Full Reveal of Respawn’s ‘AAA VR shooter’ Coming to Oculus Connect with Playable Demo

We’ll finally get a full reveal of Respawn’s upcoming Oculus exclusive VR title at Oculus Connect at the end of September, including the first opportunity to actually play the game.

Next to Valve’s still unannounced but confirmed-for-2019 VR game, Respawn’s upcoming ‘AAA VR shooter’ is perhaps the most eagerly anticipated VR game reveal, not just because so little has been shared about it thus far, but because of the serious pedigree of the studio building it, the same studio behind Titanfall 1 & 2, Apex Legends, and the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

First, a quick recap. The still unnamed Respawn VR game was first announced way back in 2017. The game is being developed by Respawn and published by Oculus Studios, which means it’ll be exclusive to the Oculus platform. As far as we know, the game is confirmed for Rift, but it isn’t clear if it will also come to Quest. The only real information that’s been given about the game thus far is this teaser video and what we’ve been able to glean from Respawn’s job listings, which have characterized it as a “AAA VR shooter.”

Beyond that, almost nothing is known about the game, not even whether it will be single player or multiplayer. But we’ll finally get some real details at Oculus’ sixth annual developer event, Oculus Connect 6, at the end of September—almost two years since the game’s preliminary announcement.

Oculus today announced that registration for Oculus Connect 6 is officially open, and confirmed that Respawn’s VR game will be revealed at the event, including the first playable demo of the game.

SEE ALSO

What the Breakout Success of 'Apex Legends' Could Mean for Respawn's Upcoming VR Game

While the initial announcement said that game was set for a 2019 launch, we’re already more than half way through the year; with the reveal not coming until just three months before the end of the year, Oculus will either be cramming a lot of marketing into the following months for a holiday launch, or the game might get delayed into 2020, as we saw recently with Lone Echo II. We’ll likely find out one way or another at Oculus Connect.

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‘WipEout Omega Collection’ Free in August for PS Plus Members, Includes Full PSVR Support

Buckle up and put on your PSVR headsets, because PlayStation Plus members will be getting WipEout Omega Collection for free in August.

The game combines WipEout 2048, WipEout HD and the ‘HD Fury’ expansion, and is fully playable on PSVR. You can select any game mode, be it ‘Racebox’ or ‘Campaign’, and play the full game in VR from start to finish.

Typically retailing for $20, the intense racing game includes dozens of ships to unlock over the course of 26 tracks. As a multiplayer game, you’ll be able to race against eight players—with both online and offline capabilities.

SEE ALSO

With Plans to Launch on PSVR, Social VR App 'Bigscreen' Will Support Every Major Headset

And if you’re worried about comfort, you really shouldn’t be. When we first went hands-on with the Omega Collection in March of last year, it was clear the developers took their time to offer a number of VR-specific adjustments to keep players comfortable even while racing at breakneck speeds, taking jumps, and doing barrel rolls.

If you want to know more, and see a race in action, check out our hands-on article to find out why WipEout Omega Collection shouldn’t be missed.

Both WipEout Omega Collection and the non-VR title Sniper Elite 4 will be available to download at the PlayStation Store from August 6th until September 2nd.

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HTC Releases 3 Vive Cosmos Trailers Ahead of Confirmed Q3 Launch

HTC took another step towards launch of its upcoming PC VR headset, Vive Cosmos, by quietly releasing three ‘reveal’ videos featuring some of the system’s claims to fame.

While it’s positive to see that they’ve locked down the headset and controllers’ design, we’re still no closer to understanding some important details about the headset though—namely price and exact release date—however it could signal that HTC is finally getting ready to let the cat out of the bag.

Moreover, the Cosmos reveal video itself boldly claims “the time had come,” so it’s possible we could be looking at some more substantial info soon.

We’ve listed the videos below, but let’s first talk about some of the important info we already knew:

• Resolution – 1,440 × 1,700 per-eye (2,880 × 1,700 total), an 88% increase in pixel count over the original Vive at 1,080 × 1,200 per-eye
• Display type – RGB LCD displays
• Refresh rate – 90Hz
• Tracking – 6 inside-out sensors
• Controllers – optically tracked
• Audio – integrated, flip-up design
• Input – USB & DisplayPort, Vive Wireless Adapter, teased connectivity with smartphone
• Price – below $900 (confirmed by HTC in June)
• Expected Shipping – Q3 2019 (confirmed by HTC in June), Dev kits heading to developers

SEE ALSO

Viveport Has Earned a Second Chance Thanks to Infinity

Outside of price and shipping, a few things are still a mystery, namely field of view (FOV), and further details on the system’s inside-out tracking. Although the video at the very bottom does give us an exact weight, 651g (~1.43 pounds). We’ve listed the video description below each video.

Vive Cosmos Reveal

This is the all-new HTC VIVE COSMOS VR kit. Designed with the lightest weight, best-in-class resolution and ready for you.

Vive Cosmos Controllers

Take a peek at the new HTC VIVE COSMOS controllers. The gamer-friendly controls & seamless tracking on the VIVE COSMOS controllers are designed to give you greater control of your VR experience.

Ergonomic Trailer

The all-new HTC VIVE COSMOS is designed to be sleek & comfortable; allowing for longer VR sessions.

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‘Star Trek: Away Mission’ Multiplayer VR Game Coming to Sandbox VR This Fall

Sandbox VR, the location-based VR facility, today unveiled a new Star Trek multiplayer game that, unlike previous Star Trek VR titles, is a free-roaming experience.

As reported by Variety, Star Trek Discovery: Away Mission is slated to arrive this fall at existing Sandbox VR locations in Hong Kong, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles; the experience will roll out in new locations in New York, Austin, San Diego and Chicago at a later date.

Unlike the franchise’s ship-bound VR games Star Trek Bridge Crew (2017) and Dave & Buster’s exclusive Star Trek: Dark Remnant, Away Mission tasks up to six players with beaming down to the surface of an ice moon to investigate a distress signal from a lost spaceship.

Being on the surface of a presumably hostile moon means phasers are involved, along with series’ iconic tricorders. Game designer Michael Hampden says it will feature some combat situations, however the game’s focus is more on collective problem solving than just single-person shooter scenarios. “We are trying to recreate the Star Trek experience,” he told Variety.

USS Discovery crew member Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) lends her voice to the experience, which is said to lasts for around 30 minutes.

SEE ALSO

Out-of-home VR Destination Sandbox VR Closes $68M Series A Financing

Sandbox VR takes a different approach to location-based VR pioneer The Void, which features large-scale tracking volumes, interactive sets, and real-time effects. Instead, Sandbox VR focuses more on greater scalablity, owed in part to its reduced complexity and physical footprint.

Star Trek Discovery: Away Mission is the company’s first branded VR experiences, which was built in partnership with CBS Interactive. It comes alongside three in-house developed IPs: a futuristic shooter, a haunted house, and an underwater treasure hunting adventure.

Sandbox VR hasn’t mentioned how it’s going to price the Star Trek experience yet, although the company typically charges around $40 per person for a 30-minute playsession.

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Raccoon Lagoon VR on Oculus Quest – ADORABLE Island Life Simulator!

This is a cute new adventure VR game where you can scavenge, build, fish, farm, mine, and more. It’s like a light version of the life simulator game: Animal Crossing. ► Get a 2-month free trial on Skillshare here → https://skl.sh/casandcharyvr2 In this video, we are showing you some of the beginning of Raccoon Lagoon, and then I will skip a bit and show you what you can do further in the game. This way I am hoping to give you a good impression on the game so you can decide if you want to buy it. At the end of the video, I’ll summarize our thoughts as well. TIMESTAMPS 01:36 Raccoon Lagoon - Tutorial & Intro Gameplay 05:24 Raccoon Lagoon - Gameplay Later in the Game 12:27 Raccoon Lagoon - Our Thoughts LINKS Get Raccoon Lagoon on Oculus Quest (cross-buy supported) → https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/1903584373052985/?locale=en_US Get Raccoon Lagoon on Oculus Rift (cross-buy supported) → https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1714408811965644/ Support us by buying from our affiliate links *: Oculus Quest (US) - https://amzn.to/2H5ECGx Oculus Quest (UK) - https://amzn.to/2Jip6Zg Oculus Quest (NL) - http://bit.ly/2QlCpd2 (Coolblue) * A small referral fee will go to the channel, supporting the content at no extra cost to you. If you use it, thank you very much. SUPPORT US ► Become our Patron (includes exclusive rewards) → https://www.patreon.com/casandchary ► Become a Sponsor on YouTube (includes rewards, like a Champion's badge next to your name) → https://goo.gl/8Ji5dp ► VRcovers for your headset → https://goo.gl/U3ZSRD ► WidmoVR prescription lens adapters for your headset → http://bit.ly/2VOlrtD (5% discount code: "CAS&CHARY") ► Studioform VR head strap against front-heaviness → http://bit.ly/2W7eu6v (5% discount code: "CAS&CHARY") ► Play PC VR games with your Quest → https://go.riftcat.com/casandchary (10% discount code: "JWGTCASCHARY") OUR EQUIPMENT - Our microphone (COMICA lavalier) → https://amzn.to/315uW6V - Our VR equipment → https://www.amazon.com/shop/caschary - More info here → https://casandchary.com/vr-equipment/ SOCIAL MEDIA 💬 Join our Discord → https://discord.gg/YH52W2k 💬 Twitter → https://twitter.com/CasandChary 💬 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/casandchary/ 💬 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/casandchary/ A special thanks to these Patreon Champs for their fantastic support: - artArmin - Baxorn - Fleef - Olemartinorg - Studioform VR - Wintceas - Andy - Albert - Ben P. - James - D Coetzee VR on! - Cas and Chary VR DISCLAIMER - This video was sponsored by Skillshare. Per our guidelines, no review direction was received. Our opinions are our own. - Links in this description may contain affiliate links. You don't have to use them, but if you do, a small referral fee will go to this channel supporting the content. #oculusquest #raccoonlagoon #vr

HP Reverb Still ‘Sold Out’ as Reports of Display Issues Continue

After several weeks of delays from the May 6th launch date, HP said that their new Reverb VR headset should be restocked at their official website and major retailers in July, though it seems only a small number of were made available before the headset returned to being ‘sold out’. The bumpy launch continues to be plagued by reports of display issues.

Update (July 30th, 2019): HP had expected that new stock of the Pro and Consumer Edition Reverb headset would be available in July, though it appears that only a very limited number of headsets became available for sale. Users over at the WindowsVR subreddit spotted some stock at Best Buy earlier this month but said it was gone within 30 minutes. Presently the headset remains ‘sold out’ at HP.com, Amazon, and Best Buy, with no estimates for stock replenishment.

A spokesperson for HP tells Road to VR that the company is still working on the shortage, but doesn’t have a firm timeline at present. HP maintains that the near unavailability of the headset is due to “incredibly high demand,” but a surprising number of user reported display issues, and a purported HP insider, tell a different story.

Throughout July reports of display issues have continued, similar to those seen in June. A user on Reddit who claims to work for HP and be directly involved with Reverb said at the end of June that the company is actively testing returned headsets in an effort uncover the display issues.

At present we are capturing DOA units to get an handle on all the symptoms reported and we’re plowing through any stock we have here to see if we can repro what is being seen. (I’m testing units at my desk as we speak.)

Luckily, we found on[e] in the office that was having the dimmed LCD issue so we have a bit of a head start.

The fixes will be implemented as soon as we discover what is driving them. (The ‘cable issue’ is the easy one had has been fixed already.)

We hope to hear from HP when they have fully solved Reverb’s issues and the headset becomes readily available for purchase.

---

Update (June 12th, 2019): HP today told Road to VR that an initial supply of the Reverb headset was recently offered and quickly sold out at HP.com. The company says that more stock of both the Reverb Pro Edition and Reverb Consumer Edition is expected in July, and will be available from HP, Amazon, and Best Buy.

Some early adopters who have received retail Reverb headsets a reporting a range of display issues from dimming and flickering to mis-mapped pixels and blank screens. Users over at the Windows VR section of Reddit are pooling reports of Reverb display problems in an effort to determine the root cause. We didn’t encounter any such issues in our Reverb review.

We’ve reached out to HP for comment on the display issues, which some suspect were related to the headset’s delayed launch.

---

Update (May 26th, 2019): We’ve checked in with HP for an update on Reverb availability at several points since the May 6th launch date, but the company has declined to offer an update on when they expect the headset to be available, or what has caused the delay. We’re told they’ll be in touch when more information is available.

Original Article (May 14th, 2019): HP’s new Reverb headset boasts high resolution displays and a new design. Though it’s primarily aimed toward enterprise customers, HP is also planning to sell direct to consumers.

In fact the $600 HP Reverb Consumer Edition can already be seen listed on Amazon and Best Buy in the US, but both stores list ‘Out of Stock’. The $650 Reverb Professional Edition is also listed as ‘Out of Stock’ on HP’s store.

“We’re waiting on an update for expected availability to purchase and will let you know as we have a new date confirmed,” an HP spokesperson told Road to VR on May 6th; we’ve reached out in the interim but still haven’t received an update on availability of the headset.

SEE ALSO

HP Reverb Review – An Impressive Headset Stuck with Windows VR Controllers

In our review of the HP Reverb we found it to be a meaningful upgrade from the original HP headset, but the headset is held back from its true potential by an issue impacting display clarity and the same controllers flaws shared by other Windows VR headsets.

The post HP Reverb Still ‘Sold Out’ as Reports of Display Issues Continue appeared first on Road to VR.

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First-gen HoloLens to No Longer Receive Major OS Updates

Microsoft’s first-gen HoloLens, a device initially launched to developers in early 2016, has received its last major OS update, moving on to its Long Term Servicing (LTS) state.

The original HoloLens will continue to receive monthly servicing updates, although the company hasn’t detailed how long these will last.

At this point, if you’re looking for a growing feature set, the company’s upcoming $3,500 HoloLens 2 is your best bet, although it’s admittedly only available for pre-order at this time.

Microsoft recently confirmed the move in the release notes detailing the May 2019 update, issuing the statement below:

HoloLens (1st gen) is entering Long Term Servicing (LTS) state. Future updates will focus on issue and security fixes, while maintaining feature parity with the Windows 10 October 2018 release for HoloLens (also known as RS5).

SEE ALSO

Hands-on: HoloLens 2 is a More Than Just a Larger Field of View

Windows 10 October 2018 release brought a number of new features to HoloLens, including a quick actions menu, start/stop video capture, casting to Miracast-enabled devices, and a few more quality of life updates.

There’s still no broader launch date for its predecessor, HoloLens 2, although now with initial OpenXR support, it appears the new headset will be one of the first out the door to feature the new API, which boasts greater interoperability between VR and AR hardware, game engines, and content.

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Greek Mythology-inspired Adventure ‘Journey For Elysium’ Gets New Gameplay Trailer

Journey For Elysium, an upcoming VR adventure game from publisher Cronos Interactive and developer Mantis Games, got a fresh trailer today, revealing a bit more of the Greek mythology-inspired title.

Journey For Elysium is a story-driven puzzle adventure game that puts players in the role of a hero who, after passing away, travels on a boat in the Underworld. On a search to reach Elysium, the paradise realm in Ancient Greek mythology, you encounter what Mantis calls “a series of increasingly elaborate twists and challenges.”

The game previously took a stab at a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, although it unfortunately fell short of its €20,000 funding goal in April, 2019.

SEE ALSO

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Undeterred, the studio continued with development, and released a gameplay trailer today (linked below) showing off the game’s monochromatic art style; you might more succinctly call it a teaser considering no real gameplay is shown outside of rowing a boat, climbing a ladder and grabbing a glowing key.

Mantis Games however says the game’s puzzles are inspired by the classic adventure games of the ’90s, and that they will include an increasing difficulty as the story progresses.

Journey For Elysium is slated launch in Q4 2019 and will be available on Steam for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.

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Zuckerberg to Shareholders: ‘Quest is selling as fast as we can make them’

OpenXR 1.0 Released, Microsoft Supports on HoloLens & WMR, Oculus Plans Rift & Quest Support

‘Firefox Reality’ VR Web Browser Comes to Oculus Quest

Mozilla has finally brought its made-for-VR web browser, Firefox Reality, to Oculus Quest.

In September of last year, the company initially released Firefox Reality on Oculus Go, Lenovo Mirage Solo, and Vive Focus (and other Vive Wave headsets) for free.

Now, according to a press statement, users on Quest can jump into the immersive web with what Mozilla calls “sharp text, high quality videos, and a seamless transition from 2D to 3D immersive modes.”

The company also boasts that Firefox Reality for Quest is “the best VR web browsing experience” due to Oculus Quest’s boost in performance and capabilities.

On all platforms however, Firefox Reality has Enhanced Tracking Protection enabled by default, which aims to protect users from tracking and collection of personal data by ad networks and tech companies. Mozilla additionally says the browser’s Enhanced Tracking Protection works in the background and “actually increase[s] the speed of the browser.”

In addition to voice search, Firefox Reality is currently available in 10 languages, including Japanese, Korean, Simplified & Traditional Chinese; the company says more languages are on the way.

In the next few months Mozilla says they’ll be rolling out support for WebXR, multi-window browsing, bookmarks sync, and more.

Download Firefox Reality for Quest here.

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NOLO VR Raises $15M to Further Develop 6DOF Tracking Tech

VR Music Video ‘Sheaf – Together EP’ is a Low Poly Love Letter to the ’80s

There’s a few short VR experiences that just stick with you, and one of my favorites is the 2015-era VR music video Surge. Now, Netherlands-based synthwave producer Sheaf has created a real-time rendered VR music video for their debut EP that is definitely on my list.

The free experience is set to the music of Sheaf’s debut EP ‘Together’, a three-track synthwave album dripping with nostalgia for the ’80s with its “smooth DX7 chords, melancholic synth work and pulsating bass lines,” developers Stryde Games says.

Sitting in the driver’s seat of a red convertible, you cruise through a number of beautiful locations while listening to each of the EP’s tracks—Together, Innervision, and Point Break—making for a total listening time of about 10 minutes. It’s not an interactive experience, so you’re just along for what proves to be a surprisingly relaxing ride.

Although it makes heavy use of low poly assets, the experience’s art direction is nothing short of awesome, as it gives you plenty to look at along your way through some pretty breathtaking locales. Tactically placed tunnels punctuate the road as you enter desert biomes, glittering ocean-side views, and nighttime cityscapes.

In a way, it reminds me of the positively ancient driving game Cruis’n USA (1994), the beloved low poly arcade racer, although it’s clearly conjuring some of the classic ’80s tropes of neon sunsets, cool Miami nights—the sort of artwork you’d seen printed on the more inspired Trapper Keepers of the Reagan era.

You can download the VR experience for free on Steam, which includes support for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Valve Index. If you’re interested in buying Sheaf’s ‘Together’ EP, you can name your price and download it via BandCamp.

The post VR Music Video ‘Sheaf – Together EP’ is a Low Poly Love Letter to the ’80s appeared first on Road to VR.

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Adorable Adventure ‘Raccoon Lagoon’ Launches on Quest & Rift with Cross-buy

Hidden Path Entertainment, the studio behind Brass Tactics (2018) and Defense Grid 2: Enhanced VR Edition (2016), has released a new game for Rift and Quest that takes you to an adorable island filled with story quests and plenty of tasks that fans of Stardew Valley and the Animal Crossing franchise should recognize.

Called Raccoon Island, the multiplayer simulator/adventure tasks you with building a new home for a group of marooned sailors while setting out to “repair the island’s broken heart,” the studio says on the game’s official website.

The game is said to include eight different biomes filled with quests, as well as tasks such as fishing, cooking, farming, mining, painting, and themed decorations.

“We definitely drew a lot of inspiration from games that take time to smell the roses like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing,” lead game designer Steve Kramer says in an Oculus blog post. “One of our big goals was to make sure the game could be passed around to friends to show off how cool Oculus Quest is without having to worry about throwing them into some kind of virtual crisis situation. As Raccoon Lagoon began to take shape, we realized there was a big opportunity for [the studio] to step away from its comfort zone of intense moment-to-moment decision making and explore personal interaction and even nurturing in a VR environment.”

Hidden Path says it’s possible to speedrun the game in about six hours, although completionists could double that time as they explore the whole island.

The game, which costs $15 on Quest and Rift, also includes both cross-buy and cross-play, so you can play with friends on either platform.

The post Adorable Adventure ‘Raccoon Lagoon’ Launches on Quest & Rift with Cross-buy appeared first on Road to VR.

Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/raccoon-lagoon-oculus-quest-rift/

Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot VR First Impressions! (Valve Index)

Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot is a new VR game published by Bethesda and developed by Arkane Studios. Let's see what it's like together! ► Check out our VR equipment → https://www.amazon.com/shop/caschary ► Subscribe to join our VR adventures! → https://goo.gl/bSJ6L8 In the Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot VR gameplay trailer, it looks like we will be hacking a mech which we will use to help the French resistance in their mission to defeat the Nazis. In this live stream, we check out the game for the first time with you. Welcome to our weekly Virtual Reality live stream! Usually, our live stream is centered around one topic, but you can come to ask us anything. Or just come hang out and discover the beautiful worlds of VR with us. Our live stream schedule is every Friday at 9 PM CEST (GMT+2). From today's live stream: ► Get Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot on Steam → https://store.steampowered.com/app/1056970/Wolfenstein_Cyberpilot_International_Version/ SUPPORT US Subscribing and watching our videos is by far the BIGGEST support you can give us. However, if you want to do more - you can also become a booster or our champion! All donations will go to improving the channel. BUY US A DRINK & BOOST THE CHANNEL ► One-time donation → https://goo.gl/BM3zV7 BECOME A CHAMPION ► Become a Patron on Patreon (includes exclusive rewards) → https://goo.gl/5Bp3FW ► Become a Sponsor on YouTube (rewards and get a Champion's badge on YouTube chat) → https://goo.gl/8Ji5dp DISCOUNT CODES & AFFILIATE LINKS ► VRcovers for your headset → https://goo.gl/U3ZSRD ► WidmoVR prescription lens adapters for your headset → http://bit.ly/2VOlrtD (5% discount code: "CAS&CHARY") ► Studioform VR head strap against front-heaviness → http://bit.ly/2W7eu6v (5% discount code: "CAS&CHARY") ► Play PC VR games with your Quest → https://go.riftcat.com/casandchary (10% discount code: "JWGTCASCHARY") ► Pimax 5K+ → http://bit.ly/2RrzOhX ($50 discount code "CasAndChary") OUR SPECS - Our lavalier mic (COMICA wireless) → https://amzn.to/315uW6V - Our microphone (ModMic Wireless) → https://amzn.to/2MQF0tC - Our VR equipment → https://www.amazon.com/shop/caschary - More info here → https://casandchary.com/vr-equipment/ SOCIAL MEDIA 💬 Join our Discord → https://discord.gg/YH52W2k 💬 Twitter → https://twitter.com/CasandChary 💬 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/casandchary/ 💬 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/casandchary/ A special thanks to these Patreon Champs for their fantastic support: - artArmin - Baxorn - Fleef - Olemartinorg - Studioform VR - Wintceas - Andy - Albert - Ben P. - James - D Coetzee VR on! - Cas and Chary VR DISCLAIMER - Links in this description may contain affiliate links. You don't have to use them, but if you do, a small referral fee will go to this channel supporting the content.

‘Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot’ Review – a Nazi-Killing Mech Game Cut Short

With Plans to Launch on PSVR, Social VR App ‘Bigscreen’ Will Support Every Major Headset

Social VR app Bigscreen is planning to launch on PSVR, the company affirmed this week. Though it may not come until late 2019 or early 2020, when it does, Bigscreen will be just about the only app to support every major VR headset.

If you’ve got a friend who has a headset that’s different than yours but you want to hang out in VR together, the question of ‘where?’ becomes a tricky game of ‘which app supports both of our headsets?’. Yes there’s Rec Room, which spans a good many headsets, but not Oculus Go or Gear VR. VRChat is an option, but doesn’t support PSVR, Go, or Gear VR. And you could of course think about Facebook Spaces, but that’s not on any of Oculus’ mobile headsets or PSVR. Then there’s all the Oculus social apps, not one of which even supports all of the company’s own headsets.

Bigscreen, however, has been a ray of hope in the darkness, as the company has aggressively pursued support for virtually every major headset out there except one: PSVR. But the company plans to bring that headset into the mix too, finally becoming the one social VR app to rule support them all. (Technically Bigscreen doesn’t support Daydream headsets, though Google seems to have left the platform to wither).

Bigscreen tweeted this week that PSVR support is on the roadmap, aiming for “late 2019 or early 2020.” The company had previously expected to add PSVR support to Bigscreen in 2018, but those plans didn’t pan out.

Bigscreen lets users join virtual rooms together and (if on a PC) use their Windows desktop via a virtual monitor floating in front of them. The concept sounds simple, but with the ability for anyone in the room to project their PC screen onto a giant virtual screen for everyone to see, it’s easy to watch movies, play games, or just browse the web together while feeling like you’re sitting on a couch together.

Given that PSVR users don’t have a Windows desktop to use, the question of ‘what would they even do in Bigscreen?’ was a poignant one—until about two weeks ago when the company launched Bigscreen TV, a service which streams video content into officially hosted public rooms for anyone to watch. That means that PSVR users will be able to find streaming video content to gather around with friends, even if none of them are on a PC VR headset for content sharing.

Speaking to Road to VR, Bigscreen founder Darshan Shankar said that “PSVR is by far the #1 request we receive for Bigscreen. Every Reddit post, YouTube video, and tweet has comments asking for PSVR.”

It’s clear that the company was waiting to roll out Bigscreen TV—which Shankar called “perfect for PSVR”—before bringing the app to the headset so that users wouldn’t have to rely on others to find something to watch. He said that the company also has plans to host social VR movie night events and offer 3D movie rentals, all of which would be available to PSVR users.

Late 2019 or early 2020 is a long wait but we’ll continue to cheer-on Bigscreen’s efforts to connect everyone together regardless of their headset choice.

The post With Plans to Launch on PSVR, Social VR App ‘Bigscreen’ Will Support Every Major Headset appeared first on Road to VR.

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‘Beat Saber’ Update Adds Three New Free Tracks from Artist Camellia

A Beat Saber update today adds three new tracks from EDM artist Camellia to all of the game’s platforms, as well as some new maps to existing songs for the game’s ‘One Saber’ mode.

Beat Games announced today that Beat Saber has gotten three new free tracks by Japanese EDM artist Camellia, which the studio says is “extremely well-known among rhythm game community and our players.”

(^ヮ^)/ Camelliaが来ます! (^ ω ^ *)

We're officially bringing 3 tracks by Camellia to Beat Saber! Go get the latest update NOW and play tracks by one of the most beloved artists in our community. @cametek

Crystallized
Cycle Hit
WHAT THE CAT!? pic.twitter.com/yN8duXMOLh

— Beat Saber (@BeatSaber) July 25, 2019

Along with the new tracks, the studio said in its Steam announcement that the update adds some new maps to some of the game’s existing songs for the ‘One Saber’ mode.

Prior to this release, Beat Games has been teasing that players seeking a serious challenge would have something to look forward to, and it looks like ‘Cycle Hit’ will be the song to beat. The studio shared a full playthrough of the song on Expert+ and it certainly looks like a frenzy:

The new tracks come after the studio’s second paid DLC album, OST2, which offered up a cross-album collection of tracks from hit artist Imagine Dragons. Beat Games says they’re hard at work on OST3, but haven’t revealed any of its tracks or a release date yet. The studio’s CEO, Jaroslav Beck, announced earlier this month that he was stepping down to focus more of his time on the game’s music; Beck had produced the game’s original tracks.

In addition to new music headed to the game, the studio has also been working on an entirely new and intriguing ‘360 mode’ which we previewed last month.

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Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/beat-saber-gets-three-new-free-tracks-from-artist-camellia/

Valve Index Review After 1 Month - This Year's Go-To Headset?

Here are our final thoughts on the Index after using it for 1 month! Is the Valve Index worth its price? Or should you go for other VR headsets like the Rift S? Also, timestamps below! ► Check out our VR equipment → https://www.amazon.com/shop/caschary ► Subscribe to join our VR adventures! → https://goo.gl/bSJ6L8 In this video, I’ll let you know our final thoughts on the Index and answer the question of whether we think this headset is worth its price. If you already own the Valve Index, let us know if you agree or don’t agree with us by leaving a comment down below. Your thoughts might be able to help others, too, so let’s help each other out. In case you are looking for a specific subject, check out our timestamps! TIMESTAMPS 00:01 - Video Intro 00:47 - Valve Index Introduction 02:08 - Valve Index Look & Feel, Comfort 04:44 - Valve Index Display, Resolution 05:17 - Valve Index Refresh rate, Low Persistence 07:23 - Valve Index Screen Door Effect (SDE) 07:55 - Valve Index Lenses, FOV, Glare & Godrays 09:09 - Valve Index Cooling 09:43 - Valve Index Tracking 10:55 - Valve Index Controllers 11:27 - Valve Index Audio 12:30 - Valve Index Conclusion LINKS Get the Valve Index here → https://store.steampowered.com/valveindex Supported countries → https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7077-YUOA-2321 SUPPORT US ► Become our Patron (includes exclusive rewards) → https://www.patreon.com/casandchary ► Become a Sponsor on YouTube (includes rewards, like a Champion's badge next to your name) → https://goo.gl/8Ji5dp ► VRcovers for your headset → https://goo.gl/U3ZSRD ► WidmoVR prescription lens adapters for your headset → http://bit.ly/2VOlrtD (5% discount code: "CAS&CHARY") ► Studioform VR head strap against front-heaviness → http://bit.ly/2W7eu6v (5% discount code: "CAS&CHARY") ► Play PC VR games with your Quest → https://go.riftcat.com/casandchary (10% discount code: "JWGTCASCHARY") OUR EQUIPMENT - Our microphone (ModMic Wireless) → https://amzn.to/2MQF0tC - Our VR equipment → https://www.amazon.com/shop/caschary - More info here → https://casandchary.com/vr-equipment/ SOCIAL MEDIA 💬 Join our Discord → https://discord.gg/YH52W2k 💬 Twitter → https://twitter.com/CasandChary 💬 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/casandchary/ 💬 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/casandchary/ A special thanks to these Patreon Champs for their fantastic support: - artArmin - Baxorn - Fleef - Olemartinorg - Studioform VR - Wintceas - Andy - Albert - Ben P. - James - D Coetzee VR on! - Cas and Chary VR DISCLAIMER - Links in this description may contain affiliate links. You don't have to use them, but if you do, a small referral fee will go to this channel supporting the content. #valveindex #valveindexreview #vrheadset

‘Technolust’ Studio to Bring Cyberpunk Game ‘LOW-Fi’ to Kickstarter in September

IRIS VR, the indie studio known for the cyberpunk adventure Technolust (2016), today announced that the next VR project is headed to Kickstarter on September 1st, 2019.

Dubbed LOW-Fi, the game is described as the spiritual successor to Technolust, as it clearly taps into the same gritty cyberpunk feel that fans of the iconic film and literary genre know so well.

Unlike Technolust however, which is an Oculus platform exclusive, IRIS VR founder and indie VR veteran Blair Renaud says via Twitter that Low-fi is slated to support Oculus Rift, SteamVR headsets, Windows VR headsets, and PC at launch.

Here’s a quick rundown of the story:

As the player, you are “low-fi”, the street name given to those who cannot merge with the platform, a ubiquitous virtual reality simulation where most of the population now live their lives. You are a police officer and have been transferred to city-block 303, a particularly crime ridden section or Toronto. The only inhabitants of note in your jurisdiction are other low-fi, and the human intelligence (or lower) artificial life forms who have remained among the citizens after the AI singularity.

SEE ALSO

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Renaud maintains Low-fi will see release “sometime in 2020.” There’s no word on what the campaign’s initial goal will be, although considering the number of platforms the game is targeting, it could be more than the initial $64,477 CAD (~$49,000 USD) that Technolust garnered through its successful Kickstarter all the way back in 2014.

We’ll keep you posted on all things Low-fi leading up to the campaign. In the meantime, check out the game’s teaser below:

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Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/technolust-low-fi-kickstarter-launch/

Ubisoft Launches ‘Space Junkies’ Non-VR Open Beta Today

Space Junkies (2019), Ubisoft Montpellier’s VR arena shooter, seems to be hunting for a larger playerbase as the studio today launched an open beta for non-VR PC users.

The open beta is available from July 25th – August 7th via Uplay (PC only) and includes cross-play with the platform’s standard mix of VR users.

To access the non-VR open beta, visit the official webpage to add it to your Ubisoft account, which will let you install the open beta via the ‘Free Game’ section in Uplay.

The open beta supports mouse & keyboard, and gamepad. Unlike the VR version, which suggests users have at least a Core i5-4590 or Ryzen5 1500X CPU, and a GTX 970 (4 GB) or RX 480X (8GB) GPU, the version for traditional monitors is predictably much more modest in the specs department.

At minimum, the PC-only version game (for 60FPS on low settings) requires a Core i5 2500k or AMD FX 6350, and Nvidia GTX660 or AMD Radeon R9 270X. Recommended specs for 82 FPS on ultra graphics settings are a Core i5 4590 with Nvidia GTX780.

It’s unsure what advantages/disadvantages PC players will have over their headset-wearing counterparts, although the beta will likely reveal just how balanced Ubisoft Montpellier has been able to make it.

SEE ALSO

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The studio has been quick to issue post-launch updates however, and has improved a few of the things we mentioned in our full review; we gave it a solid [7.7/10], so whatever the open beta reveals, it would be uncharacteristic of the studio to simply throw a massive advantage to PC users. It’s also unsure how the addition of traditional monitor support will affect its position as a budding VR eSport, as it would be the only game in ESL’s VR League that includes a player population using non-VR devices.

Space Junkies supports a wide swath of VR devices (with cross-play) including HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index, Windows VR headsets, and PSVR. The game typically retails for $20; at the time of this writing the game is available through Humble Bundle for just $7.

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Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/space-junkies-non-vr-beta/

Index Now Available for Immediate Shipping in US, Valve Promotes it on Steam’s Front Page

Valve today said that it’s vanquished the backlog of the Valve Index ‘full kit’ orders, making the complete package immediately available to be bought and shipped in the US. Previously the company was projecting that backorders wouldn’t ship until the end of September.

Valve announced today that the Index ‘full kit’ (which includes the headset, controllers, and base station trackers) is ready for immediate shipping in the US. At launch, the $1,000 full kit was quickly backordered and wasn’t estimated to ship until the end of September; the company said that “initial quantities were outpaced by demand.”

The other SKUs (the headset and controllers without base stations, and individual packages of the headset, controllers, or base stations) were also backordered so far that Valve eventually stopped taking orders or offering an estimated shipping date altogether and instead asked customers to reserve their spot in line to be notified of availability. All SKUs except for the full kit and the individual base stations remain backordered with an option to reserve a spot for ordering, but Valve says they will soon have immediate availability of those as well.

Valve also expects that Index hardware will become readily available in international territories as well. Currently the headset is available in 30 countries across the US and EU (a complete list can be found here), though it isn’t clear if or when they will expand into other regions. We’ve reached out for more info.

Apparently coinciding with the increasing availability of the headset, Valve put Index front and center on the Steam store front page for all to see, with a “Get it now” call to action and a $500 advertised price (the cost of just the headset alone).

Valve said prior to Index’s launch that the headset would see a “limited initial release” to the US and EU first, and that the company would ramp up their manufacturing and expand availability based on demand; this is perhaps the first sign of that ramping process.

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Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/valve-index-shipping-update-backorder/

Amazon Launches ‘Prime Video VR’, Commits to Building up VR Video Library

Bigscreen Boasts 5,000+ RSVPs for SpaceX Launch Viewing Today

Bigscreen released their ‘Bigscreen TV’ update two weeks ago, which brought 50+ livestreaming TV channels to the platform for free. Now, company co-founder and CEO Darshan Shankar reports the social viewing platform received more than 5,200 users who want to watch it in VR this afternoon.

If those numbers sound a bit too good to be true, Shakar explains that it’s actually in the realm of possibility. Last week, the platform hosted a viewing party for FReality podcast with YouTubers Nathie, VROasis, Rowdy Guy, and Zimtok5 which garnered a total of 1,201 people.

Granted, not all 5,200 users will be in the same room together, but rather given access to publicly available rooms that hold a maximum of eight users a piece; a channel can however technically support “thousands of people,” Shankar says.

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The launch, which is destined to ferry 5,000 pounds (~2,300 kg) of supplies to the International Space Station, will also be carrying a new dock adaptor for the ISS that will allow for an additional ship to dock at the station. As reported by The Verge, the adaptor is the third of its kind; the first was destroyed in a failed SpaceX launch in 2015, and the second was installed on the ISS in 2016.

The launch is slated to take place today, July 24th, at 6:24 PM ET (local time here) from SpaceX’s launchpad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The weather is a factor here however, with a 70 percent chance that the launch will be delayed.

Bigscreen supports HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows VR, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, Oculus Quest, and Samsung Gear VR. Check out the links below to download.

• Steam (Vive, Rift, Index, Windows VR)
• Oculus Store (Rift, Go, Quest, Gear VR)

The studio says there’s more events coming later this week, including the Fortnite World Cup Finals and a few free movie events too. Most recently, the platform hosted a free viewing of Sacha Baron Cohen’s satirical film The Dictator (2012).

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Magic Leap Update Brings Hand Occlusion, Expanded Multiplayer Support & More

PSVR Shooter ‘StarBlood Arena’ Goes Dark Forever Starting July 25th

WhiteMoon Dreams, the developers behind PSVR arena shooter StarBlood Arena (2017), released a statement recently bidding farewell to its community. Earlier this year, the studio announced that their online-only game would be going dark; the official date for server shutdown is Thursday, July 25th.

A studio spokesperson took to Reddit late last week to offer a final goodbye and to assemble the game’s ultimate ‘Wednesday Night Wars’, a weekly call to the game’s playerbase to meet up and populate the servers every Wednesday.

Here’s an excerpt from what will likely be the studio’s last StarBlood Arena communiqué:

Of course this farewell hurts, but there’s some solace we can take in knowing that we’ve made so many friends – as have our players. I’m talking about lifelong bonds that you can’t quantify with sales figures or DAU analytics. I’ve received text messages with photos of SBA players meeting up in real life and heard stories of our players banding together during tough personal tragedies in life. Hell, I even had the entire community comfort me when I lost my dog and my favorite aunt in the same day, which for the record sucks and 10/10 would not play again. Point being, it’s very sad that we are sun setting, BUT the love in our hearts for each other and this game can’t ever be taken from us. Hey I feel kinda like I’m giving a Braveheart speech here.

Anyway, next Wednesday, please go fucking CRAZY. Play as much as you can, this is the final WnW. The flier says it starts at 6pm PST, but that’s more to pay homage to the tradition of the usual start time of the event – so play as much as you can before we go to bed. The event ends when the servers go down because the party don’t stop and such.

Before the game’s total shutdown, the studio had proposed the idea to the game’s publisher Sony of possibly including an offline mode that would populate the game with bots, however the same spokesperson says that the decision ultimately was rejected.

“Trust me, that’s what we’ve been fighting for, I get where you’re coming from,” the spokesperson said, answering a community question about the possibility of an offline mode.

StarBlood Arena first launched in April 2017 to a decidedly less than energetic reception. Like many online-only VR games, it struggled to gain the critical mass of players, which invariably led to a vicious cycle of low engagement levels and poor hourly user counts.

Before StarBlood Arena, WhiteMoon Dreams partnered with Private Press Interactive to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign to help fund non-VR title Warmachine: Tactics (2014), which garnered the studios over $1.5 million in backer funds. Most recently the studio released Super Life of Pixel (2018), a retro side-scroller for console and PC.

Although WhiteMoon hasn’t released any specific further plans to work in VR, the studio concluded the statement above by saying “Goodnight my sweet starbabies. We’ll be back.”

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Oculus Quest Will Support Oculus Go Apps Later This Year

Quest Gets ‘Oculus Venues’, Finally Connecting Quest Users with Oculus Go & Gear VR

Quest & Rift S Update Brings Controller Tracking Improvements

EDM Artist REZZ Debuting New Album Today in Social VR Rave Platform ‘Wave’

EDM artist REZZ is hosting a world premiere listening party of her new album ‘Beyond the Senses’ in Wave, a social VR rave platform. The event kicks off at 3PM PT [your timezone here].

Wave (previously TheWaveVR) is a social VR platform that brings listeners together with artists and performers for virtual raves complete with wild immersive visualizations. The platform hosts regular performances from house DJs as well as larger shows with bespoke visualizations made for specific artists; the platform has seen shows by The Glitch Mob, TOKiMONSTA, Imogen Heap, Kill the Noise, and others.

The latest event heading to Wave is an album debut by EDM artist Rezz who will be playing all six tracks of her new album ‘Beyond the Senses’. The performance kicks off today, July 23rd, at 3PM PT [your timezone here].

Wave is free and available on both the Oculus Rift and SteamVR. The Rezz event will also be livestreamed via YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.

Not familiar with Rezz? Get a taste of some of her most popular tracks here:

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Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/rezz-album-debut-show-wave-vr/

‘Angry Birds Movie 2’ Couch Co-op Game to Launch on PSVR August 6th

NextVR to Broadcast Liverpool FC Friendly Match to US-based Oculus Go & Gear VR Users

NextVR, the company known for its live VR broadcasts in sports and entertainment, is getting ready to bring the Liverpool FC vs. Sporting Club of Portugal friendly match to US-based Oculus Go & Gear VR users this week.

The pre-season friendly is taking place at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, July 24th at 8:00 PM ET (local time here).

NextVR is positioning a total of eight VR cameras along the pitch and throughout Yankee Stadium so fans can get a wide range of viewing angles. The company is also pipping in dedicated announcers for pre-game, play-by-play, halftime analysis, and match recap.

Despite supporting nearly all VR platforms (besides Oculus Quest), NextVR is only allowing US-based fans to watch the match via Oculus Go/Gear VR—through either the NextVR app for solo viewing, or for group viewing on the Oculus Venues app.

It is admittedly only a friendly match, so if you fit somewhere in that caveat-laden Venn diagram, you may get a few hours of enjoyment out of the free showing.

Check out NextVR’s full schedule for more live sports and entertainment, which has previously included broadcasts such as concerts from Live Nation, games from the NBA and NHL, standup comedy from Gotham Comedy Club, and International Champions Cup football.

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Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/nextvr-livepool-fc-friendly-2019/

‘Lion King’ Director’s VR Film ‘Gnomes & Goblins’ is Back From the Dead, Now “Coming Soon”

Back in 2016, director Jon Favreau, in association with immersive studio Wevr, released the Gnomes & Goblins preview, a demo of an (at the time) ambitious VR film project. While it was well received, it lay nearly forgotten as the years passed with no sign of a full release. Hope has been reignited thanks to a recently revamped website teasing that project is “coming soon.”

A testament to how quickly VR is moving; back in 2016, the idea that Jon Favreau (the director behind The Jungle Book (2016), Iron Man 1 (2008) & Iron Man 2 (2010), among others) was working on a VR film was pretty big news. An original story complete with immersive interactivity, Gnomes & Goblins seemed quite promising in its five minute preview which was released on Steam. Unfortunately the project’s intrigue slowly faded from memory as years passed with no indication that it was headed for a full release.

That all changed in the last week when Wevr, the immersive studio producing the project along with MWM, offered up a sly tweet to the project’s official website which has been completely revamped, now prominently featuring “coming soon” text at the top.

It’s likely no coincidence that this would happen now—shortly after the release of Favreau’s latest directorial project, The Lion King (2019), which used a purportedly groundbreaking virtual reality production process which Favreau himself likened to a “multiplayer filmmaking game” in a recent interview. And with the excitement surrounding new headsets like Quest, Rift S, and Index, it seems like an opportune time to revive the project.

While we still don’t know when it will launch, the revamped Gnomes & Goblins website now seems to have a firmer idea of what the VR film will actually be. While the original version of the site waxed about the experimental nature of the project—and rightly so, as the merger of cinematic narrative and interactivity in VR was still just barely being probed in 2016—the new version of the site quite concisely describes the experience as a “story driven game set in an enchanted world of gnomes and goblins with you as the protagonist” [our emphasis].

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Indeed, since the debut of the Gnomes & Goblins preview in 2016, a handful of successful examples blending strong narrative with interactivity in VR have come to fruition with projects like The Invisible Hours (2017), The Great C (2018), and Star Wars: Vader Immortal (2019). Granted, with a clearer picture of the language of VR storytelling, Favreau and his collaborators are now faced with modern expectations; to what extent Gnomes & Goblins has or hasn’t been reworked to fit in today’s VR landscape won’t be clear until its launch, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

The post ‘Lion King’ Director’s VR Film ‘Gnomes & Goblins’ is Back From the Dead, Now “Coming Soon” appeared first on Road to VR.

Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/lion-king-directors-vr-project-gnomes-goblins-teased-coming-soon/

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American Museum of Natural History’s T. Rex VR Experience Comes to Viveport

HTC and the American Museum of Natural History announced early this year that the Manhattan-based institution’s ‘T. rex: The Ultimate Predator’ exhibit was getting a VR experience that would let museum-goers collaborate to build a Tyrannosaurus rex bone-by-bone in virtual reality. Starting today, you can now jump into the app with your VR headset at home.

Update (July 22nd, 2019): Vive Studios and Vive Arts released their educational title, ‘T. Rex: Skeleton Crew’, to at-home Viveport members.

The app is available either through Viveport Infinity, the Netflix-style subscription service, or on the Viveport store for $5. The app is specifically targeted towards HTC Vive and Vive Pro headsets.

Original Article (March 6th, 2019): The experience, dubbed T. rex: Skeleton Crew, was created by the Museum’s Science Visualization team, Vive Studios, and Warsaw-based AR/VR studio Immersion. The project was also undersigned by Vive Arts, HTC’s program to help cultural institutions fund and develop VR installations.

T. rex: Skeleton Crew takes up to three visitors and places them in a virtual re-imagining of the Museum’s Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs, where they will work together to build a T. rex skeleton bone-by-bone. Completing the dinosaur skeleton transforms it into a walking, breathing beast, while simultaneously the Hall transforms into T. rex’s Montana home circa 66 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous Period.

In addition to the multiplayer VR experience, the museum will also be showing off life-sized reconstructions of T. rex at various life stages, which includes “the most scientifically accurate representation of T. rex to date, fossils and casts, large-scale projections and hands-on interactives to tell the amazing story of the iconic dinosaur,” HTC says in a blog post.

Now celebrating its 150th anniversary, T rex: The Ultimate Predator will be this year’s first major exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History.

“Virtual reality is a magical realm in which our human perceptions of time and space are suspended,” said Vivian Trakinski, the Museum’s director of science visualization. “In virtual reality, nothing is too small, too big, too fast, too slow, too distant, or too long ago to be appreciated. We hope this technology will let our visitors experience the most fantastic and inaccessible realms of nature.”

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Vive Arts has seen several partnerships with museums all over the world since the program’s launch in 2017, including London’s Royal Academy of Arts, Tate Modern, Taipei’s National Palace Museum, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, Washington D.C.’s Newseum, and St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum.

The T. rex exhibition will be open to the public from March 11th, 2019, to August 9th, 2020. A version of this VR experience will also be available on Viveport starting Summer 2019 (see update).

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Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/american-museum-natural-history-brings-visitors-closer-t-rex-new-vr-experience/

Surgery Training Platform ‘Osso VR’ Now Used by 1,000 Surgeons Monthly

The team behind Osso VR, the VR surgical training platform, says that the software is now in use by more than 1,000 surgeons a month around the globe.

The platform, which was created to provide surgeons with an immersive, repeatable environment to safely practice their craft, is now used by more than 20 teaching hospitals and eight top medical device companies across 11 countries.

The company says that leading hospitals using the platform include Brown University, Vanderbilt University, Hospital for Special Surgery, Marshall University, Newcastle Simulation Centre, The University of Hawaii, UCLA, University of Washington, Wake Forest Baptiste Health, University of Kentucky, University of Utah, and New York University.

Besides offering risk-free practice sessions and performance analytics, the platform also helps bridge distances by letting surgeons train, and be instructed on how to use new equipment without having to physically travel to conferences or location-based training sessions. Moreover, it can be done in a virtual environment one-on-one or in a group setting.

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“This technology can drastically change the lives of our patients, and it is critical that we maximize access to the platform. Our continued expansion is a marker of the global nature of these training gaps and the scalability of Osso’s technology,” said Justin Barad, MD, CEO and co-founder of Osso VR. “Patients today want the most valuable treatment, which often involves new and innovative medical technologies. Surgeons badly want to deliver for their patient, but might lack the tools that allow them to utilize these novel techniques. Osso VR augments the surgical team, giving them the proficiency and objective confidence that they can bring significant value to their patients using the highest value devices.“

The company says its main focus is to increase access to hands-on training that improves patient outcomes and “increases the adoption of higher value medical technology.”

Osso VR is available for demo by appointment via the company’s website.

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Knight Foundation Offers $750K in Grants for Immersive Tech in the Arts

The Knight Foundation, focused on journalism and the arts, is opening a call-for-ideas from creatives and organizations using immersive technology to bring art to their audiences. Selected projects will be awarded a share of a $750,000 grant pool, as well as mentorship and “technology support” from Microsoft.

Founded in 1950, the Knight Foundation is the legacy of John “Jack” Knight and James “Jim” Knight, brothers who founded Knight Newspapers. It’s one of the largest foundations in the US by assets, according to the Foundation Center.

The Knight Foundation’s Chris Barr revealed this week that the foundation has committed $750,000 in grants for US-based projects using immersive technology to bring art to audiences.

Beginning on July 27, we are opening a call-for-ideas from cultural organizations, technologists and others who are working to use immersive technology in the arts. We hope to find innovative uses for this technology, new approaches for moving audiences through these experiences, and opportunities to engage new and diverse audiences.

How can these technologies help us reach new people? How do we make the experience before, during and after putting on a headset delightful? How do we service these experiences efficiently? How should these experiences be distributed and exhibited? How can this new form of storytelling be used for more inclusive stories? How can we use immersive tech to expand the reach of the arts beyond physical locations?

Grant recipients will be awarded a share of a pool of $750,000 in funding and receive mixed-reality mentorship and technology support from Microsoft.

Barr says that the full guidelines of the program will be available on the Arts section of the foundation’s website on July 27th. The foundation is also hosting a webinar on July 30th at 12PM PT [your timezone here] to offer more detail on the initiative and answer questions. However, the webinar has reached a capacity limit, though Barr says that the foundation is looking to offer up a second session eventually.

In his announcement of the program, Barr says that while immersive tech was once “on the fringe of the arts field,” things have radically changed. “This technology is now widely available, and artists, creators and storytellers are using it to make experiences that go beyond demo mode and into deep, meaningful creative works. It’s finally here!”

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In fact, Barr suggests that one reason for this new grant program focused on immersive technology in the arts is because of how many artists are already using the tech; in a 2018 Knight Foundation grant program focused on technology and the arts, “nearly a quarter of the 900+ applications we received for that opportunity focused on the use of virtual or augmented reality.”

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Ream more: https://www.roadtovr.com/knight-foundation-immersive-technology-arts-grant-program/