This week, Futuremark announced that their new Cyan Room DX12 test will be released for VRMark next Wednesday (November 22). This comes around a year after VRMark’s original release in November 2016, which first brought the HTC Vive and Oculus R…
When Microsoft introduced its Windows Mixed Reality platform for productivity and gaming earlier this year, it was clear that in order to make it competitive, the software giant would need to either create its own VR marketplace or gain compatibility with an existing one. This week Microsoft and Valve announced that Windows Mixed Reality headsets are now compatible with the SteamVR platform and therefore dozens of VR games.
Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality headsets will be available from multiple vendors, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and others for the price of $400 – $500 or so with controllers included. The head-mounted displays (HMDs) require a Windows 10 PC with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update to operate as well as Steam with SteamVR and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR add-ons to access virtual reality games (there is a guide how to set everything up at Steampowered). At present, the WMR for SteamVR app is in Steam Preview stage, so it is not final with all the possible consequences.
Besides specific software, Windows Mixed Reality headsets require high-end hardware to play VR games. Officially, Microsoft has rather moderate requirements for its WMR platform (a quad-core Core i5 CPU, a GeForce GTX 960/1050 or similar GPU, etc.), but to play VR titles comfortably, Valve advices its WMR customers to use a considerably more powerful system featuring at least Intel’s quad-core Core i7 7700/7700K processor as well as NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card. Such requirements do not come completely unexpected. Windows Mixed Reality HMDs feature two 1440×1440 LCD panels (for a total resolution of 2880×1440) with a 90 Hz refresh rate and running modern games at a 2880×1440 resolution at 90 FPS or higher is a tough job for a GPU. Since different games have different requirements, it is obvious that far not all titles need a high-end video card, but it makes sense to keep the recommendations in mind.
| General Specifications of a Windows Mixed Reality Headset | |||
| Display | 2x LCD | ||
| Resolution | 2880×1440 (combined) 1440×1440 (per eye) |
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| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz | ||
| FOV | 95° | ||
| Sensors | Gyroscope: 6 degrees of freedom tracking Accelerometer Magnetometer Proximity |
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| Position Tracking | Inside-Out Camera (x2) | ||
| Audio | 3.5mm Audio Jack | ||
| Controls | Microsoft Motion Controllers | ||
| Launch Price | $400 – $500, depending on manufacturer, bundle, etc. | ||
At present, SteamVR has about 30 – 40 titles that support Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality HMDs, which is a lot more than Microsoft itself sells in its own online store. When compared to other VR platforms, WMR is considerably behind HTC’s Vive and Facebook’s Oculus Rift that support hundreds of titles, but keep in mind that both HMDs have been available for well over a year now. In any case, the number of games that support Microsoft’s AR/VR headsets will grow over time as developers validate their titles for the new HMDs, so gaining Steam/SteamVR support is a big deal for the Windows Mixed Reality platform.
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Today, Facebook owned Oculus announced their follow up to the Oculus Rift VR headset, and they’ve decided to make the entry point to Oculus VR much easier to access. At $199, the new Oculus Go is significantly undercutting the $599 launch price of the Rift, which has seen its own price cut to $399 since it launched about a year and a half ago. But the Go is not just a less expensive version of the Rift. It’s a self-contained VR system, providing untethered VR capabilities.
Despite the lower price, the Go has a higher resolution display than the Rift. The Go features a 2560×1440 “Fast-switch” LCD display, which is a bump up from the 2160×1200 combined resolution of the two OLED displays in the Rift. Fast-Switch likely means a higher refresh rate, but no specifications have been announced yet to see how it compared to the 90 Hz of the Rift. Oculus is also promoting the optical lenses are new and improved for the Go, offering a wider field of view and less glare. The LCD display and new lenses should help with the screen door effect that is present on VR headsets, but we’re still a long way from having the processing power to remove this completely.
Oculus Go also includes integrated spatial audio, which is one of the big features Oculus promoted on the Rift when it launched. The speakers are built-in to the sides of the headset, so no extra equipment is necessary. They have had the courage though to add a 3.5mm headphone jack, if you want to listen privately.
Go and Gear are “binary compatible” so any apps that work on Gear, should work on Go. It’s helpful to have an ecosystem when you’re launching a new product.
The new headset is made of a new breathable cloth, for improved comfort, and the Go can be used with glasses.
Unlike the Rift, the untethered nature of the Go means that it won’t have the full tracking capabilities, but that can be a benefit as well since not everyone has a dedicated location they can leverage VR. At the outset, the Go seems like a well priced, capable VR headset, and although it won’t have the gaming potential of a full PC behind it, the capabilities of a smartphone SoC have been improving dramatically over the years. Unfortunately Facebook / Oculus hasn’t announced what is actually powering the Go, so we’ll have to wait and see how much performance they can get for $199. Tomshardware is reporting it’s a Snapdragon 821.
The Oculus Go ships early next year.
Source: Oculus Blog
Lenovo has introduced its augmented/virtual reality head mounted display (HMD) compatible with the Windows Mixed Reality platform. The Lenovo Explorer device requires a PC to operate and runs applications developed for WMR or Microsoft HoloLens and other AR/VR devices.
From technical point of view, the Lenovo Explorer HMD does not differ from WMR devices by Acer, ASUS or Dell: it has two 1440×1440@90 Hz LCD panels (for a total resolution of 2880×1440) and two cameras to capture the outside world. The Lenovo Explorer headset connects to a modern Windows 10-based PC using USB and HDMI cables and blends virtual reality with the real world. The HMD has integrated sensors, so users can move around in an area of up to 3.5 by 3.5 meters and do not need any external tracking systems.
Lenovo claims that its headset was engineered to ensure maximum comfort for its users. In particular, the HMD is light and is easy to wear.
Just like other companies involved into the Windows Mixed Reality initiative, Lenovo positions its HMD for VR games and entertainment, 360° video, work, AR-supporting programs and other emerging workloads. For those, who plan to use apps designed for the WMR platform, Lenovo will offer Motion Controllers (similar to those supplied with other WMR HDMs), whereas for gamers the company will offer an Xbox One controller.
Lenovo will sell its Lenovo Explorer HMD starting from October for the price of $349. When bundled with motion controller, the headset will cost $449.
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ASUS has revealed new details about its upcoming Windows Mixed Reality headset, including specifications and price–essentially everything except for timing.
Microsoft is gearing up for the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, which will introduce the company’s virtual reality platform: Windows Mixed Reality. Leading up to IFA in Berlin, Microsoft invited journalists to test out the Windows MR motion controllers, which may have kick-started a chain reaction of announcements from Windows MR hardware partners. On Monday, Dell revealed its aptly named Visor HMD. Tuesday, Acer spoke briefly of its Windows Mixed Reality HMD, though it didn’t reveal anything we didn’t already know about the bright blue headset. And now today, ASUS played its mixed reality hand.
| ASUS HC102 Windows Mixed Reality Headset Specifications | |||
| Display | 2x LCD | ||
| Resolution | 2880×1200 (combined) 1440×1440 (per eye) |
||
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz | ||
| FOV | 95° | ||
| Sensors | Gyroscope: 6 degrees of freedom tracking Accelerometer Magnetometer Proximity |
||
| Position Tracking | Inside-Out Camera (x2) | ||
| Audio | 3.5mm Audio Jack | ||
| Controls | Microsoft Motion Controllers | ||
| Launch Price | €449 (w/ Motion Controllers) | ||
Unlike Dell, ASUS didn’t give its HMD a fancy name. It’s simply the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset. It offers dual 1440 x 1440 pixel displays (for a total of 2880 x 1440) that operate at up to 90Hz. The HMD also includes the typical sensors you would expect, such as a gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer. Microsoft’s Windows MR platform offers inside-out tracking (6DoF) systems that don’t require external cameras, and each Windows MR HMD features two front-facing cameras that provide spatial tracking for the unit. The ASUS headset also includes a proximity sensor. We’re not yet sure if that’s standard equipment for Windows MR headsets or a unique feature of the ASUS HMD.
ASUS said it focused on designing a headset that would offer good hygiene. Room-scale VR games get you up and moving, and it’s not uncommon to break a sweat while playing an active game. ASUS said that the face cushion on its Windows MR headset is made of a fast-drying material with an anti-bacterial coating on the surface.
The Windows MR platform is billed as a productivity platform as much as it is an entertainment platform. Microsoft sees a future where you’ll do your work within VR and then play games in VR with the same hardware. ASUS made sure that its headset is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It features a “balanced crown” design, which takes the pressure off of your cheeks and nose and distributes the weight between your forehead and the back of your head. Also, the headset weighs less than 400g, so it should put minimal stress on your neck.
ASUS didn’t say when it would release the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset, though it said the hardware would sell with Microsoft’s motion controllers for €449. The company didn’t reveal the US price. Dell’s Visor headset is scheduled for an October release, and we imagine that ASUS would shoot for a similar launch window.
Kevin Carbotte contributed to this report
