PC makers are chasing the VR wave with high-end backpack PCs

Virtual reality is a hot topic this year, and PC hardware manufacturers like HP and MSI are looking to catch a bit of that heat by producing high-end PCs you can wear as a backpack.

The two leading examples are MSI's Backpack PC, which it plans to showcase at the Computex event in Taiwan next week, and HP's concept for a backpack PC that, according to The Verge, is being considered for inclusion in its Omen line of high-end PCs.

Details on these portable PCs are scant, but what's clear and notable is that they constitute a direct response to the rising popularity of VR headsets, especially those that are meant to be wired to a PC.

"Free from the restraint of a fixed VR platform, users get to move around and enjoy VR with big movements and total immersion," read a pitch for the Backpack PC on an MSI product page. "No more worries about accidently unplugging the wires between the VR device and the platform. MSI Backpack PC renders greater mobility and freedom for VR gaming."

Of course, these manufacturers may also be motivated to experiment with new product ideas because, according to market analysts, global PC sales have been on the wane for some time. Thankfully for game developers, PC software sales estimates actually saw a bit of an uptick in the last few years.