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Steam VR Tracking Technology Now Available To Third Parties (pcgamer.com)

Posted by msmash on from the on-that-bombshell dept.

You will soon be able to play and try out any virtual reality game or app in StreamVR ecosystem without having to purchase HTC's VR gear. SteamVR creator Valve has announced it is opening the floodgates to a new wave to a new wave of VR peripherals. PC Gamer reports: "This tracking technology enables hardware developers to build highly precise position and orientation sensing into devices of all kinds," reads the press release. "Valve expects the technology to be used in a variety of devices, such as VR peripherals and other input devices." The technology being licensed includes everything needed to wirelessly track objects with the HTC Vive base stations (those two laser emitters that you mount in the corners of the room when setting up a Vive), its sensors, and the Steam VR software. To be clear, it doesn't mean we'll see new tracking systems based on the Vive's technology, but that new hardware can work with the Vive's base stations and sensors. The goal is to "support the growth of a healthy portfolio of products that work together with HTC Vive," said HTC VR vice president Raymond Pao.

13 comments

  1. SteamOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Great! Now maybe Valve can send somebody there for training to make it work with SteamOS.

    1. Re:SteamOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The VR market is still way too tiny as it is. A linux-using VR market has like...two people in it.

      That investment just isn't justified.

    2. Re: SteamOS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you meant to say "that investment just isn't justified just isn't justified."

  2. How about a goal of bringing the price down??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    One headset costs twice as much as an xbox, and that's without the required high-end gaming machine (which is another 3 or 4 xboxes on its own).

    Sheesh.

    1. Re: How about a goal of bringing the price down??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So its either the one time 30 minute flight in a real fighter jet or unlimited flight time in a simulated one...which would you pick?

  3. Purchase without having to purchase? by Theaetetus · · Score: 2
    Subby: "without having to purchase HTC's VR gear."
    Article summary: "track objects with the HTC Vive base stations... new hardware can work with the Vive's base stations and sensors... products that work together with HTC Vive."

    Cripes, Subby, we know no one reads the articles, and at this point, we don't even expect Subbys to read the articles, but can you at least read the text that you're copy-pasting into the submission box?!

    1. Re:Purchase without having to purchase? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Subby: "without having to purchase HTC's VR gear."

      You could build your own base stations with the specs, they are not connected to anything and just emit signals usefull for interpolation. Of course the goal for Valve is to extend the Vive.

  4. Super Scope 7 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Finally, I can take my poster tube with a CO2 tank on the back side (you know, for recoil) and get some Intercept rolling!

  5. Re: Imagine Dragons parodies and other things by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    GameStop was offering free tryouts of the Vive, I tried to fire at some virtual ship and the aim was off. Pretty soon all the devices will be like the turret in Harry101UK's Defective song: "Noooo! I'm not defective." Other turrets: He is defective! https://www.youtube.com/watch?...