At Facebook’s F8 developer conference, Oculus today announced it’s both overhauling and rebranding React VR, the company’s open-source JavaScript library that lets developers create cross-platform WebVR experiences. Now dubbed React 360, the company says the framework now “provides clearer prioritization for our future roadmap.”
Palmer Luckey Posts Oculus Go Teardown, Revealing Possible Fix to Lengthen Battery Life
Oculus Go, the company’s $200 standalone VR headset, launched at Facebook’s F8 developer conference yesterday to much fanfare—likely because everyone in attendance got one free. Now that anyone can get their hands on one, Oculus founder and ex-employee Palmer Luckey took it upon himself to post a single image of the headset laid bare, revealing a few interesting bits including what might be a replaceable battery.
This Guy Modded Oculus Touch to Play ‘Beat Saber’ Darth Maul-style
Beat Saber (2018) is finally here, the block-slicing rhythm game that puts two lightsabers in your hands and tasks you with using your Jedi powers to slice to the beat. Less than a day since release, one Twitch streamer has already modded his Oculus Touch controller to play Darth Maul-style, aka with a single double-bladed lightsaber.
Watch Windows VR Controllers Stand up to ‘Beat Saber’s’ Hardest Song
While high-end headsets like the Rift and Vive use external sensors for positional tracking, the Windows VR headsets use a fully ‘inside-out’ solution which eliminates the need for external trackers and simplifies setup, but certainly makes hand-tracking more challenging. While the Windows VR headsets are often criticized for the precision of their hand-tracking, I was surprised to find how well they hold up in practice even with a fast paced, highly active game like Beat Saber (2018).
Windows VR Support on Steam Leaves Early Access, Claims Significant Improvement Since Launch
Microsoft released its April Windows 10 update yesterday, and with it comes the official launch of SteamVR support for Windows “Mixed Reality” VR headsets.
‘Quill’ Artwork Can Now Be Shared With Friends in ‘Facebook Spaces’
Quill, Facebook’s VR painting and animation tool, is now getting a new and immersive avenue for sharing artwork created in the application. With today’s update, users can now share their artwork into Facebook Spaces, letting friends experience it together. Facebook VR artist Goro Fujita created a new short film animated in Quill and shared in Spaces as an example of the new capability.
Facebook Partners With RED Digital Cinema for Volumetric VR Camera
Today at Facebook’s F8 developer conference the company announced a new partnership with RED Digital Cinema, a high-end digital film camera company, to create a VR camera based on Facebook’s Surround360 technology.
NextVR Partners With Oculus to Bring Live Events to ‘Oculus Venues’
NextVR, the live event VR broadcasting company, today announced a partnership with Oculus to bring live VR events to Oculus Venues, the company’s upcoming social viewing app that will allow mass viewing of events such as sports, concerts and comedy.
Oculus Go Review: Standalone VR Priced for the Masses
Nearly seven months after its announcement back in October 2017, Oculus Go, the company’s first standalone VR headset, is finally here. The company’s thesis is that this affordably priced unit, which doesn’t rely on a docked smartphone, will make for a more seamless mobile VR experience. But does it go above and beyond Gear VR? Read on to find out.
Oculus Go Includes Glasses Spacer and Brackets for Prescription Lenses
Oculus Go, the company’s $200 standalone headset, is finally here. While the headset retains much of the basic functionality of Samsung Gear VR, including access to the communal Oculus app store, there’s a few neat ergonomic updates to the headset that aim to set itself apart. Case in point: Oculus Go drops Gear VR’s focus wheel, and provides a few ways to use your own glasses.