Blade And Sorcery Oculus Quest Port Being Looked Into, May Be Quest 2 Exclusive

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A Blade and Sorcery Oculus Quest port may be on the cards, but it would likely be a Quest 2 exclusive.

A Quest version of the game was already outlined as a possibility on the evolving roadmap, though only under the ‘To be defined’ category. Even with that in mind, Reddit user RetroCodes claims to have recently asked developer WarpFrog if a Quest version of the game could still be on the cards. We’ve asked the studio to verify its answer but the team reportedly replied: “We don’t like to make promises, but [we] are looking into that.”

The message ends by noting that a possible port “would almost certainly need to be Quest 2 however.”

Blade And Sorcery Oculus Quest Port Might Happen

Again, we’re awaiting confirmation that this message is legitimate but, if true, the developer means that it likely wouldn’t be able to bring the game to the original Oculus Quest. We’re starting to see more and more VR titles leave the first (and significantly less powerful) iteration of the device behind – next month’s Resident Evil 4 VR will be the first Quest 2 exclusive, while the just-announced standalone port of Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond will only come to the newer headset. Meanwhile, After The Fall will come to Quest 2 in 2021 with a Quest 1 version to follow next year.

The PC VR version of the bloody combat game is still in early access years after release, but has seen regular updates. Its next major upgrade will include a dungeon mode that offers a more linear experience over the usual arena-based combat, though there’s no word on when a full 1.0 launch might happen. Facebook doesn’t usually allow early access releases on Quest, but has made exceptions for other popular VR games, like Onward.

Would you want a Blade And Sorcery Oculus Quest port? Let us know in the comments below!

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/39SsTsf
via IFTTT

FitXR Adds Six Accessible, Seated Workout Classes Through November

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

FitXR is adding new seated workout classes to its release schedule for the rest of the year, with the aim of making VR workouts more accessible for those who may not be able to complete the standing portions of the exercises.

Currently, all classes in the Box Studio provide a seated option, which removes the squat feature. However, these new seated classes aim to expand accessibility options by providing seated classes in the HIIT and Dance studios, which FitXR hopes will “enable users with varying degrees of mobility to enjoy fun, engaging workouts.”

The six classes will gradually release from now through to November, and FitXR says it will continue to add more seated content “on a regular basis” in the future. Here’s a summary of the release schedule for the accessible seated classes over the next few months:

– September 26: Brain Boost (Seated, HIIT Studio, Beginner, Electronic, 9 minutes)

– October 3: Out of Breath (Seated, HIIT Studio, Intermediate, Electronic, 14 minutes)

– October 15:  Upper Body Sweat (Seated, Dance Studio, Beginner, Pop, 10 minutes)

– October 21 : Short & Sweaty (Seated, HIIT Studio, Beginner, Rock, 9 minutes)

– October 31: Rock It Out (Seated, HIIT Studio, Intermediate, Rock, 11 minutes)

– November 7: Burnin’ Up (Seated, HIIT Studio, Intermediate, Electronic, 12 minutes)

These new classes come off the back of some big new additions and changes to FitXR over the last year. In April, the app switched to a subscription pricing model, while also adding real-time multiplayer and HIIT workouts (which, as listed above, are now being adapted into seated variations). In July, FitXR partnered with record labels to bring some big name artists, like Calvin Harris and Tiesto, to your virtual workouts.

FitXR is available now for Oculus Quest headsets via the Oculus Store. To learn more about designing VR workouts, check out our interview from August with FitXR’s Head of Fitness Ianthe Mellors.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3uvSq4e
via IFTTT

Larcenauts Reveals Ranger Class, New Map In Today’s Update

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Larcenauts’ big new update, The Zarius Heist, is here and with it are the first details about the new character class, map and game mode.

Check out the trailer for the content below.

The free update adds Imperia, a new ranger class specialist. She’ll bring that most trusty of VR weapons, the bow and arrow, to the game and adds some healing elements too. Her Parasphere Field ability, for example, turns damage dealt into health for nearby allies, while Dyna Burst turns her temporarily invulnerable with rapid healing. Finally, the Animax Grenade causes area damage and spanws exploding soul wisps upon contact.

The new map, meanwhile, is called Thunderhead and is set in a remote citadel. It’s filled with ups and downs that focus on both long-range and close-quarters encounters. Paired with Thunderhead is the new Heist mode.

Overall this is a meaty update for the hero shooter, which we think is one of the best new multiplayer games this year. “These are definite thorns in the game’s side, but there’s a texture and depth to its fast-paced matches that ultimately outshines those shortcomings,” we said in our review, giving the game a ‘Great’ rating. “Larcenauts may not be as accessible as Population: One or as heavily VR-focused as Onward, but that richness makes it easily one of the platform’s most enjoyable multiplayer shooters yet.”

The Zarius Heist completes Larcenaut’s near-term roadmap and Impulse Gear hasn’t hinted at what comes next. We’ll bring you the latest on the game as we get it.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3kW0JTK
via IFTTT

Oculus Quest Board Game App Neverboard Is Out Now

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Surprise! Promising Oculus Quest boardgame app, Neverboard, is out now.

Developer Evernever Games surprise launched the title as part of this week’s Quest store drop. It’s a free-to-play experience that lets you download, jump in and play a version of Crazy 8s with up to three friends completely free of charge. Players use the older Oculus avatars system.

More games are available as in-app purchases, however. Check out the trailer below.

The concept is certainly promising and we’ve seen what VR can do for tabletop experiences with games like Demeo, though Neverboard will live and die by the quality and value of the board games on offer. Currently available games include Four Letter Word, Treasure and Odd One Out, but there’s what looks like a trivia game coming soon and Evernever also says it’s reaching out to other game makers that may feel their games are a good fit for the platform.

The app is an Oculus Quest exclusive, with no announced plans for other headsets at this point in time. The concept reminds us of Oculus Rooms, the social VR experience that featured takes on Boggle and others, but never made it off of Gear VR and Oculus Go.

Will you be trying out Neverboard? Let us know in the comments below!

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/2WrelNc
via IFTTT

Walkabout Mini Golf Adds 8th Course, Featuring New Wind Mechanics

https://ift.tt/3D1LJtG

Walkabout Mini Golf adds a new course today called Quixote Valley, available on all supported platforms in a free update.

The course is the game’s eighth, with both a day and night mode available. As you can see from the screenshots and teaser trailer, Quixote Valley is set among a rocky cluster of quaint windmills, a classic staple of most real life mini golf course. In Quixote Valley, you won’t just be dealing with one or two flimsy windmills though — there’s a whole fleet of them to contend with here.

However, the new map also brings with it some appropriate new mechanics. You can’t have windmills without wind, so you can expect to face a bit more resistance from the forces of nature on this map, thanks to the new wind mechanics.  In select areas of the new map, players will now have to account for wind potentially affecting the trajectory of the ball when lining up their shot.

Walkabout Mini Golf started its life as a mobile game, before being ported over to Oculus Quest for release in late 2020. A SteamVR release followed this year in July, with support for cross-platform play. Starting with just four courses at launch, this latest content update rounds out the selection to eight maps, with normal and hard variations for each.

Back in July, Lucas Martell, lead developer of Walkabout Mini Golf, told us that Quixote Valley would be the last course added to the base game as a free update. Future maps will arrive in small DLC packages, the first of which will includes three courses and is already being worked on.

The Quixote Valley update is available now for Walkabout Mini Golf on Oculus Quest and PC VR via Steam.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3zU31qr
via IFTTT

LIVE Unplugged Q&A + full track reveal, Resident Evil 4 VR & Medal of Honor on Quest! – VR Gamescast

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/2Y6pVOQ
via IFTTT

Blaston Quick Draw Update Adds Wild West Duels, Free Weekend On Steam

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A new seasonal game mode featuring wild west gunslinger gameplay is now available in Blaston. The new mode celebrates the game’s first birthday, alongside a free weekend promotion and discounted price on Steam for PC VR players.

The Quick Draw update will be one of the bigger ones since the Crackdown update, which added a single-player campaign a few months ago. By contrast, this update adds in a new multiplayer game mode that dials the action back a bit and focuses on a cowboy-themed showdown in a dusty desert terrain.

As you can see in the embedded trailer, you’ll be equipped with only one weapon, the Deadringer, with a special skin made especially for the game mode. The weapon will spawn in front of you, just like weapons normally do in Blaston, except in Quick Draw mode it’s all about who can grab and shoot the opponent fastest.

“The initial idea for Blaston was a western-style shootout,” said Resolution Games CEO and Co-Founder Tommy Palm in a prepared statement. “So being able to include a nod to that in the game while also appealing to a new and broader audience is really fun.”

In addition to the new mode, there will also be new in-game event challenges on weekends, running throughout the seasonal Quick Draw event and starting from October 8.

The free weekend promotion is available on Steam only, so you’ll need a SteamVR-supported headset to take part. For those on Oculus Quest, there’s no free weekend for the native Quest store version, but you will be able to try the title out on Steam through Oculus Link or Air Link if you have a VR-ready PC. The free weekend runs until 10am PT on Monday.

If you give Blaston a try and like what you find, you’ll also be able to take advantage of a limited ‘Weekend Deal’ on Steam, which sees the game reduced by 30% until October 6 at 10am PST. Plus, anyone that logs into Blaston during the sale period will receive $5 worth of blasts (Blaston’s in-game currency) for free, which you can use to purchase cosmetic, avatars and weapon skins.

The Blaston Quick Draw update is available now across all platforms, and the Blaston free weekend is available now on Steam for compatible VR headsets until October 4, 10am PST,

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3marl2x
via IFTTT

Nreal Announces Ultra Compact Smartglasses With No Tracking

https://ift.tt/2ZFeDBj

Nreal just announced Nreal Air, smartglasses for viewing media on a head-locked screen.

The company’s current product Nreal Light are the only pair of true AR glasses available to consumers – though only in Germany, Spain, Japan, and South Korea. Light is priced between $750 and $1000 depending on the market. Onboard cameras enable virtual objects positioned in the real world and you can pin virtual floating screens in place. Last year it got support for hand tracking input.

Nreal Air is a very different product. It doesn’t have any cameras so doesn’t have positional tracking or hand tracking, and it doesn’t have rotational tracking either. It’s effectively just a large floating screen locked to your head. Nreal says this allows it to be “a fraction of the price”, and Nreal Light will continue to be sold as the company’s true AR product at its higher pricepoint.

At 77 grams Nreal Air is 27% lighter than Nreal Light, only around twice a thick pair of sunglasses. An OLED microdisplay offers higher resolution and increases the refresh rate to 90 Hz.

The field of view is 46 degrees diagonal, which equates to a 130 inch screen at 4 meters.

As with Light, Nreal Air is tethered, powered by your phone via a cable. But while Light only supports a specific list of flagship Android phones, Nreal Air mirrors your iPhone screen or “almost any” Android. That means you can view your existing media apps such as YouTube and Twitch on a massive virtual screen – though again it will be locked to your head.

Nreal Air will ship in November to Japan, South Korea, and China.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3iF2naT
via IFTTT

Facebook is Unlocking Root Access to Oculus Go Soon

https://ift.tt/35UH3EU

John Carmack, legendary programmer and key player in the Oculus Rift genesis story, announced recently that he’s won a decisive battle within Facebook to finally release root access to Oculus Go, the 3DOF standalone VR headset launched in 2018.

Carmack says in a recent tweet that users can expect to gain root access “soon,” which will be made available via an unlocked OS build for the Oculus Go headset that can be side loaded. Oculus Go was the company’s last 3DOF headset before transitioning to the Oculus Quest platform in 2019, which offers full room-scale movement in a similar standalone package.

Providing root access will allow Oculus Go users to take control of the headset’s kernel, which will technically allow for a host of things like overclocking (and underclocking) its CPU and GPU, and fully backing up, restoring, or batch-editing applications.

Photo by Road to VR

In essence, it’s a way of making sure the hardware is useful for years to come despite being technically surpassed, Carmack says.

“This opens up the ability to repurpose the hardware for more things today, and means that a randomly discovered shrink wrapped headset twenty years from now will be able to update to the final software version, long after over-the-air update servers have been shut down.”

When asked about his thoughts on doing a similar unlock for Oculus Quest at some point in the future, Carmack said this:

“I hope this is a precedent for when headsets go unsupported in the future, but damn, getting all the necessary permissions for this involved SO much more effort that you would expect.”

Pushing authorization through to finally unlock Go apparently wasn’t an issue with Facebook’s legal time, Carmack says.

“Legal wasn’t problematic — FB lawyers are surprisingly cool about a lot of efforts that you might expect pushback on.”

So much may not be true with Quest hardware though, as the platform is likely to continue on with what could be the alleged launch of Oculus Quest Pro soon, which would suggest a continuation of backwards compatibility with Quest software, and an increased lifespan of the headset’s unique Android-based OS.

The fight to unlock Oculus Quest has seen its own controversy since the headset’s launch of Quest 2 in 2020. The introduction of forced Facebook logins for all Oculus devices moving forward has created added incentive for jailbreaking teams to try their hand at unlocking the company’s flagship VR headset.

A high-profile Quest 2 jailbreaking team claimed success only a few months after launch, and was later openly discredited by an alleged co-conspirator. It’s still not clear what’s happened with the jailbreak; it hasn’t materialized yet.

The post Facebook is Unlocking Root Access to Oculus Go Soon appeared first on Road to VR.

from Road to VR https://ift.tt/3zQuhX7
via IFTTT

Unplugged’s Full Tracklist Revealed: Tenacious D, The Clash And More

https://ift.tt/3zUXqR0

Anotherway and Vertigo Games today revealed the full Unplugged tracklist, confirming a host of new songs for the upcoming VR rhythm game.

You can see the full tracklist below, which adds artists like The Clash, Rush, T. Rex and Tenacious D to the game. Previously we knew that The Offspring, Weezer and Ozzy Osbourne would all appear, along with some smaller, lesser-known bands like Bumblefoot and Freak Kitchen.

Full Unplugged Tracklist Revealed

Notable tracks from the full 23-strong tracklist include Should I Stay Or Should I Go by The Clash, Roadie by Tenacious D, Spirit In The Sky by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Hate To Say I Told You So by The Hives. Steel Panther’s Eye Of The Panther is also included, which is fitting given that the band’s guitarist, Satchel, serves as your virtual mentor in the campaign.

Unplugged is played entirely using hand-tracking technology. That means you don’t hold a real or plastic guitar but instead air guitar your way through the game’s songs. Aside from the lack of a peripheral the game works pretty much like Guitar Hero, getting you to match colored notes to the corresponding fingers as they stream towards you. We were skeptical that the hand-tracking on Oculus Quest could keep up with the game but came away cautiously optimistic from our first hands-on session.

Unplugged launches on Oculus Quest on October 21. It’s also coming to PC VR headsets with finger-tracking capabilities (including the Valve Index controllers) later on. Check back later today for a video Q&A with Vertigo Games producer, Marcus Henderson, live from our weekly Gamescast.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3mtJWqL
via IFTTT

Medal Of Honor Will Barely Fit On 64GB Oculus Quest 2

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond is coming to Oculus Quest 2 and if you bought the $299 headset before August 2021 it could take up almost all the internal storage.

After a period with temporarily paused sales, Facebook now sells a 128GB Oculus Quest 2 as the entry level model for $299. From October 2020 to July 2021, though, if you bought the entry-level $299 model Oculus Quest 2 the device came with just 64 GB of internal storage. We reached out to confirm with Facebook, but we believe there’s around 52.7 GB of usable storage on the original Quest 2 (64 GB – 11.3 for the system) and, according to a comment on Reddit from an executive producer Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond should be “40-45GB. Exact final size is TBD, but that’s the range.” UploadVR confirmed this range with Facebook directly, and also confirmed that Medal of Honor will fit on a 64 GB Quest 2.

Marquee games on the Quest 2 standalone VR console are taking up more and more storage, but Medal Of Honor sets a new high watermark. Myst VR requires almost 10GB of storage on Quest 2 and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners hit 12GB after an update last year. Facebook confirmed to UploadVR that Resident Evil 4 VR, set to release exclusively on Oculus Quest 2 on October 21, will only take up around “10-12GB, maybe a little less.”

Facebook now sells 128GB and 256GB models of Oculus Quest 2 for $299 and $399 respectively. Facebook Connect will be hosted on October 28, 2021 with Facebook likely to announce future software updates and content releases coming to the standalone platform in the coming months.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3ofTxDX
via IFTTT

One of Oculus Studios’ Worst-rated Titles, ‘Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond’, is Coming to Quest 2

https://ift.tt/33HqzSc

Respawn Entertainment and Oculus today announced that the PC VR game Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (2020), notably one of the worst-rated Oculus Studio partner titles, is being slimmed down to fit on Oculus Quest 2. Launch is slated for sometime “later this year,” and will include the full game.

Medal of Honor: Above & Beyond launched on the Oculus PC platform and SteamVR headsets back in December 2020, bringing the storied franchise to VR for the first time.

The Oculus Quest 2 version is said to include the full Medal of Honor: Above & Beyond single player campaign, multiplayer mode, and the living history of The Gallery, a set of live-action documentary shorts featuring WWII vets.

Image courtesy Respawn Entertainment

Out of the games partnered with Oculus Studios, Medal of Honor: Above & Beyond didn’t fare very well out of the gate, having initially garnered middling reviews for a Metacritic score of 67/100. A few months after launch, it still ranked among the worst-rated games when we stacked up the top 25 ‘big bet’ games supported by the company.

In our review [5/10], we noted that Medal of Honor featured a competent multiplayer mode, although its core gameplay pillars and polish were decidedly lacking. Polish to the PC VR version has improved to some degree with subsequent updates, garnering a ‘Mostly Positive’ recent rating on Steam, however the consensus from over 1,400 user reviews leaves it with an overall ‘Mixed’ user rating.

The launch of Medal of Honor exclusively on Quest 2 continues a slow trend of developers pulling back from supporting the original Quest headset, with Resident Evil 4 arriving in October as one of the most prominent Quest 2 exclusives to hit the Oculus Store.

We’re also hoping Respawn has reconsidered Medal of Honor’s $60 price tag. If not, that would make it one of the most expensive games on the platform, coming in at $20 more than the universally-acclaimed The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (2020).

The post One of Oculus Studios’ Worst-rated Titles, ‘Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond’, is Coming to Quest 2 appeared first on Road to VR.

from Road to VR https://ift.tt/3igZpsG
via IFTTT

Facebook Horizon Workrooms Adds Remote Desktop Support For Apple M1 Macs

https://ift.tt/3iiOoHc

Facebook Horizon Workrooms added support for Apple’s M1 Mac computers, which should allow users to bring the latest Macbook Pro, Air and Mac Mini models into Workrooms via remote desktop software.

Facebook launched Horizon Workrooms last month, allowing Quest 2 users to work and collaborate remotely with other users in a virtual boardroom. The app supports bringing your computer into VR via remote desktop software installed on your PC or Mac, which streams your desktop view to a virtual screen at your seat in Workrooms. You can control your computer either via a cut-out of the passthrough view displaying your desk or with a tracked keyboard represented virtually on your Workrooms desk, available for select supported models.

The Oculus Remote Desktop software required for Workrooms integration launched with support for Windows and Mac computers, but did not support the latest line of Macs using Apple’s new M1 chip. This new line of Macbook Pro, Air and Mac Mini features custom silicon designed by Apple, which has underlying architectural differences from previous models.

Previously, Facebook said M1 support was being worked on and should arrive within a month or so. Now, the update is available and allows M1 Macs to be used in Facebook Workrooms via remote desktop with ease. The software download page confirms the update, encouraging M1 users experiencing difficulty running or install Oculus Remote Desktop to redownload the software and try again with the new version.

We tested out Oculus Remote Desktop on an M1 Macbook Pro earlier today and can confirm that installation went smoothly and the computer appeared in Workrooms with no hiccups. The Macbook Pro and Air keyboards can also be tracked natively by the Quest, allowing you to use a virtual representation of your keyboard in VR that matches your laptop keyboard’s position in real life.

You can read more about Workrooms here and download the Oculus Remote Desktop software here.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3F156ol
via IFTTT

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond – Quest 2 Port Announce Trailer

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3F3PHn9
via IFTTT

Medal of Honor: Above And Beyond Is Coming to Oculus Quest 2 This Year

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Facebook and developer Respawn today confirmed that the previously PC-exclusive VR shooter, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, is coming to Oculus Quest 2 this year.

The news was announced over on the Oculus blog with a new trailer you can see below. This version of the game will feature both the full single-player campaign and the multiplayer modes that debuted in last year’s release. The blog notes that this content has been “carefully reworked to fit (and run) on any Quest 2.” Facebook had previously said it would try to port the game to Quest, but wouldn’t make any promises it would actually happen.

Medal of Honor Oculus Quest 2 Confirmed

And, yes, the standalone version is another full Quest 2 exclusive that will not launch on the original Quest. Facebook confirmed as much to UploadVR. There is precedent for this – the upcoming Resident Evil 4 VR will be a full Quest 2 exclusive when it launches on October 21.

Other details, including a release date, will be revealed “in the very near future.” Facebook is holding its annual Connect developer conference at the end of October, so it’s possible we hear more there.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond was first teased years ago before Respawn brought the full experience to both Oculus Rift and SteamVR in 2021. The game was the first entry in the series in years and took the franchise back to its original WW2 setting. We liked it when we reviewed it last year, though noted some pacing problems. “Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond can be both frustrating and captivating at the exact same time,” we said, giving the game a ‘Good’ rating, “but underneath it all is a fun and engaging VR shooter that nails several facets of being a successful AAA game.”

Will you be picking up Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond on Oculus Quest 2? Let us know in the comments below!

 

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3m8ZqA4
via IFTTT

Pavlov Community Map Becomes Official In PC VR Update

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Pavlov‘s v26 update on PC VR has made some changes across the game and added a new map that was originally created by a member of the game’s community.

The new map, Industry, started its life as an unofficial community creation by mapper Voxie. It’s got a corporate look to it, as it’s set inside the offices of a fictional security firm, Infinitum Military Solutions. It became a fan favorite and so Pavlov’s developers have worked with Voxie to recreate the map and bring it into the game officially on PC VR.

Besides the new map, a few changes have been made to the game’s visual and audio assets, as well as some balance and gameplay changes. The NATO and Russian players models have been visually updated, which should improve team clarity and general performance. All of the weapon sounds in the game have been remastered as well, which should provide more “heavy impact” effects and greater reverb when outdoors.

Likewise, visual explosion effects have been added or altered for items like grenades, bombs and flashbangs. The game’s offline shooting range has also been rebuilt in this update, which should improve performance and provide players with easy access to other areas for offline play, available directly from the shooting range.

In terms of gameplay, players are now only able to buy one frag grenade at a time during the pre-round, to reduce grenade spam. There are also new limits to smokes, flashbangs and other utility items. A new shotgun is now available — the Trench Gun — and some historical scopes and bolt slap mechanics have been added to select weapons.

The developers also outlined plans to move to a faction-based weapon set in a future update, which they say will effectively limit what weapons are available to players depending on what team they’re on. “One team will have the AK available, and the other will have M4, and so on,” says the update post on Steam. “Some weapons will be shared between teams, of course, such as the Deagle.” These specific faction-based changes aren’t in effect yet, but will be made in a future update as part of a larger effort to revamp the buy menu.

New game modes are also in the works, such as a Push game mode, and can be tested now by switching over to the Steam beta build.

All of the above changes only apply to the PC VR version of Pavlov on Steam, which is released and developed separately from Pavlov Shack, the ‘lite’ version of the game available for Quest via App Lab.

You can read the full patch notes for Update 26 over on Steam.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3uvads7
via IFTTT

Reports: Valve Working On ‘Deckard’ Standalone VR Headset

https://ift.tt/3F3zWfZ

YouTuber Bradley Lynch found evidence of a Valve standalone VR headset in SteamVR driver files, and Ars Technica says its sources confirm its existence.

Valve Index, the company’s $999 tethered PC VR kit, has now been on the market for more than two years. It still has best-in-class tracking and audio quality but its display resolution is lower than both Facebook’s $299 Oculus Quest 2 and HTC’s Vive Pro 2.

The new headset is reportedly codenamed “Deckard”, the surname of Blade Runner’s protagonist and a possible reference to Steam Deck.

Lynch says the Deckard codename was present in a Lighthouse (Valve’s positional tracking technology) driver file and a SteamVR input driver. The input driver apparently added references to “Deckard POC-A” in January of this year and “Deckard POC-C” in June, with POC likely standing for Proof of Concept.

When asked last month by The Verge whether Steam Deck’s chip could be used in a standalone VR headset, product designer Greg Coomer replied it “would run well in that environment” and teased “it’s very relevant to us and our future plans”. However, in July Valve cautioned the chip’s performance isn’t intended for the extreme demands of VR.

Lynch found a “Standalone System Layer” option in the hidden ‘Valve Internal’ menu tab of SteamVR, as well as a Linux-only binary referencing Deckard which he says tells the device to boot to a default application. Remember that Steam Deck runs SteamOS, Valve’s distro of Linux. A further reference to “Dual Tracking Mode” suggests the headset could have inside-out tracking while optionally supporting Lighthouse.

In March Valve filed a patent for a head strap referencing a wireless VR headset. Lynch notes that a driver called VRLink was added to SteamVR this year with code referencing a WiFi 6 driver, and this update actually temporarily broke some HTC Vive wireless setups. These findings suggests Deckard could have PC VR streaming functionality similar to Facebook’s Oculus Air Link.

Ars Technica says its sources confirm Valve had at least two VR headset concepts in the works which diverged over time, with one requiring a PC and tracking base stations and the other (presumably Deckard) operating standalone with onboard compute like Oculus Quest. These sources also claim Valve initially struggled to get inside-out tracking to match Oculus Insight’s quality so brought in an outside firm for help.

Ars notes, however, that Valve has begun dedicating its manufacturing lines to the Steam Deck portable console, and doubts the company has the capacity to also produce a VR headset in the near term given the ongoing global chip shortage. Ars also notes Valve has a long history of varied internal prototyping and killing projects before they’re announced.

If Deckard really is a standalone headset Valve intends to ship as a product, it would provide much-needed competition for Facebook’s Oculus Quest line and could go head-to-head with the upcoming Quest Pro.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3zNBqap
via IFTTT

HTC is Holding a Vive Product Event Just Ahead of Facebook Connect

https://ift.tt/3EWDot3

HTC is gearing up to hold what seems to be a new product unveiling on October 14th, or just ahead of Facebook Connect on the 28th of that month. The company says we’ll be hearing about some “big news in a small package.”

HTC announced the event on Twitter, saying it will take place on October 14th at 11 AM ET (local time here) in the company’s online event space, which is hosted by social VR platform Engage.

10.14.21 https://t.co/IBS7Xa9yll #gowiththeflow pic.twitter.com/TaidAkicJo

— HTC VIVE (@htcvive) September 27, 2021

There’s still little indication what it might be, although we have some ideas. In February 2020, the company showed off a concept XR headset called Vive Proton, which was touted as a small form-factor device in the making, albeit in its early stages.

Image courtesy HTC

Presented in two flavors—a standalone model and a tethered model—it was suggested at the time that Vive Proton achieved its small form-factor via ‘pancake’-style optics, or the type we saw in the compact Pico VR Glasses prototype at CES 2020 right before in-person events were cancelled. Maybe a more refined version of the goggles fits into that thermos-looking thing as a protective charging case?

The company’s RSVP form for the event and tweet above also features a graphic with what appears to be the outside faceplate of Proton, although that may just be wishful thinking.

Image courtesy HTC

The graphic’s headline ‘Go with the Flow’ may hold a more concrete clue, as a new HTC trademark for a product called ‘VIVE FLOW’ was filed on August 26th, 2021, which refers to a “[h]ead mounted display for computer simulated reality, namely virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality.”

In any case, it’s a pretty safe bet that whatever HTC unveils it will be squarely targeted at prosumers and businesses, although we’re always happy to be wrong. There’s really only one way to find out though, and that’s to tune in on October 14th and see what HTC has in store.

The post HTC is Holding a Vive Product Event Just Ahead of Facebook Connect appeared first on Road to VR.

from Road to VR https://ift.tt/3mbelKc
via IFTTT

Exclusive Preview: ‘Jurassic World Aftermath – Part 2’ Will Bring New Dino Gameplay & Story Conclusion

https://ift.tt/3ik36Ol

The Cretaceous game of cat & mouse on Quest, Jurassic World Aftermath, is due to get a major Part 2 DLC tomorrow which promises to bring new dino encounters, mini-game interactions, and a completion to the story started (and abruptly ended) in Part 1. We got an exclusive early look at the game with new details straight from the developers.

While we enjoyed Jurassic World Aftermath [our review here] for its strong gameplay design and excellent art style, it ran a bit short with an ending that felt like a blatant cliffhanger. Luckily we haven’t had to wait too long for the follow-up. Jurassic World Aftermath – Part 2 is set to launch tomorrow, September 30th. Although it will be sold as a DLC add-on to the main game—and at the affordable price of $15—developer Coatsink tells us that Part 2 is about the same length as the main game and will bring players to the conclusion of the story.

Road to VR got an exclusive look at a 45 minute section of Jurassic World – Part 2 and got new details directly from the developers.

Back-to-Back

Jurassic World Part 2 is a direct continuation of the story you started in Part 1. To jog your memory, you’re stuck on the island of Isla Nublar in an abandoned research facility. Things go terribly wrong (as they always seem to in Jurassic Park) and you find yourself playing a deadly game of hide-and-seek with velociraptors that stalk your every move. Between raptor encounters, the game has players interacting with the systems of the research facility to gather information, complete objectives, and progress the story.

Part 2 doesn’t seem like it will be bucking that overarching gameplay, but it’s mixing things up with more involved objectives, fresh mini-game interactions, and new dinos that will bring new gameplay challenges.

Big & Small

While the raptors are still the start of the show, new dinosaurs will come in all shapes and sizes. The first new one I saw in my portion of the preview is a triceratops that—despite its imposing size—seemed quite friendly and was willing to help me with a puzzle. But the developers teased several others too.

On the smaller end of the spectrum is the adorable Compsognathus (AKA compie) which fans of the Jurassic Park series will be familiar with as being mostly benevolent but sometimes mischievous. That disposition will apparently carry through to Part 2, as the compies will act like a “roving alarm” that may call attention to players trying to sneak their way through the raptor-laden corridors. I just hope I can “shoo” them away with a flick of my wrist if they come close enough.

And then there’s two other dinos we spotted in Part 1—the flying Pteranodon and the vicious T-rex. This time around, the developers say, players will engage with both directly.

Objectives & Interactions

When you aren’t being chased by raptors you’re usually interacting with the abandoned research facility to try to complete various objectives. Part 1 included a handful of hands-on mini-games which was a fun break from being stalked by a deadly predator. Even various door locks and computer systems often had simple but generally fun interactions (think: a game of Simon Says).

Part 2 introduces a new set of these interactions and mini-games which, from my time in the preview, has served to keep things fresh. There’s a new door hacking mini-game where you spin a dial—like you’re cracking a safe—to allow key-like puzzle pieces to fit into place. As well as a ‘matching shapes’ type door hacking game—where the shapes become scrambled—which I know is going to make me kick myself when I mess up from the pressure of a raptor creeping up behind me.

As for the broader objectives, Part 2 has so far shown me more extensive and interactive scenarios. At one point I had to find several items in order to progress. This involved searching two different sections of the facility, using a laser cutter and a spectral analysis tool, placing the found items inside of a box, transporting the box by conveyor belt, and solving an environmental puzzle in the midst of it all. Oh and don’t forget, I was being chased by razor toothed monsters while I did it all.

Details From the Devs

I got to speak with Brian Gomez, Executive Producer at Universal, and Jon Davies, Head of Narrative at Coatsink about Jurassic World Aftermath – Part 2. The pair shared fresh details about the game, including a tease that it could one day come to other platforms.

First is the price and length of Part 2. The price is settled at $15 and will be sold as DLC inside the main game. They say players can expect 3.5–4 hours from Part 2, which would round out the complete game at about 6.5 hours and a total of $40. The pair also confirmed that Part 2 will bring the conclusion of the story (rather than it being kept for a Part 3).

When I asked Gomez & Davies what brought the abrupt ending of Part 1, they said they were (understandably) blindsided by the Coronavirus pandemic which disrupted the production roadmap as the team shifted to remote work. The decision was made pretty early on, the duo said, to cut the game into two (appropriately priced) parts in order to get the first portion of the game out rather than delaying it entirely.

And while there’s purportedly no plans for a Part 3, Jurassic World Aftermath could one day find its way to headsets other than Quest. Gomez & Davies didn’t have anything specific to announce but did tell me that game is “not Oculus exclusive,” which leaves the door open to one day seeing it on PC VR, PSVR, or elsewhere.

The post Exclusive Preview: ‘Jurassic World Aftermath – Part 2’ Will Bring New Dino Gameplay & Story Conclusion appeared first on Road to VR.

from Road to VR https://ift.tt/3AVEm6h
via IFTTT

First Look At Tokyo Game Show VR Booths Including Capcom, Sega, More

https://ift.tt/2ZGQcDI

We’ve got our first look at some of the virtual booths at Tokyo Game Show VR, which opens tonight, including Capcom, Sega and more.

The free event opens its doors at 5pm PT/8pm ET today (or September 30 at 1am BST/9am JST for Europe and Japan). The social experience has some of the biggest names in gaming onboard as well as a mix of VR developers too, and the official website now has the first images of some of the booths. Want to know how to attend? Check out our full guide to getting in. For now, though, let’s take a look at some of these booths.

Tokyo Game Show VR Booths Revealed

For starters, TGS VR will be divided into four main areas in a fictional setting called the ‘Game Float’. There’s a core area with a theater and then themed Wild, Digital and Urban areas. Here’s the map for the show.

And here’s a first look at that theater.

Now onto the booths! Sega and Atlus have a shared booth that includes a 3D model of everyone’s favorite blue blur, Sonic the Hedgehog.

Joining them in the Digital Area is famed RPG-maker, Level-5.

Over in the Urban Area, Japanese publishing giant Konami will feature some of its recent releases, like last week’s Castlevania Advance Collection.

This is also where you’ll find MyDearest, the Japan-based VR developer behind the Tokyo Chronos series, including Altdeus and the recently-announced Dyschronia.

The Wild Area, meanwhile, features a Monster Hunter-themed booth from Capcom.

Another VR developer, Survios, will also be showing off Puzzle Bobble VR at the event.

Finally, there seems to be an interactive Attack on Titan VR experience at the show, and there’s a screenshot below.

There are plenty of other companies coming to TGS VR, including Square Enix and Bandai Namco booths we’re yet to see. We’ll be bringing you a full report on the show as soon as we’ve stepped foot inside.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3ohVD65
via IFTTT

Tokyo Game Show VR: How To Attend On Oculus Quest And PC

https://ift.tt/2ZGQcDI

Tokyo Game Show VR opens its doors later today. Well, open its virtual doors – this is the first time ever a portion of this year’s show will be in VR.

Yes, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, TGS is hosting the first-ever TGS VR, with companies like Konami, Capcom, Square Enix and more showing off traditional games at virtual booths. VR developers like MyDearest and Survios will also be in attendance. You’ll be able to head to a show floor to find 3D models of your favorite characters, watch new trailers and purchase merchandise. Wondering how to attend? Check out our full guide below for more info!

What Is Tokyo Game Show VR?

TGS VR is a virtual version of the event running on the newly launched xambr social VR platform from ambr. You’ll be able to attend on Oculus Quest, PC VR headsets, or just on a regular PC. Visitors will have their own avatar that you can customize and there will be several themed areas to visit.

Can I Attend Tokyo Game Show VR With Friends?

Yes, this is a social app with support for up to 12 people in a group. The app will feature an account registration system and you should be able to make and add friends after, though how this works isn’t yet clear.

What Companies Are At Tokyo Game Show VR?

Quite a lot! TGS VR will have a mix of traditional and VR games companies. You’ll find booths from Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Sega, Atlus, Famitsu, Level-5, Konami, MyDearest, Capcom, Koei Tecmo, GunHo Online, Survios and more.

Is Tokyo Game Show VR Free?

In short, yes! There are no admission fees for TGS VR. There are shops dotted around the floors to buy virtual merch, however.

When Does Tokyo Game Show VR Start And Finish?

Tokyo Game Show VR starts on September 29 at 5pm PT/8pm ET and September 30 at 1am BST/9am JST. It runs until October 3 at 10pm PT and October 4 at 1am ET/6am BST/2am JST.

How Do I Attend Tokyo Game Show VR On Oculus Quest?

On Oculus Quest you’ll need to download the dedicated Tokyo Game Show VR app on Oculus App Lab. It goes live at the same time doors open (see above), so there’s no link to it just yet but we’ll add it in when it launches. When you first launch the app you’ll need to register a user name and download additional info. Once that’s done, however, you should be able to log in and join the show!

How Do I Attend Tokyo Game Show VR On PC?

As with the Quest app, the PC VR version of the app goes live when doors open. We’ll have the link when it launches, but you can also grab it from here. Once it’s downloaded you’ll need to register, do an additional in-app download and then you should be free to join.

Note that this version of the experience is designed for the Oculus Rift, Quest via Link and HTC Vive headsets. It’s not clear if Windows MR or Valve Index devices will work just yet. Here’s the system requirements for the experience.

OS: Windows 10
CPU: Core i5-7500 equivalent or better
Memory: 8GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1060 equivalent or better
Storage: At least 10GB of available space

Can I Attend Tokyo Game Show VR Without A Headset?

Yes. There’s a non-VR version of the app you can download from here (once doors are open). You can’t, however, attend TGS VR on a smartphone.

---

Are you attending Tokyo Game Show VR? What do you think of the experience? Let us know in the comments below!

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3zW5FMu
via IFTTT

Iron Man VR Developer Camouflaj Hiring For New AAA Title

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Camouflaj, the developers behind 2020’s PSVR exclusive Iron Man VR, are hiring a number of positions for a new AAA title.

There’s nine positions total, available over on the careers section of Camouflaj’s site, all of which describe roles working on “a new AAA project.” Some open positions include concept artists, gameplay engineers, animation leader and more. The listings don’t specify whether the AAA title is a VR title or just a traditional flatscreen game. However, many of the listings indicate that “experience with VR” or “experience working in the VR space” would be a bonus (albeit not a requirement).

Camouflaj’s focus has been on VR titles for a number of years now. Republique was their last non-VR title, released as an episodic stealth game for mobile devices and then ported and launched on GearVR, PC VR and PSVR. The team was also behind the PSVR-exclusive Iron Man VR — a game made in partnership and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Putting all these pieces of the puzzle together, it seems possible that Camouflaj is developing a new AAA title for PSVR 2. Sony confirmed PSVR 2 is on the way, even revealing the new controllers, but it won’t be releasing this year. UploadVR was also the first to reveal the specs of the new headset in May, featuring 2000×2040 pixels per eye with foveated rendering.

In July last year, Camouflaj founder Ryan Payton indicated the studio would be interested in a hypothetical sequel to Iron Man VR.

“Ultimately it’s up to how the game performs, it’s up to our partners over at PlayStation and Marvel,” he said. “But as developers we absolutely loved working on Marvel’s Iron Man VR and we would obviously be super interested to continue working on it.”

You can view all Camouflaj’s job openings here. We’re not expecting to hear anything new on PSVR 2 anytime soon, but in the meantime you can catch up on everything we know so far or read our review of Iron Man VR from last year.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3AUxAO6
via IFTTT

How NASA Astronauts Use VR & AR Aboard The International Space Station

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A recent blog post from NASA detailed various ways that VR and AR technology is used aboard the International Space Station and back on Earth to prepare astronauts for take-off.

According to NASA, VR/AR tech is becoming an increasing strong staple in life aboard the ISS, often used to help astronauts complete tasks or activities in new or easier ways. There’s nine examples in the full blog post, alongside some photos showing a few VR and AR headsets you’re probably familiar with.

The most common headset pictured in the blog post is the HoloLens, Microsoft’s enterprise-only AR headset. The HoloLens has been used in projects such as Sidekick, which used high-definition holograms to help show crew members 3D schematics and diagrams while they work. It was also used for T2 AR, a project that will help guide astronauts through maintenance tasks for their space station treadmill, avoiding the need for real-time communication with ground crew back on Earth.

It’s not all AR though — VR is also adopted across the ISS. Some astronauts are pictured using Oculus Quests to test whether adding VR environments might improve astronauts’ exercise bike experience, while others are pictured using Oculus Rift and other headsets for a variety of tasks like operating robotic arms or piloting space vehicles.

The post also mentions The ISS Experience, a multi-episode immersive VR series by Felix & Paul Studios and TIME Studios, filmed over multiple months aboard the ISS. NASA says the series  gives people on Earth insight into life aboard the ISS, along with potentially sparking ideas and inspiration for further research and improved conditions for astronauts. The series won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program recently, and the first two out of four planned episodes are available now through the Space Explorers app for Oculus Quest and Rift.

You can read NASA’s full blog post, detailing all the ways they use VR and AR technology aboard the ISS, here. 

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/3igOMGy
via IFTTT

Long Delayed Pimax Controllers Finally Enter Production

https://ift.tt/2Y7hSB2

Pimax says its Sword Lite VR Controllers entered mass production for release in October.

In its 2017 Kickstarter for the “8K” ultra-wide field of view VR headset, China-based startup Pimax promised rudimentary VR controllers for $200 extra, with buttons, a thumbstick, and trigger. In 2018 the company revealed a radical redesign resembling earlier prototypes of Valve’s Index controllers with the price announced as $300 and the release window slated for late 2019.

Flash forward to late 2021 and Pimax hasn’t yet shipped any controllers – the company has a history of overpromising on release schedules. Instead it offers bundles with Index controllers.

But Pimax now says the refined controllers, which it now calls Sword Lite, have actually entered mass production and are ready to ship at scale soon. Sword Sense, the higher end controllers, are apparently still in development too but it’s unclear how far out they really are.

Like with Pimax headsets, Sword Lite are tracked by two SteamVR Tracking base stations (available from Valve for $149 each). Sword Lite isn’t compatible with other SteamVR headsets though, this is an accessory to Pimax headsets only.

Similar to Index controllers there are capacitive finger detection sensors for all five digits. Sword Lite each use a rechargeable battery which can be hot swapped without losing connection to SteamVR. Pimax claims four hours of battery between charges, significantly lower than Oculus Touch or Valve Index.

Pimax says preorder customers will start getting Sword Lite in October and it will be available for general purchase soon after. The price hasn’t yet been revealed and Pimax wouldn’t provide the price when questioned.

from UploadVR https://ift.tt/2YbC4BZ
via IFTTT