Elias ripped the headset off, gasping for the freezing basement air. He slumped back in his chair, his chest heaving. His haptic vest was smoking, the smell of singed fabric heavy in the room. He looked down at the VR goggles in his lap.

It’s a heart-stopping moment for any VR enthusiast. Before you panic and buy a replacement, let’s look at what this actually is, why it happens, and whether you can salvage your device.