-tracking sensors add more ways to follow your hands, full-body trackers follow your feet and torso, base stations offer an alternative way for the headset and controllers to know their position, and add-on sensors inside a headset can track your eyes and face. The maker page for each headset states which of these it supports, so the first step is reading the stated details on a title.

The site's guides compare headsets on stated details only. When a title says "full-body tracker support" or "eye tracking," that phrase comes from the maker page, not from a measure of how well the tracking works. Compatibility questions are separate from performance questions. Read our guide to standalone VR headsets or PC VR headsets to see how each type lists its supported accessories.

• Controllers: the standard tracked accessory for most headsets
• Gloves and hand-tracking sensors: additional ways to follow hand position
• Full-body trackers: follow feet, hips, or torso
• Base stations: separate units placed in the room
• Add-on sensors: eye tracking, face tracking, or a depth sensor listed in a headset's details

Controllers as the first tracked accessory

Controllers are the first tracked accessory most headset pages state clearly. The PlayStation VR2 page lists PS VR2 Sense controllers with attached straps, included in the headset bundle. The Valve Index page lists Index Controllers as a separate item that requires a Vive, Vive Pro, or Valve Index headset, base stations, and a PC.

These two examples show how support differs: one headset includes its controllers in the bundle, the other lists them as a separate purchase. Replacement controllers also appear as listed items on the Valve Index page, which tells you that controllers are treated as replaceable parts on some setups.

If a title lists controllers as included, that is a stated detail you can compare across headsets. Use our guide to headsets with controllers to see which models state included controllers.

• Check whether controllers are included in the title or sold separately
• Replacement controllers are separate items on the Valve Index page
• A controller relies on the same tracking method as its headset

Full-body trackers

Full-body trackers follow parts of the body that controllers do not: feet, hips, or a full torso. The VIVE Focus Vision page states that VIVE Ultimate Trackers use inside-out tracking and do not require base stations.

The same page states that these trackers connect wirelessly through the VIVE Wireless Dongle and can be used in both standalone and PC VR modes, depending on content compatibility. That phrase matters: an app must support full-body tracking for the trackers to add anything to what you see in a title.

The trackers themselves are separate items on the maker page, not part of the headset bundle. That means full-body tracking is a planned addition, not a feature that arrives with every VIVE Focus Vision. See the best HTC Vive headsets for which models list tracker support.

• Full-body tracking support is dependent on content compatibility
• Trackers can use inside-out tracking, so base stations are not required
• A wireless dongle is one maker's stated connection method

Base stations and outside-in tracking

Base stations are separate units placed around the room. They define positions for the headset and controllers to reference, an approach some call outside-in tracking. The Valve Index page lists a Base Station as a separate item that requires a Vive Pro or Valve Index headset, controllers, and a PC, with two or more recommended.

A headset that uses inside-out tracking does not need base stations, but it may still accept separate trackers that use their own inside-out method. The VIVE Focus Vision page states this for its Ultimate Trackers, which track without base stations even when the headset runs standalone.

For a reader with a PC VR headset, base stations and outside-in tracking are one approach. For a reader with a standalone headset, inside-out tracking on the headset and on separate trackers is the other. Each maker states which method its accessories use. Learn more about base station expansion and inside-out vs outside-in tracking.

• Two or more base stations are recommended per the Valve Index page
• Base stations require a compatible headset and controllers
• Inside-out trackers can be worn without base stations

Sensors built into the headset

Some headsets include sensors beyond the basic tracking cameras. The VIVE Focus Vision page states that eye tracking offers gaze input and avatar eye control, and that a depth sensor enables scene understanding. These features appear in a headset's stated details, not as attachable items.

When a title says "eye tracking" or "face tracking," the maker describes what the headset can input. Face tracking support is also stated on the VIVE Focus Vision page, listed alongside full-body tracker support.

Eye tracking is listed on the VIVE Focus Vision page as a feature, which means it appears in the headset's stated details. A title that includes "eye tracking" in its description gives you a stated detail to compare with another headset. For headsets that list eye tracking, see the best eye tracking VR headsets.

• Eye tracking: gaze input and avatar eye control, per the VIVE Focus Vision page
• Face tracking: stated as supported on the VIVE Focus Vision page
• Depth sensor: scene understanding, per the VIVE Focus Vision page

Compatibility checklist before buying

Before buying a tracked accessory, check three things: whether the maker lists it as compatible with your headset, whether the content you use supports the tracking, and whether the accessory needs extra hardware such as base stations or a dongle.

The VIVE Focus Vision page states that full-body tracking support is dependent on content compatibility. The Valve Index page states that base stations require a compatible headset, controllers, and a PC. These statements tell you to confirm compatibility before purchase.

This site cannot state how well a tracked accessory performs in any app, because the stated details do not include performance measures. What the maker states is compatibility: which headset the accessory works with, and which content supports the tracking type. Start with our guide to PC VR minimum requirements if you are checking a PC-connected accessory.

• Confirm the accessory is listed as compatible with your headset model
• Check that the app or game supports the tracking type
• Note any extra hardware the accessory requires
• Replacement parts exist for some controllers and cables

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Do tracked accessories work with any VR headset?

No. The maker states which headset each accessory is compatible with. The Valve Index page lists base stations and controllers as requiring a specific headset, and the VIVE Focus Vision page lists its own trackers. Check the maker page before buying.

What are full-body trackers?

Trackers that follow feet, hips, or torso. The VIVE Focus Vision page lists VIVE Ultimate Trackers with inside-out tracking and no base stations.

Do I need base stations for full-body trackers?

Not necessarily. VIVE Ultimate Trackers are stated to track without base stations, using inside-out tracking and a wireless dongle.

What does 'content compatibility' mean on a tracker page?

The tracking works only when the app you run supports that type of body tracking. The VIVE Focus Vision FAQ states this directly.

Can I buy replacement controllers separately?

For some headsets, yes. The Valve Index page lists replacement left and right controllers as separate items.

Are eye and face tracking add-on accessories?

They can be built into a headset. The VIVE Focus Vision lists eye tracking and face tracker support in its stated details, not as attachable parts.