PICO 3 VR Interaction Issue in Microsoft Flight Simulator: Controls Unresponsive and 'Missing Essential VR' Error

I'm sorry to hear that you're having troubles with the PICO 3 VR and Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS 2020). I've been around the flight simulation community for quite a while, and it's not uncommon for these issues to pop up when new hardware is introduced or configurations are changed. Let's tackle this issue step-by-step.

1. VR Mode Activation: Firstly, ensure you've activated the VR mode within MSFS. It's a simple thing, but sometimes it's easy to overlook.
2. Drivers & Software:
   • Always ensure that you have the most up-to-date drivers for your PICO 3 VR glasses. Manufacturers often release updates to address compatibility issues.
   • Confirm that your VR software is running and recognized by MSFS. Sometimes, conflicts with other VR software can cause issues.
3. In-game Settings:
   • Navigate to the VR settings in MSFS and check for the controller configuration. Ensure that the controls are mapped correctly.
   • If the bindings are not preset, you might need to set them up manually.
4. 'Missing Essential VR' Error: This error suggests there might be an essential component or setting that's not enabled or missing.
   • Check if SteamVR or any other VR interface software is running correctly. MSFS uses this as a bridge for some VR systems.
   • Also, ensure that all the required VR services are running. This might include services related to tracking, input, etc.
5. Hardware Check:
   • Test the PICO 3 VR glasses with another game or application to ensure the controls work. If they don't, there might be a hardware issue.
   • If the controllers are working elsewhere, it narrows the problem down to a compatibility or configuration issue within MSFS.
6. Further Assistance:
   • Sometimes, it can be beneficial to consult the official MSFS forums (always ensure to avoid making duplicate threads).
   • Reach out to PICO's customer service. They might have encountered this issue before with other customers and could offer a solution.

Can you provide more information about your setup? Are you running any other software in conjunction with MSFS? Any details will be helpful to pinpoint the problem.

I hope this provides a solid starting point. Once you've tried these steps, let us know how it goes. We're here to help and get you soaring in virtual skies with your PICO 3 VR!