Valve has 'figured out' affordable VR with prototype

Valve has "figured out what affordable Virtual Reality (VR) hardware will be capable of within a couple of years." And they will show what their vision of the future is at an upcoming developer-only event.

5

Valve has "figured out what affordable Virtual Reality (VR) hardware will be capable of within a couple of years." And they will show what their vision of the future is at an upcoming developer-only event.

Discovered by IGN, Steam Developer Days will host a talk called "What VR Could, Should, and Almost Certainly Will Be within Two Years." According to Valve, the company has "assembled a prototype which demonstrates that such VR hardware is capable of stunning experiences. This type of hardware is almost certainly going to appear in short order, and the time to [start] developing for it is now."

Valve has been aggressively pushing into hardware as of late. Steam Machines will launch in beta later this year, alongside that wacky controller.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

Filed Under
From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 19, 2013 2:50 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Valve has 'figured out' affordable VR with prototype.

    Valve has "figured out what affordable Virtual Reality (VR) hardware will be capable of within a couple of years." And they will show what their vision of the future is at an upcoming developer-only event.

    • reply
      November 19, 2013 3:12 PM

      Yes, its called the RIFT. Glad they "figured it out".

      • reply
        November 19, 2013 3:30 PM

        Valve and Oculus have been working together with VR and sharing research between them so I have read. Abrash and Carmack figuring shit out together is win win.

      • reply
        November 19, 2013 3:34 PM

        I imagine what they're saying is that they've done real-world testing with the available hardware options and determined that they were able to find a configuration that's promising and that works to their liking. There's quite a bit of not-so-obvious technique that's involved in creating an experience that's really pleasant to the senses.

        I'm also sure that they've been working closely with Oculus.

        • reply
          November 19, 2013 3:46 PM

          I'm well aware of what their collaboration has been and i have no beef against valve. I just find it interesting they (valve) are essentially saying they "figured out" the hardware. Seems a little self serving to me with no mention of RIFT.

          • reply
            November 19, 2013 4:18 PM

            They have been working on hardware and software, and even changed carmack's mind on some technical priorities with their low-persistence prototype. Go check out mike abrash's blog.

            If I wasn't literally on the other side of the earth I would kill to go to those talks. I'm working on vr and ar software prototype products, but startup money is tight :\

      • reply
        November 19, 2013 4:44 PM

        I've heard rumors that their prototype is a ridiculously expensive piece of hardware meant to show developers what will be possible for companies like oculus to make available to the consumer for cheap in a few years.

      • reply
        November 19, 2013 4:45 PM

        ^^ Smarter than Valve.

    • reply
      November 19, 2013 3:38 PM

      Rift better hurry up with that consumer release...

    • reply
      November 19, 2013 4:25 PM

      Exciting times to be a gamer gents! Revel in all of these developments.

Hello, Meet Lola