Developers are setting up to make 2016 a prominent year in development of VR hardware and applications. Not to be left in the dust, HTC and Valve have stepped up to reveal their newest VR kit to the market at CES in Las Vegas. This one is going to be called the Vive Pre.
Utility and access for wider audiences are the biggest issues that the Pre seems to focus on. The headset is equipped with foam inserts and gaskets to allow use to those who wear glasses and the straps have been reworked to balance the weight better. In addition, the Vive Pre features a front-end camera that allows the wearer to see through the headset without taking it off, not only allowing some extra visual support, but also opening the possibility of augmented reality (AR) application.
The new motion controller wands for the Vive Pre feature a redesign alongside several key features. The wands now have dual stage triggers and new haptic feedback to allow further immersion and both wands will be rechargeable via mini-USB outlets. All in all, the new kit seems set to deliver a much more versatile system to a more diverse audience.
This comes on top of news of pre-order for the Oculus Rift, which goes live tomorrow. Between several companies making a hard push into the technology, 2016 is shaping up to be a heated battleground for VR dominance.
