Steam Archives - VR World

Gaming, Hardware, News, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

SteamVR adds resolution scaling feature for HTC Vive and other headsets

A common staple of PC gaming is the ability to change resolution and other graphical settings in accordance with your own machine’s performance levels. Despite how common this is in PC gaming, it’s actually surprisingly scarce in VR gaming (PC and console alike) due to the way that most VR titles are made to target a specific hardware configuration. A new feature for SteamVR hopes to alleviate this by adding a resolution-scaling feature to SteamVR. Screenshot credit: TechRadar.com The implementation of this feature opens up possibilities in two different directions. In one direction are people on the lower-end of the VR spec (GPU especially), who

HTC, Oculus, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World, Wearables

Oculus Rift overtakes HTC Vive in Steam survey

The Oculus Rift surpassed the HTC Vive in popularity among Steam users for the first time, according to the results of the latest monthly Steam Hardware & Software Survey. The survey, which scans users’ PCs for different hardware components, found that the Oculus Rift accounts for 47.31 percent of VR headset use, compared to the HTC Vive’s 45.38 percent share of the market. Last January’s survey saw the gap between the two devices closing, with the Vive representing 46.96 percent of headset use while the Oculus Rift took 46.09 percent. Now the Rift sits in first place, just edging out HTC’s product. Windows Mixed Reality is

Buying Guides, Guides, Reviews, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

New to VR? A beginner’s guide

Virtual reality (VR) produces a computer-generated environment–complete with realistic sights, sounds and other sensations–which a person can explore by wearing a special kind of headset and, in some cases, using certain props. Basically every VR experience will allow the user to feel as though they are in this simulated world and look around it, while more advanced systems allow for movement and interaction. While the ability of VR to provide valuable, realistic experiences without introducing real-world risks has found many fans across various industries (from healthcare to real estate), the most popular types of virtual reality content remain video games, movies and television. For those

Google, Hardware, News, Oculus, Software Programs, Virtual Reality (VR)

Google’s VR sculpting software adds new features

On Monday, Google announced upgrades and several new beta features to its Google Blocks VR object sculpting software. The improvements build upon the six-month-old platform’s features, making it easier to use and also responding to feature requests from users. New items include three alternatives to the original “desert” theme modelling environment and improved snap-to-object and mesh-snapping functionality. More comprehensive features can also be enabled by users, with the caveat that they are considered in beta, and as such may have some unresolved bugs. These include: a non-coplanar face mode; a loop subdivision feature; edge, face and vertex deletion; worldspace grids; a volume insertion ruler; an

Gaming, Mixed Reality (MR), News, VR World, Windows

Bigscreen coming to Windows Mixed Reality

For the uninitiated, Bigscreen is a virtual desktop application for VR headsets. It originally launched for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift as a desktop environment for those headsets, and as of the turn of the New Year, Bigscreen is now available on Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Bigscreen coming to Windows MR headsets is good news for the platform. While Windows Mixed Reality does have SteamVR support, the platform still has a way to go to become a true competitor to the HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift. Bigscreen porting their application to Mixed Reality is a good sign, though, and with any luck, many other

Augmented Reality (AR), Facebook, HTC, News, Oculus, Virtual Reality (VR)

Facebook Spaces now available on Vive, other platforms pending

Facebook has brought its beta social VR app, Spaces, to users of the HTC Vive. First announced in April, Spaces had previously only been available to users of the Oculus Rift. Spaces is among a handful of apps that combine social media with an immersive VR experience. Using the app, users can meet in VR; go Live; play games; make video calls; and create and share 3D objects, videos, and photos. These features are identical to those available to Rift users. Interestingly, however, the Spaces app is not available via the Steam store, and is instead being offered for direct download via Facebook’s website. “VR

Entertainment, Google, News, Videos, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

YouTube VR comes to Steam Early Access, issues ensue

YouTube is the biggest video distribution platform in the world, but it’s still prone to issues. Every major update to the site results in some backlash or another, and this often extends to YouTube implementations on other platforms as well. Today, that platform is SteamVR. So what happened? The YouTube VR application on Google Daydream lets users browse YouTube in a 3D space with full 360-degree visuals, allowing 360 videos to be watched in VR. This same application was ported from Daydream to SteamVR, and unfortunately, the Steam counterpart doesn’t seem to function quite as smoothly. For some users, the YouTube VR app outright doesn’t

Apple, Augmented Reality (AR), Business, Companies, Education, Entertainment, News, Smartphones, Tablets

With Parker AR Bear kids learn through play

I guess many of us remember Tamagotchi or Furby. Those first tech-enhanced toys were already then thought of as a “parents nightmare”. They were blinking, beeping (often in the middle of the night), they needed batteries and sometimes they were a cause of a humongous amount of child tears (when mum accidentaly washed it). However, nowadays it’s easier to live (at least for parents). Parker: Your Augmented Reality Bear is a new iPad and iPhone-enhanced toy from Seedling. This charming bear is fully squeezable with no caveats: it doesn’t have any wires or batteries inside, and it won’t make a peep or start to glow

Gaming, Hardware, Microsoft, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World, Windows

SteamVR Preview Coming To Windows Mixed Reality, Requires Higher Specs

SteamVR is essentially an extension of Steam, allowing a virtual hub for playing and purchasing VR applications. Since its release with the HTC Vive (and eventual compatibility with the Oculus Rift), SteamVR has been a favorite among VR enthusiasts everywhere. With the debut of Windows Mixed Reality headsets on PC, many were left wondering if Mixed Reality headsets could support the same software, and it looks like the answer to that question is a resounding yes. SteamVR is coming to Windows Mixed Reality headsets in an official preview state on November 15th, 2017. Full, official compatibility is somewhere further down the line, likely depending on the

Breaking, E3, Entertainment, Event, Gaming, HTC, News, Oculus, Sony, Virtual Reality (VR)

Bethesda’s VR World: DOOM VFR, Fallout 4 VR and Skyrim PSVR

Bethesda is one of rare AAA-publishers that announced its full support for the VR technology, and invested heavily in creating VR-versions of its popular franchises. At the 2017 edition of E3 conference, Bethesda announced several titles which are coming for Steam VR / HTC Vive (visible from the moment the VR trailer starts). Given the legal situation between Bethesda and Oculus, we were not surprised to see icy relations and no mention of supporting the Oculus Rift VR headset. While the game development teams are working behind the scenes on new IP which wasn’t ready to be shown, the B-teams are working on re-working the

AMD, Apple, BMW, Breaking, Business, Exclusive, Facebook, Intel, Microsoft, News, Nvidia

Top 10 Stories to Read on April 20th

Starting today, on April 20th we’re launching a new daily section covering the latest news from the world of technology. Every day we’ll try to bring Top 10 stories for you to read and eny. We hope you’ll enjoy them. Hold on, memory will be cheaper (soon?) http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20170418PD203.html “Major NAND flash suppliers including Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology and Toshiba have rolled out 64-layer 3D NAND flash products, said the sources. SK Hynix has even introduced what the company claims is the industry’s first 72-layer 3D NAND flash chips.” Microsoft explains why the company opted against combining Polaris GPU with RYZEN CPU architecture http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-the-scorpio-engine-in-depth “There are

Analysis, Android, Apple, Back to School, Business, Companies, Exclusive, iOS, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Opinion, OSx, Software Programs, Windows, Windows Phone

Will “Windows as a Service” Model be successful for Microsoft?

Ever since Microsoft came out with the Windows 10, Redmond has been positioning this Operating System (OS) as the final direct release, with all the future versions being built off this foundation. Microsoft is trying to capture back market share which PCs have lost to mobile computing. Microsoft allowed for program compatibility and ecosystem support blunders with Windows 7 Mobile, Windows 8 Mobile, Windows 8 x86, and Windows 8 ARM (RT). The company let its Windows ecosystem to become fragmented, removed backwards compatibility, and many of its consumer developers moved away from Microsoft to focus on iOS and Android OS created by Apple and Google

Breaking, VR World

Are You Ready For Black Friday

Black Friday is the day that every shopping enthusiast is waiting for the whole year. Regardless of are you looking for a new gadget, computer component or a piece of fashion, Black Friday is the event to enjoy in. In fact, Black Friday even got copied in China with their “Singles Day” (does not relate to relationship status, it’s four ones in a row – 11.11.). If you are on a tight budget and want to buy something nice, then enjoy this article. Black Friday is now just a few hours away, and we will bring you few good deals that may interest you. Amazon

Business, Entertainment, Game Reviews, Reviews, startups, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

First Look: Overkill VR Early Access Reviewed

Several weeks ago, we posted an article on the new virtual reality game called Overkill VR, and just a few days ago we finally got the chance to experience a beta version of the game. Developed by the Spanish game development team Game Troopers, Overkill VR is one of the many FPS games for VR, but it takes gameplay to more realistic direction. Steam Early Access for the game opens on November 16th, 2016. Your digital avatar in Overkill VR faces difficult situations as the leader of an resistance movement. The goal is to fight and win over the terrorist organization called “The Faction.” Enemies are coming in waves and

Breaking, Gaming, News, Rumors, Virtual Reality (VR), Wearables

Is Oculus Touch Priced at USD 199?

Even though they’re not the only VR headsets on the market, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift attract the most attention and command the mainstream media presence. When announced, Oculus Rift launch price of $599 presented a main advantage over HTC Vive’s $799. In markets such as the European Union, that price went as high as Euro 699 (Rift) vs. 899 (Vive). Translated into USD, $785 vs. 1010. From the very start, explanation for the Vive price was that the package enables “room scale VR,” with the included tracking solution (Lighthouse) and a pair of motion controllers, while the Oculus Rift only comes with a Microsoft Xbox controller.

Breaking, Gaming, News, startups, Virtual Reality (VR)

Is WEVR’s theBlu the Ultimate VR Experience?

In 1980s, a breakthrough movie came out that influenced a whole generation of film makers. This is a movie where Luc Besson started to make its mark on filmography, with legendary producers like James Cameron saying they were influenced by it, creating Abyss and search for the Titanic. When it comes to Virtual Reality, this young industry just encountered The Big Blue moment with a similar name. Prospective VR startup WEVR gathered almost $40 million through five funding rounds, focusing on delivering “high performance VR playback software for VR producers.” While mainstream media called them ‘YouTube for VR’, WEVR is not focusing on content distribution but rather enabling VRproducers – should we call

Breaking, Business, Entertainment, News, VR World

Steam Signs Lionsgate, Introduces Over 100 Movies

Steam digital distribution platform effectively started its life as a DRM authenticator for Half Life 2, expanding first to cover all the titles from Valve’s catalog and then becoming a pervasive game distribution platform. Valve continued to expand the number of titles, and last year started its expansion into the video arena. While the movie catalog was basic at best, we received an announcement that might change everything. Valve Corporation announced that the company signed a partnership agreement with Lionsgate, which will see their digital catalog become available through Steam. The initial agreement includes over 100 movie titles, including heavy hitting franchises such as Divergent, Hunger Games, Saw and Twilight

Entertainment, Gaming, Hardware, Software Programs, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

Manus VR Glove Dev Kit Pre-Orders to Open for $250

On Thursday, Manus VR said that pre-orders for the first Manus glove developer kit (DK1) will open its doors in Q2 2016. For $250, the kit will contain one pair of VR gloves, two wrist-mounted holders for the HTC Vive controller, various cables, plug-ins for the Unity and Unreal engines, an open-source SDK for five operating systems, and a demo game for each of those platforms. The kit will ship out to customers in Q3 2016. Currently compatible with only the HTC Vive VR headset, the Magus gloves will work on Android, Windows 7 and newer, Linux, Apple’s iOS and Mac OS X platforms. According

AMD, Breaking, Gaming, Graphics, Nvidia, Reviews, Virtual Reality (VR)

Valve VR Test: AMD Wins Against NVIDIA?

Update March 17th, 2016 16:52 GMT – The AMD R9 Nano x2 was the performance achieved by Radeon Pro Duo. We have discussed the SteamVR benchmark with Valve and they are working on expanding the benchmark score to incorporate more frames. The Fidelity test will stay just that (“Crank it up to 11”), but the benchmark will be enhanced to factor in the developments of graphics hardware. We will follow up as more developments around SteamVR happen. Original Article: Over the past three weeks, we saw two VR vendors releasing their tests to check can your machine deliver an optimal VR experience or not. As it goes, one vendor (Oculus) did

Entertainment, Gaming, News, Virtual Reality (VR)

See All 12 Games from Valve Steam VR Showcase

While HTC is putting finishing touches on the Vive Pre hardware which will power Steam VR gaming platform, Valve Software is launching ‘Steam VR Showcase’, their in-house content distribution platform which is expected to feature VR games, movies and more. However, their first priority is to support game producers, regardless of how small or big they are. With Steam Greenlight program, which opened a new channel to small indie game developers – Valve almost created a new economy reality for those developers whose ideas almost always fell on deaf ears of large publishers. With the advent of crowdfunding and afore mentioned Greenlight, indie game developers got resources