Ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) next week, Google announced it’s bringing ARCore, it’s augmented reality SDK, out of preview and to a number of flagship smartphones in its 1.0 version. Google Lens, the company’s tool to help users identify real-world objects, is also making its way from Pixel to more flagship devices soon – albeit still in preview.
Let’s face it, when augmented reality headsets and glasses become commonplace, the world is going to get weird in a lot of unexpected ways. In the meantime, we can get a little sneak peek into that weirdness yet to come with Abhishek Singh’s latest ARKit project that recreated the iconic scene from The Ring (2002).
VR-only flight simulator VTOL VR, recently received a substantial update that includes a mission editor and a pilotable fighter jet. The sim is designed specifically around the use of VR motion controls, and is available in Early Access on Steam.
ARKTIKA.1, an Oculus exclusive due to launch later this year, is shaping up to be one of VR’s best looking games to date. You’ll take it as no surprise that the title is being developed by 4A Games, the developer behind the Metro series (and its stunning next installment, Metro Exodus). One important part of making a game look great is skilled use of effects—dynamic elements like particles, smoke, muzzle flashes, explosions, and lighting. But the methods for making great looking effects for traditional games take on new challenges when it comes to VR, especially when teetering on the edge of visual fidelity and the high performance required for smooth VR rendering. In this guest article, 4A Games explores their approach to making effects in Arktika.1.
VRChat, the social app for VR and non-VR users popularly known for its recent boom in meme-driven notoriety, seems to have leveled off somewhat in terms of install numbers and concurrent user rates following its exponential upswing back in December and January.
Qualcomm today revealed a new ‘VRDK’ standalone reference headset based on their Snapdragon 845 chip. The reference design—which serves as a blueprint for Qualcomm customers who may want to build their own VR headsets based on the design—boasts an impressive set of specifications.
Charm Games, the developers behind the fantastic (albeit fairly short) otherworldly puzzle game FORM (2017), today unveiled their next upcoming VR title. Called Twilight Path, the puzzle game will take you on what Charm calls a fantasy adventure “to meet wandering spirits, enchanted sentries, and mischievous gods.”
Brass Tactics (2018) is a node-based real-time strategy game that comes with a bit of a pedigree. Created by Hidden Path Entertainment, the minds behind the Defense Grid franchise and Age of Empires II, you’ll probably enter the world of Brass Tactics like many others – dropping in after getting your fill of the free-to-play multiplayer demo Brass Tactics: Arena. What you see in Arena is basically what you get in the full version, save the game’s 20 maps, campaign mode, and 3 AI to play against.
That $60 yearly membership to PS Plus is definitely paying off for US-based PSVR owners this time around, as this next batch of discounts is putting over 100 PSVR items on sale including games and DLC. The sale lasts until February 27th
When it comes to VR headsets, one of today’s most noticeable bottlenecks is visual fidelity. When we talk about and compare the visual fidelity of VR headsets we often touch on three key elements: Screen Door Effect, Mura, and Aliasing. Often times we see people mixing these three up, so here’s a quick guide explaining each element and what they actually look like.
Asus was among a handful of Microsoft partners who planned to launch a VR headset as part of Microsoft’s “Mixed Reality” platform. While those other headsets became available late last year, Asus’ own Windows VR headset is finally launching today.
Despite some reports last year suggesting that Microsoft may have discontinued HoloLens, the company has affirmed its work on a new version of the AR headset.
From Flight School Studio, the creators of Manifest 99 (2017), comes a new survival game that maroons you on a small deserted island, leaving you with only your wits and crafting skills at your disposal. Called Island Time VR, the game is slated to release this spring on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive.
Apex Construct (2018), the single player bow-shooting action adventure from indie studio Fast Travel Games, is now available on PlayStation VR. The game, which takes you to a strikingly beautiful post-apocalyptic world, is slated to release on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Windows VR headsets March 20th.
