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HTC's Cosmos VR headset features a sharper display and six tracking cameras
HTC revealed back in January that its forthcoming VR headset, the Vive Cosmos, will be designed with comfort and accessibility in mind. Now, the company has unveiled a few more details about the device. Major features include a vented front design, to help users stay cool, and a flip-up design, which allows users to step out of VR without having to remove the headset.
Play 'Doctor Who: The Edge of Time' in VR this September
While you can't warp time to see the twelfth season of Doctor Who any sooner, this September, you'll be able to dive into the show in a new way. BBC Studios is bringing the series to life as a VR video game, Doctor Who: The Edge of Time. This is the second recent VR interpretation of the classic -- earlier this month BBC released The Runaway, a short animated VR film. And it could be yet another consolation for fans who are eagerly awaiting the next season, set to air in early 2020.
'Five Nights at Freddy's' is even more creepy in VR
Fans of the venerable horror puzzler Five Nights at Freddy's will have something to scream about as the latest iteration of the series arrives on VR headsets at the end of April. I got to play through a few of the levels at a recent PSVR demo event came away sufficiently jump-scared to want to play the rest of the game as soon as it's released.
‘Angry Birds: Isle of Pigs’ washes ashore on PlayStation VR
If you're an Angry Birds diehard, you'll be happy to hear that Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs is available on PlayStation VR for $14.99. And Rovio and Resolution Games have added 13 new levels of play. Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs launched on Vive and Oculus Rift in February, and it looks like that was just the beginning. In addition to the new platform, the game makers hope to have 100 levels available by the end of the year.
HTC Streamlink turns VR headsets into big screens for console gaming
One surprise announcement coming out of today's Vive Ecosystem Conference in Shenzhen is HTC's Streamlink, an in-house VR app that lets your PC-powered or standalone Vive headset -- like the new Vive Focus Plus -- receive HDMI signal from any USB video capture card -- some of which can be bought for as low as $65 per piece in China, according to an HTC rep. There are many potential use cases here, of course, but HTC is specifically pitching this as a new way of playing games on your consoles -- namely PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One S -- as well as watching videos from your set-top box.
HTC's unlimited VR service launches April 2nd for $99 per year
HTC is nearly ready to launch its unlimited Viveport Infinity service after months of teasing. The VR subscription tier is launching on April 2nd for $13 per month or $99 per year, and will offer more than 600 apps and games for both Vive headsets and Oculus Rift. Your access will also carry over to stand-alone headsets based on Vive's Wave platform. You'll also get perks such as a revised Viveport Video app, monthly 10 percent discount coupons and the occasional freebie.
The Vive Focus Plus is HTC’s answer to the Oculus Quest
Back in October, HTC offered a dual 6DoF controller dev kit for its Vive Focus standalone headset, in the hopes of offering a truly untethered and more immersive VR experience -- something which the original single 3DoF joystick couldn't fully simulate. As such, it comes as no surprise that the company is soon releasing a new Vive Focus Plus bundled with two 6DoF controllers, meaning you'll be able to naturally wave around -- as you do with the controllers for the PC-powered Vive headsets -- without having to regularly recalibrate.
Harmonix's answer to 'Beat Saber' is a VR rhythm shooter
Beat Saber has become something of a hit in the rhythm game scene thanks to its clever VR mechanics, and the veterans at Harmonix clearly want to offer their own response. They've unveiled Audica, a VR-only title where you blast the notes instead of slicing or tapping them. You're testing both your aim and your knack for keeping time, really. The soundtrack includes tunes from "some of the world's most popular electronic artists" (no Rock Band-style jams here), and you'll naturally compete against others on global leaderboards.
The first Angry Birds VR game puts the slingshot in your hand
In the ten years since the game's original release in 2009, Angry Birds has become both a pop icon and marketing juggernaut, spawning countless sequels, spinoffs, merchandising tie-ins and even feature-length movies. Now, the feathered flock of pig-popping fliers is coming to the Vive and Oculus Rift in Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs.
The sequel to the Bill Murray movie 'Groundhog Day' is a VR game
After 26 years, the hit Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day has a sequel... but it's not a movie at all. Sony Pictures Virtual Reality, MWM Immersive and Rime developer Tequila Works have unveiled Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son, a VR game for PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and Vive. You play Phil Connors' son (appropriately, Phil Connors Jr.) as he encounters a time loop just like his dad, and will remain stuck repeating the day until he "learns the true value of friends and family." As you might imagine, though, the interactive aspect throws a new wrinkle into the story.
HTC's next VR headset is the Vive Cosmos
The Vive Cosmos exists and it's built for folks who may have hesitated to buy a VR headset in the past. With this device, HTC is emphasizing comfort, simplicity and ease-of-access. Just like the Vive and Vive Pro, the Vive Cosmos needs a processing source (such as a PC) to function. However, HTC executives suggested it will be able to run on a PC or a smartphone, rather than just one of those devices. It has two front-facing cameras, two side-facing cameras, and uses two motion-tracking controllers.
The Vive Pro Eye adds eyeball-tracking to HTC's VR headset line
The Vive Pro Eye is the next evolution of HTC's virtual reality headset line, and its shiniest new feature is integrated eye-tracking. HTC America General Manager Dan O'Brien revealed the Vive Pro Eye at CES, explaining how built-in eye-tracking can benefit industries from auto technology to fitness and gaming.
HTC Vive Pro McLaren Edition is made for Formula One fans
When HTC and McLaren announced their multi-year partnership back in May, the two had already teased an upcoming limited edition Vive headset along with some special VR content. Well, the wait is finally over for hardcore Formula One fans. As announced at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, said hardware turns out to be based on the Vive Pro full kit (not to be confused with the cheaper starter kit), which makes sense given that the Vive Pro is the official VR device for McLaren's eSports competition, Shadow Project. The Vive Pro McLaren Limited Edition is accented with the racing team's signature orange around the headset's front cameras, as well as on the menu button and strap on the controllers (2018 version, to go with the bundled Base Station 2.0 units). Naturally, this package comes with its very own box artwork. The damage for all of this is $1,549, which is a tad more than the standard full kit's $1,199 holiday offer.
Shadow VR is the latest rival to the Oculus Quest
This new Vive Wave-based 6DoF headset comes with the company's self-developed 6DoF controllers.
HTC's standalone Vive Focus will soon get 6DoF VR controllers
While Facebook's Oculus Quest won't arrive until the spring of 2019, its seemingly beefier inside-out tracking plus 6DoF controllers may already pose a threat to HTC's Vive Focus, as well as to other Vive Wave-based standalone VR headsets -- including Pico's Neo (whose ultrasound-based 6DoF controllers are still missing) and the more recent G2. As such, HTC's first order of business is to release a developer kit for adding not one, but two 6DoF controllers to substitute the Vive Focus' single 3DoF controller -- one that relies on software to simulate a 6DoF feel, but also often requires re-centering.
Can Jesus save virtual reality?
Vive Studios just debuted its first "feature-length" virtual reality movie at the Raindance Film Festival in London. It's neither sci-fi nor twee endearing animation, however: it's a Christian film based on Jesus' seven miracles, captured in 360-degree video, and it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Best Immersive Story. The majority of the tale is told in wrap-around 8K video, with each of the miracles taking roughly 10 minutes. The episodic structure makes sense: Virtual reality is still tiring, both because you're wearing the mask and because you have a screen so close to your eyes. It's not the only issue with virtual reality, especially when it's used on lengthy media.
Firefox brings the thrills of web browsing to VR
Mozilla's headset-focused web browser is finally ready for your cranium: Firefox Reality is available for HTC Vive, Oculus and Daydream devices through their respective stores. The software is designed from the start for AR and VR hardware, with an interface that revolves around pointer control and voice search. There's a virtual keyboard if you need it, but let's face it -- you'd probably go back to a regular screen if you wanted to type more than once in a blue Moon. And yes, Mozilla knows the flat web isn't so exciting in a headset. The home screen provides fast access to 3D content like Sketchfab models, so you won't be hurting for something to take advantage of AR and VR technology.
NASA apps take you to space with VR and selfies
NASA's apps tend to be all-business, but it's livening things up this time around -- the administration has released two apps that go beyond dry scientific explanations. The most intriguing is likely Exoplanet Excursions, a VR app for Oculus and HTC Vive headsets. The 3D experience lets you fly through the TRAPPIST-1 system and see artists' renditions of its numerous Earth-sized planets, complete with comparisons to planets around our home star.
HTC's Vive Wireless Adapter will cost $300
14 months after HTC and Intel first showed off their wireless VR prototype, the two are finally ready to ship the product. According to HTC's announcement today, the Intel WiGig-based Vive Wireless Adapter is priced at $300 and works with both Vive and Vive Pro, though the latter requires an additional $60 for a "compatibility pack" -- it includes a connection cable, foam padding and an attachment device. For those who have been longing for this upgrade, they can pre-order it at Amazon, Best Buy, Microsoft, NewEgg and HTC's very own Vive.com starting from September 5th. This will be followed by the official launch on the 24th.
Adorable VR game 'Moss' now supports Windows Mixed Reality
Launched earlier this year as a PSVR exclusive and eventually released for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive last month, adorable adventure game Moss is getting an update to support Windows Mixed Reality headsets.
