620°

Windows-compatible VR headsets are coming from Acer, Lenovo and others, starting at $299

The future of virtual reality might be a lot more affordable once Windows 10 Creators Update rolls out next year.

TankCrossing2736d ago

I'd assume these are the array of VR headsets Microsoft alluded too when talking about Scorpio compatibility.

Great news for the industry if this takes off, as it could lead to a future where you buy a headset and use it on any console or PC (much as you expect to be able to use a TV). That totally opens up the market for rapid tech advancement and a full gamut of low to high end options.

darthv722736d ago

Im still not convinced about VR. Its a cool experience but still very limiting in scope. My feeling is 4k and especially HDR are going to be bigger as far as visually appealing goes. So while one person is experiencing a game in VR... another could be playing the same in 4k HDR on a bigger non closed off field of view tv.

Couch co-op at its finest as you can mess with your friend and they wont even see it coming because their eyes are obstructed by the HMD.

BizarroUltraman2736d ago

@darth,

Boo....party pooper. Lol

Utalkin2me2735d ago (Edited 2735d ago )

@darthv72

How is it limited in scope? That makes no sense at all. You could take everygame and make it a VR experience which would on enhance the game. And the PSVR allows 4 people to play together on the TV while the one person is on VR.

freshslicepizza2736d ago

this headset is not like oculus though, it does not have outside tracking.

threefootwang2736d ago (Edited 2736d ago )

Spoken like someone who didn't even read the article.

"these headsets will also feature inside-out tracking, a technical term for being able to track movement in space without desk- or wall-mounted sensors."

TankCrossing2736d ago

It's different tracking tech, but it still provides positional data so it is likely it could be loosely compatible with the same software. How good these headsets are remains to be seen, but there aren't really any limits defined. Which is what makes it so interesting.

SpaceRanger2736d ago

@threefootwang

If you see the majority of his comments, they usually all read just like that.

BizarroUltraman2736d ago

It doesnt need to be like Oculus. I wish they made Samsung Gears VR comaptible. They have the 1st gen one for under $70 on Amazon. Ill probably get it to try out with my phone. My cousin has one and likes it but wont let me use it. Ah!

Dabigsiebowski2735d ago

@Moldy. Damn man, do yourself a favor and educate yourself once in a while. You always come in to discussions with the least amount of knowledge and extreme fanboism. Read the article or even better yet read a good book.

pabsis2735d ago

you're right... if you watch the video of the guy trying it out he's barely moving and there doesn't seem to be 1 to 1 tracking at all.... seems more like gear vr
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Utalkin2me2735d ago

@moldybread

"these headsets will also feature inside-out tracking"

More embarrassment......You will learn some day young one.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2735d ago
Blank2735d ago

Great observation and consumer friendly move on MS part if this is true, which I hope it is.

EpicZinger2735d ago

Indeed, such a great move now that MS is doing VR. Before VR wasn't all that great.

Dr_Gauntlet2736d ago

This is a pretty great surprise. I'm still hoping they allow other 3rd-party VR headsets on Xbox Scorpio.

christocolus2736d ago

Phil already stated this. He said they plan to work with as many third party VR vendors as possible. Todays announcment just sort of shows us the direction they are going with their plans for VR on Scorpio. I think we will get Oculus and Vive support and maybe a couple others...some Scorpio compatible VR headsets may still be in development from yet to be announced third party partners. We will know more at the reveal.

Eonjay2736d ago

I don't think there will be such a thing as specific Scorpio compatible headsets. I think that any headset that Microsoft is partnering with will automatically (for the most part) work with their next console as well. Now its just a question of what will be the standard for creating VR content. I would throw my hat in the ring for Valve's OpenVR, because this could allow people to make one app that works across multiple devices. Or, maybe since Microsoft is partnering with these guys, perhaps push for a new open standard across Windows 10 devices.

VR is amazing and these latest developments prove that the market is excited for VR. Its not just a gimmick. Having a PSVR, I can say for sure that there are certain perspectives you gain from VR that just aren't possible with a 2D display.

ILostMyMind2736d ago (Edited 2736d ago )

Scorpio = PC Windows 10

Mystogan2736d ago (Edited 2736d ago )

Not a surprise if you have been following Microsoft. They announced that they are working on VR headsets with these partners since the last Build. The price is kind off a surprise but I expected it to be cheap since they are working together with OEMs. They can take the losses together. And the fact that these are dedicated hardware OEMs.

I would be surprised if these won't work on the current Xbox One. They said that current laptops support it after all.

BizarroUltraman2735d ago

That would be great if they could make it happen.

Bigpappy2735d ago

I am still not ready to jump on VR just yet. I'll see how I feel next holiday. Could take longer than that. I am just to read to have my eyeballs so close to a display. I am very protective over my health.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2735d ago
Cyb3r2736d ago

Hopefully this will mean a price drop on other highend headsets

kenwonobi2736d ago

The price drop is what will really push these mainstream.

2735d ago
OpieWinston2736d ago

Good to see affordable VR headsets inbound.

Razrye22736d ago

They are already here. It's called Playstation vr

lastking952736d ago

$500 is still expensive and more than the console

Condemnedman2736d ago

if you have a playstation but I don't

BizarroUltraman2735d ago

But you need a Playstation aswell. These seem to be compatible with other devices other than Xbox Scorpio. And consumers love options.

OpieWinston2735d ago

PS VR isn't affordable for the general consumer. That's like calling the Rift affordable for the average joe.

343_Guilty_Spark2735d ago

$400 aint cheap. PSVR is also tethered and do3snt do inside out tracking

DigimonMaster2735d ago

Neither is $300 cheap for an accessory.

JackBNimble2735d ago

@343_Guilty_Spark
"$ 400 ain't cheap "

And how much did you pay for your xboxone? Ya ... I thought so !

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2735d ago
PistolsAtDawn2735d ago (Edited 2735d ago )

The best news here is the array of options....from affordible and less capable....to top of the line...and anywhere in-between. (not to mention that if you game on PC and Xbox...you buy ONE device that works on both...instead of one dedicated headset for each). I'll probably grab a Vive or Rift for Scorpio...but I'm still most excited about the HoloLens possibilities....esp once the potential starts getting fleshed out.

Lennoxb632736d ago

Smart for MS to have its partners create VR headsets instead risking it themselves. Maybe they'll decide to make an Xbox branded when VR proves to be successful.

Mystogan2736d ago

I think there definitely will be an Xbox branded VR headset. They are probably just sharing their tech. like they do with Surface Pro

EpicZinger2735d ago

Microshaft never takes risk to begin with. They just sit back and copy whatever the leader is doing. Such a coward company.

2735d ago
BossBattle2735d ago

Yeah because you've seen the Hololens and Illumiroom invented by sony

LandCruiser2735d ago (Edited 2735d ago )

@bg116

"They doing well, but go ahead and hate."

Sounds so funny and ironic coming from the likes of you. Have a look at your comment then bark about " go ahead and and hate"

@boss battle

Where is illumiroom exactly?
As for the hololoens, another milo in the making, cupcake. Once we get the finished product then we'll talk.

Show all comments (109)
130°

PC VR On Steam Is Actually Growing, Not Shrinking

It's sometimes claimed that PC VR usage on Steam is shrinking, but here's why that isn't actually true.

Read Full Story >>
uploadvr.com
bunt-custardly12d ago

Good, silence the naysayers who talk bollocks.

Tacoboto12d ago

The context in the article is kinda like the discussion of MAU metrics. Manipulation of figures to get it to say what you want it to.

I.e. "The proportion is shrinking, but there are more players so it's actually not shrinking!"

Crows9012d ago

That's not like mau metrics ....

If there's 20,000 players and only 10% use it and then there's a jump to 40,000 and 10% are using still using it then....there's been an increase because 10% of 40k is higher than 20k.

That's an actual number increase of people using it. That's growth.

Tacoboto12d ago

MAU is used to reference engagement or growth in a game. The conversation is muddied because people want to talk about sales instead of player count. How is this not like that?

Growth can mean and be two different things. Growth of quantity, or growth of proportion. People in finance and accounting will never look at 2% in one instant and look at 2% at a later instant and say "Hey look, growth!" That's a joke, to be frank. The 2% is more than the earlier 2% but that 98% remainder also grew.

Eonjay12d ago

Which is why Sony is putting PSVR 2 on it.

Abnor_Mal12d ago

I wish Sony would have given upgrades to many of their PSVR games for their VR2 system. Unfortunately for me their pcvr movement is not doing me any favors, hopefully there’s some kind of trickle down effect.

Eonjay12d ago

Sony would only be able to Patch its own games. Devs would have to go back and create their own patches. To be frank, whats gonna stop this from happening is money. Are they willing to pay to have a developer create the patch, QA to test...

Abnor_Mal12d ago

@Eonjay totally agree with what you said about third party devs and the cost, Q&A etc, but Sony could have updated Astrobot, The Persistance, Blood and Truth, and Farpoint. Have a few in-house devs work on DriveClub vr, and pay for an update for Rush of Blood and maybe a Shadow of the Colossus VR. I would love to play Borderlands VR on PSVR2.

shinoff218311d ago

Sure Sony mightve been able to help but reality is most of those titles were from 3rd parties.

ApocalypseShadow12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

What he's saying is that Sony should have lead by example. Instead, they haven't done shit bringing them forward and expected 3rd parties to do it themselves in bringing their own games. If Sony's not going to do it, why should they?

It's like when they lead by example in the creation of their games. Or lead by example when they make their hardware.

Hate to say it, but for PS VR 2, they are lagging big time. GT is nice. But if you're tired of sims, then there's just Horizon. I'd rather have Blood and Truth remastered at that level or a sequel than what they currently released. No chance of that though as they killed London Studios. Another bullshit move they made. About as bad as killing Evolution Studios to keep GT as their only racing game. I like Sony's platform. But I'm not buying their headset if they're not going to put in the effort like they do with flat games.

shinoff218311d ago

Exactly. I almost bought vr2 but it's the games missing. Sure that horizon might be dope but I'd prefer the full horizon, or last of us, Spiderman, something. Pay some 3rd party devs. I was hoping to get that fallout 4 but that's not happening now lol

shinoff218311d ago

Vr is dope. Idk know why people wanna hate. It's definitely a dope next step. Even if it's a sidestep. I really wish more developers would throw down. Imagine a last of us with vr, or a final fantasy game, all kinds of stuff. It would be incredible.

bunt-custardly11d ago

Praydog's FREE UEVR mod is working wonders for the PC VR community.

220°

The newly founded 'Flat2VR Studios' aim to make VR modding a serious business

The Flat2VR community is taking the next step and announced a studio that will develop and commercialize licensed VR ports.

Read Full Story >>
mixed-news.com
Profchaos37d ago

This is great news I love virtual reality and my psVR2 however it's clear that the current bespoke way of building VR games is not working. There's some great games that have been released Absol but they are few and far between and if they are native they are clearly lower in budget and scope then at least I would like. It's definitely jarring to.go from high quality games like Spider-Man 2 to the biggest VR releases like Arizona sunshine 2 and see the huge gulp in quality.

This company aims to streamline porting older games into VR and make them feel as VR native as possible.

And to be honest some of my favourite VR experiences have been traditionally flat screen games ported into VR like resident evil 7, 8 4, doom 3 with the aim controller or borderlands 2.

And I'm not saying that there isn't great native VR games to be found I'm saying more traditional games ported over would be very welcome we have decades of amazing games that we all love and VR presents an opportunity to truely bring us into the world.

just_looken37d ago

The floating hands wires climbing/tool sims need to go for sure.

But i want the sword art online vr now that would be awesome

Leeroyw37d ago

I just found my people. Massive vr fan here but I want to live in older more broader era experiences that were made for traditional gaming. But in VR.

just_looken37d ago

@Lee

Rollarcoasters would be something else in vr

aaronlif1035d ago

Yes! I hope they bring Doom 3 to PSVR2. I was happy to see it on PSVR but couldn't help but feel like they should have held off for the PSVR2 for that game. They had to substantially cut the visuals on that. I feel like a psvr2 version would be able to do it better justice. I've asked the company that made the psvr port if there was any plans to make a psvr2 version, they said no but that if they were asked by Sony to do it they would. I also would love to see Star Wars Squadrons get a PSVR2 version.

Profchaos35d ago

Yes squadrons I forgot about that one it was amazing to play online with flat screen gamer friends some of my favourite multiplayer moments

RiseNShine37d ago

Amazing news, there're so many forgotten gems out there, these guys have been consistently porting old games like Return to Wolfenstein, Quake 4, jedi knight, etc. Sounds great that they can earn a living by doing official ports, publishers dust off some old properties, gamers get great games in VR, we all win.

mudakoshaka37d ago

Awesome news! Which popular Steam and Switch game do you think is their first project?

50°
10.0

Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway Review - Gamerhub UK

Wallace & Gromit are preparing for a well-earned golfing getaway, but mishaps and mayhem send them hurtling off course!

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gamerhub.co.uk