Characters that move like people, because they're built from people.

Scripted characters are VR's uncanny valley.

In VR your opponent stands across the table from you, life-size. Hand-made animation that passes on a flat screen falls apart at that distance. The same swing comes back every time, and nobody shifts their weight before a forehand. Players notice within a few rallies, even if they can't say what's wrong.

Our opponents come from real play, so they move like the people they were learned from, mistakes included. A new player to learn from means a new style to play against.

VR can teach real-life skills, if the AI reacts like real life.

A headset can train footwork and timing the way a coach would. But you learn whatever the game rewards. If the opponent follows a script, you get good at beating the script. If it reacts the way a real player would, the practice carries over off the headset.

Virtual sport is also a cheap way to stay active, since you don't need to book a court or find a partner. A club player can fit in several sessions at home for every evening at the club, which closes their own training loop a lot faster.

VR multiplayer has a cold start problem.

The VR player base is still small. Most multiplayer games never have enough people online at once to fill a lobby, players who can't find a match stop coming back, and the next lobby is emptier still.

An opponent learned from real play doesn't need anyone else online. It's there at eleven on a Tuesday night, at your level, and it plays like a person, so the game feels busy from day one.

Loopspin has online play as well, and its AI opponents are rated on the same scale as people. When few people are online, there's still someone at your level in the lobby.