Once you buy by way of links on our site, we might earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it really works. Last yr at CES, HTC revealed the Vive Pre, the company’s last developer package mannequin, which launched the built-in camera’s "Tron Mode" chaperone function and iTagPro technology Mura correction. This yr, HTC is specializing in enhancements to the Vive experience. HTC's first year of VR was a success. The corporate acquired quite a lot of awards for the Vive VR HMD, iTagPro device together with a Best of CES 2016 decide from Tom’s Hardware, and the Vive platform benefited from widespread developer assist. During HTC Vive’s CES press conference, ItagPro Dan O’Brien, Vice President and Executive Director of Emerging Products at HTC, said there are over 1,000 Vive supported titles available at the moment, with roughly 30 titles added on daily basis. Customer excitement hasn’t waned, both. Valve lately revealed that over 1,000 new Vive owners sign on to Steam every day.

With the Vive platform churning out content and choosing up customers often, HTC turned its consideration to enhancing the hardware with equipment. HTC Vive announced two new accessories for the Vive which might be coming to market in Q2 2017. During HTC Vive’s CES 2017 press convention, the corporate introduced the Vive Tracker, a common Lighthouse tracked gadget that you could attach to any object to track it inside VR. The Vive Tracker features 3 ways to interface: It includes a micro USB port, which allows for tethered information switch. The tracker additionally includes a set of analog GPIO pins, iTagPro device which hardware builders can use to attach third-get together peripherals reminiscent of a gentle gun. In truth, HTC had just a few examples of peripheral accessories on show. The company confirmed off a big rifle with a Vive Tracker attached to the top that you need to use for first individual shooters. HTC also had a VR digicam peripheral on show, which lets you're taking screenshots of virtual experiences as for those who were taking an image of the true world.

"To foster the lengthy-time period development of VR, we wish to make it even easier for builders to prototype and market more immersive controllers and accessories," said Daniel O’Brien, GM, US and EMEA, Vive. Get Tom's Hardware's greatest information and in-depth evaluations, straight to your inbox. HTC also demonstrated that the tracker may very well be used to allow asynchronous room-scale VR games. The corporate had a pistol peripheral with a Vive Tracker connected to the front, which was tethered through Bluetooth to a smartphone hooked up to the highest of the gun. The smartphone acted as a display for a second player in a shooter recreation. One participant had the Vive on, and the other participant shared the virtual and bodily tracking house whereas taking part in on a cell phone. The Vive Tracker is a small system. HTC said the tracker weighs 85g, is 42.27mm tall, and has a diameter of 99.65mm. Inside the small package deal, HTC fit an inner rechargeable battery pack, which offers up to six hours of use between expenses.

The bottom aspect of the tracker features a tripod mount. HTC said it is freely giving over 1,000 models to builders, and eight partners have already adopted the machine. The consumer launch for the Vive Tracker is slated for Q2 2017. HTC said it would announce the worth close to the launch. HTC additionally announced a brand new head strap for the Vive, which you’ll be in a position to buy as an upgrade to the VR HMD in Q2. The Deluxe Audio Strap, as HTC is calling it, blends the best options of the Oculus Rift, PSVR, and Vive head mounting mechanisms. "We’ve repeatedly improved the core Vive experience, making it more snug and easier to make use of," stated O’Brien. The brand new head strap features a rigid design similar to the Oculus Rift’s head strap. The Vive’s deluxe head strap nonetheless options the overhead band and the section within the back that sits low on your cranium.