A New OSVR Hardware Dev Kit Launches in October
Good news for VR enthusiasts. Open Source Virtual Reality (OSVR), the virtual reality software platform by gaming company Razer, will soon be launching an upgraded version of its Hacker Development Kit (HDK) headset next month. Razer’s OSVR recently announced HDK 1.3, which is expected to enhance the headset’s optics and display features.
As of now there is no price yet for the updated VR headset, but the current version – its predecessor – sells for $299, along with older OSVR versions which sells for $199. As a significant upgrade, the latest OSVR HDK is expected to be priced similarly to the latest one currently available. The OSVR Hacker Development Kit, which was first announced at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, is more equivalent to the Oculus Rift’s earlier models – primarily designed to be an affordable VR headset system for VR enthusiasts to test-run various experiences made for virtual reality, such as games and other content, as well as to test various third-party peripherals such as controllers. The OSVR isn’t directly competing with some of the well-known high-end VR headsets, namely the HTC/Valve Vive and the upcoming consumer version of the Oculus Rift.
The working nature of OSVR is similar to how Google establishes the open-source Android mobile operating system on a variety of devices: OSVR’s standard was established to ensure better support across VR hardware and software, and over 200 partners have committed for the program; majority of these partners are startup indie game studios and VR peripheral makers. Furthermore, OSVR’s key partners also include gaming studios like Ubisoft, Unity, and motion controller company Leap Motion, which previously announced a hand-tracking faceplate for OSVR’s Dev Kit.
OSVR’s Hacker Development Kit is targeted for VR developers such as gaming studios and enthusiasts, and is not made to become a primary VR device or substitute for consumer-ready headsets, like the consumer Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, or Sony’s Project Morpheus.
Pre-orders for the latest OSVR HDK will start on October 1, and orders will start shipping at some point later in the month.
For more information on Razer’s OSVR, please visit the following websites:
http://www.razerzone.com/osvr
http://www.virtualrealitytimes.com/2015/03/26/osvr-and-leap-motion-team-up-for-integrated-hand-tracking-vr-headset/
http://www.virtualrealitytimes.com/2015/01/08/razer-reveals-osvr-an-open-source-virtual-reality-headset/
