Samsung Is Working On There Own Virtual Reality Headset

According to Variety, Samsung is working on a virtual reality headset similar to the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.  "We are working on wireless and dedicated VR devices, not necessarily working with our mobile phone,” Samsung's head of R&D for software and services Injong Rhee. Samsung's current VR product is the Gear VR, which uses a compatible Samsung phones to act as the display. This would apparently be a standalone device. What do you think of Samsung working on it’s own VR headset ?

Will PlayStation VR Be As Popular As The PS4 ?

In an interview with Polygon, PlayStation executive vice president Masayasu Ito said Playstation Vr has an advantage because it “works with PS4”. Ito went on to say the competing Oculus Rift might have better VR than PlayStation VR, but Oculus is for a different audience. "This is not for the person who uses a high-end PC. It’s for the mass market.” He also pointed out the mass-market appeal of PlayStation VR means it's more for "everyday use." A device designed for everyday use, "has to be easy to use and it has to be affordable." With the Rift priced at $600, and the HTC Vive costing at $800, affordability is in the eye of the beholder. Sony said in the past it plans to price PlayStation VR "as a new gaming platform." We hope that means around $400 to $500. With there being 36 million PS4’s out in the wild and with Oculus needing a beast of a PC to run it. I believe sony potentially could have global success with PS VR as they did with PS4. What do you think ? Sony will be holding a PlayStation VR event at GDC on March 15. You can read more about that here. 

Sony Holding PlayStation VR Presentation At GDC 2016

Sony has sent out invites for a PlayStation VR event during Games Developers Conference 2016. The invite-only event will be held on March 15 in San Francisco. The "exclusive press event" will begin with a presentation on the PlayStation VR. That begins at 2pm PT, followed by several hours of hands-on demos. Hopefully Sony will announce the price and release date for PlayStation VR. I also hope it doesn’t break my wallet with its price like the other VR headsets (i.e Oculus and Vive). When do you think it’ll release ? How much do you think it’ll cost ? 

Is Google Making There Own VR Headset ?

According to the Financial Times, Google is working on a new virtual reality headset to compete with the Oculus Rift, Gear VR, PlayStation VR and others. The new headset is expected to hit markets sometime this year, along with new virtual reality software for Android. Compared to Google Cardboard, the new device will have upgraded sensors, better lenses and a hard plastic casing, the publication reported. Google has also invested in augmented reality,  with the purchase of  Magic Leap, an augmented reality company. What do you think of Google making there own VR headset ? 

Is Apple Making A VR Headset ?

According to Financial Times, Apple has hired Doug Bowman, a former computer science professor from Virginia Tech whose research included 3D user interfaces. This could point in the direction of the company developing something with VR. What Apple has up there sleeve’s remains to be seen, but with so many of its tech competitors venturing into VR, Apple isn’t likely to be left out of the party. What do you think of Apple developing something involving VR ?

Reports Claim That The PlayStation VR Will Cost $400-$600

Sony hasn’t officially announce how much PlayStation VR will cost, but one research group has now provided a pricing prediction. In a new report from SuperData about the virtual reality market, the research group expects it to cost between $400-$600. By comparison, the Oculus Rift consumer model will start at $600. One of the biggest differences between Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR is that if you own a PS4 then you’re good, where as the Rift needs a compatible PC to run it. PlayStation executive Andrew House has said that PlayStation VR would be priced as a new gaming platform. If he's talking about a traditional home console like the PS4, Xbox One, or Wii U, House's comments would suggest PlayStation VR will cost around $300-$400 or close to that. PlayStation VR is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2016, though a specific release date has not been announced. As long as PlayStation VR cost less then the $600 Oculus Rift, then I and many others will buy PlayStation VR over the Oculus Rift. What do you think of this report ? 

There Are 100+ VR Titles Currently In Development For Playstation VR

In an interview with the BBC, CEO Kaz Hirai confirmed that there are "about 100 or more" titles already in development for PlayStation VR. He also added that the 200 developers who had already signed up to the company's PlayStation VR Program were "a testament to the kind of support that we're getting from the content creation community on PlayStation VR". "I think we have a lot of good support," he said, "and it'll be a great product coming out later this year." Hirai also believes that the advance of virtual reality through video games will likely impact into other entertainment products, including movies. "With the install base of the PlayStation 4 close to 36 million units, that there in of itself is a huge audience we're going to cater to, and once we have a lot of people who are really into virtual reality through games I think then we'll be able to expand beyond gaming, especially because we have a lot of content that we create ourselves at Sony Pictures Entertainment." What do you think of VR ? 

The Oculus Rift Will Cost $600, Releasing In March

The Oculus Rift has opened pre-orders for its  virtual reality headset and it'll cost you $600. Pre-orders for the Rift include EVE Valkyrie, and everyone that purchases one will also get Playful’s 3D platformer, Lucky’s Tale. You won’t be charged for the Rift until it ships in March. If you don’t get in on the first wave, You can pre-order yours on Oculus’ website. Based on the Rift price, you’re looking at a PC in the neighborhood of $900. Rift-compatible PC bundles that include the computer and the Rift will be available for order in February. For those wondering if your existing PC is compatible, here are the required specs:

• Graphics card: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD R9 290 equivalent or greater
• Processor: Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater
• Memory: 8GB+ RAM
• Output: Compatible HDMI 1.3 video output
• Input: 3x USB 3.0 ports plus 1x USB 2.0 port
• Operating system: Windows 7 SP1 64 bit or newer

To me $600 is a little steep for VR, especially since theres no way to try it before you buy it. Here’s hoping PlayStation VR is little lower, preferably around $400.

HTC Announces A New Vive Developer Kit

While Oculus is opening pre-orders for the consumer version of the Rift tomorrow, HTC and Valve have been working on a redesign for the headset.The straps on the head-mounted display have been redesigned to rebalance weight. The displays have been retooled to be brighter and clearer. There are also interchangeable foam inserts and gaskets, which should make the Vive more easily compatible with a variety of corrective eyewear. What to you think of the HTC Vive ? To me the Vive is for the hardcore VR fans with the cameras having to be around the room. Just seems a little much for a VR headset.

Oculus Rift Pre-Orders Will Start On January 6

Oculus has announced that Rift pre-orders will open on January 6th. The company still has not revealed how much you will spend on the Rift, but we know that the Rift will come with a tracking camera, Xbox One controller, and Xbox One wireless adapter. Those that pre-order will get a copy of dogfighting action game EVE Valkyrie. Every Rift will come with the 3D platformer Lucky’s Tale. You can pre-order your rift on Oculus’ website at 8 AM Pacific / 11 AM Eastern. 

Samsung Gear VR Is Getting A Web Browser

Samsung is releasing a web browser for their Gear VR, which will allow users to use a web browser and stream video without downloading apps. The web browser for Gear VR will support 360 degree and 3D video streaming, as well as HTML5 video.  Which means Youtube videos will be supported in the web browser. Internet for VR also features voice recognition support along with an on-screen keyboard. An interesting feature of the Gear VR is the “Gaze Mode”, which gives users the ability to pick and choose things by just staring at them. Samsung Internet for VR launches on December 2, on the Oculus Store. You'll need a Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy Note 5 to use the Gear VR.

Sony Shows Off Rigs With PlayStation VR

During Sony's Paris Games Week 2015 Conference, Sony showed off its new mechanized sports arena shooter, called Rigs, which will be exclusively for PlayStation VR. The game looks really interesting, mechs fighting in an area with VR? Where do I sign up !. Can’t wait for Playstation VR to come out.What do you think of Rigs ? What do you think Playstation VR ? 

Supermassive Games announces Until Dawn: Rush of Blood For PlayStation VR

During Sony's Paris Games Week 2015 Conference,  Supermassive Games announced Until Dawn: Rush of Blood exclusively for PlayStation VR. The game is a rollercoaster experience set in a horror theme park. Not much else is known about the game and no gameplay was shown. What do you think of Until Dawn: Rush of Blood ? Did you like Until Dawn ? 

New York Times Subscribers Will Receive Google Cardboard For Free

If you’re a New York Times subscriber, then you’ll be able to get your hands on Google Cardboard for free. The Times will be sending out over 1 million Google Cardboard units to subscribers as part of the launch of their new New York Times VR app, which is launching on both iOS and Android on November 5th. For those who don’t know, Google Cardboard is a little folding cardboard box with a couple of lenses. You can fit any smartphone running iOS or Android into the headset and you can get a taste of VR technology. The New York Times is using Google Cardboard as a way to explore virtual reality’s as a news platform. New York Times VR will feature new virtual reality stories so subscribers can dive deeper in stories. If you’re a Times subscriber, Google Cardboard will come along with your paper during the weekend of November 7th. What do you think of The New York Times using VR in this way ? Its an interesting concept, lets just se how this pans out.

The Gear VR Is Getting A Public Release This November

Samsung and Oculus have announced that Gear VR will be available to the public this November.The Gear VR will be compatible with the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6, and Galaxy S6 Edge. The Gear VR will cost $99.

Sony Renames Project Morpheus And The PS4 Gets A Price Cut In Japan

At Sonys TGS 2015 conference Sony announced that Project Morpheus will now be known as PlayStation VR. Sony's virtual reality headset still doesn’t have a price point, but several virtual reality projects were shown off in a new trailer with the name announcement. This included The Playroom VR, Cyber Danganronpa, Hatsune Miku, Tekken 7, Summer Lesson, Final Fantasy and more (You can see in the image or video below). Also announces was that the PlayStation 4 will receive a price drop in Japan. The price before the drop was ¥39,980 and the new price is  ¥34,980 or $292.79 USD, which make for about a $50 price cut. What do you think about Sony’s new name for Project Morpheus ?

The HTC Vive Will Launch In Limited Quantity This Year

The Vive virtual reality headset from Valve and HTC is launching later this year, but it looks like it will only be released in limited quantity. HTC will offer the first Vive units via a limited quantity of community and developer systems, with larger quantities shipping in Q1 2016. So it looks like the HTC Vive headsets will be launching around the same time as the Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus, both are also se to release in Q1 2016. Who will win the battle of the virtual reality headset ?