Drum-based Rhythm Game ‘Smash Drums’ to Release on Quest Next Month
Smash Drums is a drum-based rhythm game that’s officially coming to Oculus Quest on June 17th, 2021.
Intel Researchers Give ‘GTA V’ Photorealistic Graphics, Similar Techniques Could Do the Same for VR
Researchers from Intel’s Intelligent Systems Lab have revealed a new method for enhancing computer-generated imagery with photorealistic graphics. Demonstrated with GTA V, the approach uses deep-learning to analyze frames generated by the game and then generate new frames from a dataset of real images. While the technique in its research state is too slow for real gameplay today, it could represent a fundamentally new direction for real-time computer graphics of the future.
‘Roblox’ CEO says Quest Makes “perfect sense” as Future Platform
Roblox may be coming to Oculus Quest at some point. Roblox Corporation CEO & co-founder Dave Baszucki says the company’s popular free-to-play online game makes “perfect sense” for the Oculus Quest platform.
Vive Focus 3 Announced with Snapdragon XR2, 6MP Resolution, $1,300 Enterprise Price & June 27th Launch
HTC today revealed its latest standalone VR headset, the Vive Focus 3. The enterprise-oriented headset will bring Snapdragon XR2, a whopping 6MP per-eye resolution, 120° field-of-view, new controllers, and more for $1,300. The Vive Focus 3 release date is set for June 27th.
Vive Pro 2 to Launch With 6MP Resolution, 120Hz, 120° field-of-view, on June 3rd, Starting at $800
HTC today announced the Vive Pro 2, an upgraded version of the Vive Pro headset which first launched in 2018. The new version of the headset brings a huge upgrade to resolution, along with a boost to field-of-view, while retaining compatibility with previously released accessories like the Vive Wireless Adapter and Vive Facial Tracker. The headset itself will sell for $800 with a release date of June 3rd, while a full kit including controllers and base stations will be priced at $1,400 with a release date in July.
Report: Next-gen PSVR Said to Have 4.1MP Per-eye, Eye-tracking, & Head-mounted Haptics
A report from UploadVR, citing “multiple sources,” claims that Sony’s next-gen PlayStation VR 2 headset will bring a big jump in resolution, along with eye-tracking, IPD adjustment, and even head-mounted haptics.
SteamVR Update Adds Clarity-boosting Field-of-view Option and World Scale Adjustment
Zuckerberg: Oculus Quest Pro Could Bring Face & Eye Tracking
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sat down with CNET for an interview where he speaks about the company’s progress on its next generation of VR devices, namely what it might include in the ‘Oculus Quest Pro’ standalone headset.
Huawei Motion Controller Patent May Point to Greater VR Ambitions
Chinese tech giant Huawei isn’t new to virtual reality, although it’s certainly not the first name you think of when it comes to VR headsets. Historically, the company has pitched its VR headsets more as smartphone accessories à la Samsung Gear VR. A patent registered with the Chinese intellectual property office (CNIPA) showing a very Oculus Touch-like motion controller may point to the company’s growing VR ambitions however.
Oculus Appears to be Testing Android Apps on Quest
It appears Oculus is currently testing out Android app integration on Quest, which could bring to the standalone headset everything from Spotify to Among Us.
Arcturus Raises $5 Million to Expand Volumetric Video Toolset & Streaming
Arcturus, a company building tools for editing and distributing volumetric video, today announced it has raised a $5 million seed investment.
‘Demeo’ Review – Excellent Tabletop Gameplay Needing a More Native VR Touch
Demeo is a tabletop action RPG that puts you with up to three other players in a co-op battle against pint-sized foes of all makes and models. The basement setting and Monster Manual-esque modules suggest a very in-depth D&D style gameplay experience, but it’s more akin to a more casual turn-based strategy game set in randomized dungeons. It offers a good opportunity to get back into playing board games with friends in a time when it’s not always the smartest idea to do so IRL, but I question whether Demeo has gone far enough to really utilize the full gamut of VR’s immersive possibilities.
‘Farpoint’ Studio Announces Hero Shooter ‘Larcenauts’ for Quest & PC VR, Trailer Here
Impulse Gear, the studio behind PSVR co-op shooter Farpoint (2017), announced a new multiplayer VR team shooter called Larcenauts. It’s slated to launch on Quest, Rift and SteamVR headsets this summer.
Report: HTC to Announce Vive Focus 3 and Vive Pro 2 Next Week
A report from Protocol, citing undisclosed “company documents” from HTC, claims that the company will reveal two new headsets during the VIVECON event next week: Vive Focus 3 and Vive Pro 2.
Epic Floated the Idea of Building a Launch Title for Sony’s Next VR Headset
