Gaming tech firm Razer has revealed its answer to the Oculus Rift--a $200 virtual reality headset with head-tracking capabilities and a 1080x1920 display.
Known
as the OSVR headset, the open-source dev kit can work with "all VR
devices, including the Oculus DK 2," meaning that engines and software
built with Oculus in mind are theoretically supported.
Razer
says the OSVR will be released, at least as a dev kit, in June 2015. It
carries two 5.5-inch displays, as well as a 100-degree field-of-view,
and internal sensors for head tracking (accelerometer, gyroscope, and
compass).
That would align it closely with the Oculus
Rift in terms of specs, though the Facebook-owned headset in its most
recent incarnation features a seven-inch display.
Razer
is also partnering with a host of companies to create an open-source VR
ecosystem, which it says will allow developers to freely create code
for the headset, which can work across many operating systems, including
Windows, Android, and Linux.
It is also supports
key game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine 4, as well as device
plugins from the likes of Bosch and Razer, along with middleware from
companies such as Sixense and LeapMotion.
"Gaming is
moving towards the virtual reality platform and this poses huge benefits
and challenges to gamers at every level," said Razer chief executive
Min-Liang Tan.
"OSVR brings game developers, gamers, and
hardware manufacturers together to solve those challenges and make
virtual reality gaming a reality for the masses."