VR tracking company Antilatency has announced a slew of new hardware and updates to their tracking systems, including support for the Oculus Quest and a new software development kit (SDK) for easy implementation. The company’s custom tracking solutions now offer a ceiling set up, alongside a custom six degrees of freedom (6DOF) controller, ideal for enterprise solutions and implementation at location-based VR experiences.
We previously tried Antilatency’s technology at CES 2019, where the tracking system turned the Oculus Go into a 6DoF, multi-user VR experience. This tracking technology operates via a small external “Tag” device, pictured above, which is mounted to the headset. Support for the Tag peripheral has expanded to include the Oculus Quest, which provides “full-body tracking, where head and foot tracking is performed by Antilatency trackers, and hand tracking is done by the native controller tracking of Oculus Quest.” The custom tracker device, which works with the Antilatency system, would likely connect to the Oculus Quest’s USB-C port.
Quest support comes alongside the addition of the new Antilatency SDK, which allows for “more flexible configuration of the system for various use cases” and improves upon previous iterations of the technology. This works hand-in-hand with the new ceiling set up option for tracking, which uses the same technology as the previous floor-based system with infrared lights, except it now uses markers and wires placed on a suspended ceiling rig. Antilatency admitted that the ceiling option is not as mobile or flexible as the floor mat option, but will allow for situations where objects are placed on the floor in the playspace, or when real walls are present that also co-exist in the virtual world.
Antilatency is also introducing a 6DoF controller called ‘The Bracer’, pictured above, which is “ultra-light” and mounted to the user’s wrist, allowing your hands to be used to grab objects without having to hold a controller of any kind. This would work in situations where the user wants to hold an external peripheral, such as a gun, without compromising tracking.
All of these new software and hardware updates position Antilatency to be implemented at an enterprise level, both in training situations and location-based experiences. You can read more on the Antilatency website.
Tired of endlessly switching out batteries in VR? This Oculus Quest controller charging station might have a fix for you.
ONG Innovations revealed this new product over the weekend. As it stands right now, each Quest controller uses a single AA battery, which you’ll often find runs out mid-session. But this Oculus Quest Controller charging station switches out replaceable batteries with its own rechargeable solution, complete with a custom battery faceplate.
When you’re not in VR you simply rest your Touch controllers on a rectangular block, with each controller’s tracking ring and magnets helping to keep the balance. The controllers plug into a charging port to make sure they’re ready for your next play session. ONG’s unique faceplate has space for the charger to connect.
On paper, the concept is sound, but there’s a lot of questions to be answered about this Oculus Quest controller charging station. What would this solution do for weight and battery time, for example? How long will it take to charge? Will it work safely and should you really buy two to make sure you’re not forced to stop playing when the battery goes flat?
In fact, ONG has a few things to work out for itself. The sign-up form for updates on the kit asks how much value potential customers feel the product is worth, for example. For now, we don’t have a release date for the kit, but make sure to keep an eye out if you’re interested.
That takes care of the controllers, but what about the headset itself? Check out the VR Power add-on we saw at CES earlier this month. It adds a battery pack to the back of the Quest, extending its life and acting as a counterweight too.
Would you be interested in picking up this Oculus Quest controller charging station? Let us know in the comments below!
China-based VR hardware company Pico Interactive announced the specifications and planned prices for its upcoming Neo 2 standalone VR headset. The company also revealed a new model in the line called the Neo 2 Eye which incorporates eye-tracking technology in partnership with Tobii.
The Neo 2 line is a successor to the original Pico Neo headset and the company plans to market this one toward businesses. The Pico Neo 2, now called the Pico Neo 2 Standard, was first revealed in March of 2019 but specifications for the device weren’t revealed until now. The headset is priced around $700 while Pico also plans to sell the Neo 2 Eye for around $900 offering the same specifications with the addition of eye tracking.
The company claims the headset includes a display with 4K resolution, 105 degree field of view and a 90Hz refresh rate powered by a Snapdragon 845 alongside 128 GB storage. Pico also says it is going to separately sell the Pico Stream Box using a 60 GHz wireless connection to play PC VR games via a nearby computer.
Pico claims the Neo 2 Eye model will use eye tracking technology from Tobii to “improve daily enterprise operations and applications.” Tobii is the same company that provided the eye tracking technology for the HTC Vive Pro Eye. We gave our impressions of the technology back at CES this time last year, and Tobii later went on to launch their eye-tracking SDK at GDC a few months later.
The Neo 2 headsets will employ full 6 degrees of freedom with inside out tracking and the company says it uses “electromagnetic” tracking with its controllers, pictured below.
This tracking technology may benefit from resistance to occlusion but may be heavier to hold. We’ll plan to see the device at CES in Las Vegas and hopefully report back more details and impressions.
The Oculus Rift S (read our headset review) is one of the best PC VR headsets on the market due to its affordability, ease of use, comfort, and sharper resolution over its predecessor. We’ve put together this list for recommendations on accessories, games, and more for Oculus’ flagship PC VR headset.
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Being priced at just $399 typically (and getting knocked down to $349 for Black Friday) makes the Oculus Rift S a hard value to beat. The inside-out tracking cameras make it so you don’t need to set up any external sensors or cameras at all to have it work. All you need to do is plug in your headset and you’re good to go.
Out of the box it comes with two Oculus Touch controllers that let you move your hands, pick up things, and interact with objects in the virtual world. The Insight tracking system makes it simple to draw your boundary on the ground so you don’t accidentally punch your TV or walk into a door. It’s really a great, intuitive user experience.
Plus, the Oculus Rift S works natively with the Oculus Home store, Steam, and Viveport.
Where To Buy The Oculus Rift S
Usually the Oculus Rift S costs $399, but starting Thursday, November 28th until December 2nd it’ll be knocked down to just $349, which is the first discount we’ve seen since the headset launched earlier this year. According to Oculus, you’ll be able to buy the PC VR HMD at that price from Amazon, Lenovo, Oculus, and Best Buy.
When you first set up your Oculus Rift S it’s tempting to dive into the deep end of PC-based VR immediately, but we’d actually recommend taking things a tiny bit slower. There is an excellent First Steps app to get you acclimated, as well as an older one named First Contact. Both are free.
After that you can explore your Oculus Home environment, decorate it if you wish, and then start looking into other applications.
For the next few days, Oculus is running a special promotion with a collection of five bundled Rift games – The Climb, Arizona Sunshine, Elite Dangerous: Commander Deluxe Edition, Defector, and Racket: Nx. These games would usually add up to nearly $200 if you bought them separately, but are available in the bundle for just $84.99 until November 28th at 9pm PT which is an amazing deal if you want all the games included.
Plus — if you already own some of the games in the collection, it’s actually prorated to be cheaper for you since you’d only need to buy the games you don’t have. This a great selection of games at such a low price, and features quite a few different experiences for someone who just purchased a Rift S. You can view the collection on the Oculus Store.
Accessories
So if you’re definitely going to buy a Rift S for yourself or someone else — or already own one — then you’re probably curious about accessories and other things that can help enhance your experience overall. We’ve got you covered there too.
The biggest omission from the Oculus Rift S (especially compared to the original Rift) is the lack of included headphones. Similar to the Oculus Go and Oculus Quest, it instead include speakers in the sides of the head-strap itself to provide audio for both you and those around you. The problem is that it’s just not very good. If you want an actual over-ear solution instead that you can just clip onto the headband itself and leave on as a dedicated part of your device, then we highly recommend the Bionik Mantis headphones, which were actually designed for the PSVR but fit the Rift S as well.
This display unit promises a nice stand to place your Rift S headset and hang your Touch controllers. This looks like a nice option if you’re want to store the Rift S on display next to some other gaming consoles, or even other VR headsets. The stand is compatible with the Oculus Quest as well, so you can change the headsets out if you have both.
If you’re looking for something to fit securely into the headset, protecting the lenses, then maybe try this lens protector from Orzero. While we haven’t tested it ourselves, it has favorable reviews on Amazon. You may have to turn the headset off fully when not in use if the lens protector activates the headset’s proximity sensor.
Obviously one of the biggest downsides to using a PC VR headset is that, typically, it means having a thick, restrictive wire coming off the side of your face that makes it difficult to move freely and is often a tripping hazard. One solution to this for the Rift S is to install a ceiling pulley system so that your cable loops up through the ceiling mount and then goes back down to your PC to get it out of the way. We haven’t used these in our own home setups, but this has great reviews and is widely recommended.
If you play a lot of shooters or are interested in getting into the VR FPS scene with games like Onward, Pavlov, and Contractors then you could stand to gain a lot in terms of immersion and also just pure enjoyment by using a dedicated Rifle Stock. These devices let you slot in your VR controllers and hold it, cradled in your shoulder, like you would an actual two-handed rifle. We haven’t tried this particular one but it’s got good reviews and looks to be a good fit for Rift S Touch controllers.
VR Cover is a company that’s been around for a while and is known for making accessories designed to make headsets feel more comfortable against the face as well as improve hygiene. We have tested their Quest covers and original Rift covers in the past, but have not tried the Rift S-specific covers. They don’t offer leather covers for Rift S yet, only washable cloth ones, but it could still be a good improvement especially if you sweat in VR a lot.
This strap modification accessory for the Oculus Touch controllers make them a little bit more like Index Controllers – they’ll stay secured to your hand even if you’re not gripping them. While we haven’t tested them ourselves, these look to be a good option if you’re expecting some longer play sessions.
If you’re using your Rift S a lot, the lenses are going to get foggy and dirty and you’ll want some microfiber cloths to quickly clean the lenses between games and sessions.
Since the Oculus Rift S is not a portable headset really, by design, and requires a capable VR PC to operate, it’s probably not the type of headset you’ll travel with very often. That being said, maybe you use a laptop for VR and do travel often enough that you’d need a dedicated carrying case for your Rift S, in which case (pun intended) this looks like a very good option. We haven’t tried it, but it’s got good user reviews.
This prototype haptic VR controller from Microsoft Research suggests where Valve’s Index controllers could go next.
Developed at KAIST University, TORC is a haptic controller offering ‘High-Dexterity Finger Interaction’. In its prototype stage, it uses a Vive Tracker for movement. The controller has a trackpad for your thumb protruding from one side. The user places their index and middle fingers on the back on this pad.
A New Type Of Haptic VR Controller
In VR, this simulates grabbing an object with those two fingers and your thumb. Sliding your thumb over the trackpad rotates the object in question. It doesn’t look entirely natural, but it is an interesting solution for object manipulation in VR.
Crucially, TORC uses a pressure sensor to detect when the user is squeezing an object. For elastic objects, this could simulate squeezing. Whereas Valve’s Index controllers can only detect when your fingers are touching the controller and when they aren’t, TORC could ensure users are physically gripping virtual objects. The thumbpad, meanwhile, is able to simulate textures when moving it.
This being a prototype, though, TORC doesn’t seem to have other classic VR features like triggers and buttons. There’s no thumbstick for locomotion, for example. We’d also like to see a version of the controller that utilizes all of the user’s fingers.
TORC certainly doesn’t have all the answers for haptic feedback in VR, then. But it does look like an interesting middle ground between something like the Index controllers and more robust haptic systems like HaptX. The latter systems are still complex, expensive and likely someways off from consumer viability. TORC, meanwhile, certainly looks like it would at least fit alongside a modern VR controller. Whether or not anything will come of it remains to be seen.
Why add yet more clutter to already-complicated VR setups, right? But the VR balance board’s release on PSVR proved its value, especially for gamers wanting more precise locomotion when using two Move controllers. It’s a niche product for sure, but still a welcome antidote to the headset’s current limitations. Now the VRGO Mini wants a piece of that pie.
The original VRGO was an egg-shaped stool you could lean back and forth on to move around in-game. It aimed to provide an immersive, comfortable means of movement without the need for room-scale space. The idea was sound but it was bulky, expensive and not the most fashionable piece of interior decor. The VRGO Mini, meanwhile, is a much more compact disc you place on top of another chair or couch. It connects to devices wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Indeed, I was startled by how much more convenient the Mini is compared to the original. There’s a special raised mat you can lay down to use the kit on couches and armchairs (which costs extra), though I tried it on a swivel stool. Smartly, the choice of demo was Skyrim on PSVR, perhaps one of the most damning examples of Move’s lack of analog sticks. The kit does support basically every other headset (including Quest) and any other game (through the use of a controller converter on PSVR), but this is where I see it getting the most attention.
Initially, I found the VRGO Mini to be wobbly and unwieldy. Trying to balance the Move’s many buttons in my head whilst literally keeping my balance as I leaned from side-to-side was dizzying. Leaning forward was fine, if a touch too sluggish, but going in the opposite direction had me worrying I was going to fall off of my chair. Obviously, if you were in a chair with a back you’d be less worried about that, but then you wouldn’t be able to lean back as easily. With these extra concerns on my mind, I started to actually find myself more flustered than if I had just been using the Moves.
Having said that, the more I played the more I found myself getting adjusted to the experience. Mini’s cushioned seat is very comfortable, making long play sessions viable. There’s also controller-like vibration, though this was pretty heavy-handed in my demo (and made a loud rattle on the stool). VRGO says it’s still fine-tuning this element, however. There will also be two SKUs, with a cheaper one ditching the haptics.
Ultimately I’m still not convinced that leaning to walk is a more natural means of locomotion than controller-based alternatives. But I’m also conscious of the fact that not everyone can handle that sort of VR locomotion. This is a device aimed at a specific group of enthusiasts that want an immersive way to play while seated. The more I became acclimatized with the VRGO Mini, the more I could see that, I’d just rather stick to standing as it is. It’s down to you whether you find the idea of tilting your feet or leaning your body as the best way to move while seated in VR.
The kit’s launching on Kickstarter today, hoping to raise £20,000 (around $24,500). Its creators expect to start shipping units around six months or so after the campaign’s closure. If you’re looking to use it on PSVR you’ll need a game controller converter. They won’t ship with one themselves. VRGO recommends the Cronus Max or Titan One.
If you’re interested in getting one I suggest you act fast; Super Early Bird prices start at £119 without haptics and £149 with. The longer Kickstarter price is £199 without haptics and £229 with. Afterwards, the kit will cost £269.99 without haptics and £299.99 with. It’s definitely worth taking advantage of this deal, then.
Over the next few days the Valve Index will finally start arriving on people’s doorsteps. The headset brings improved comfort, resolution, audio, field of view and more to VR. We’re pretty darn excited about it.
But that’s only one part of Index’s offerings. Also arriving this week are the Index Controllers (previously known as the Knuckles controllers). These long-in-development devices add improved VR finger tracking among other features like analog sticks. Again, we really like them and can’t wait for people to get their hands on them. But what games will you actually be able to play with the controllers?
While almost every SteamVR game should support them in an unofficial capacity, developers are updating their games to officially implement finger tracking support and other features. Below, we’ve rounded up every game that either already has or will soon be getting official Index Controller support. Also note that, if you want to save a little money, you can buy the Index controllers separately and then use them with your HTC Vive.
I originally tried out the Manus VR gloves almost three years ago. In VR years that’s basically an entire lifetime ago. Back then it was rudimentary at best and we’ve seen several other solutioins from companies like Contact CI, Tactical Haptics, and HaptX. Now it looks like Manus is back with a new evolution of its controller design called the Manus Prime Series.
The Manus Prime Series has three variations: the Prime One, the Haptic Prime (shown in the featured image up above), and the Xsens Prime.
According to a company representative via email, the differences are as follows:
The Prime One is the core of our product line, an all-round wireless data glove that tracks individual fingers on two joints, and that can stream the data directly into Unity, Unreal, Motionbuilder or one of the large enterprise software platforms such as IC.IDO or Vizard.
The Haptic Prime is a Prime One with linear resonant actuators. It provides unique haptic signals depending on the type of material and how much virtual force is applied. Haptic feedback is fully customizable in the user interface, with an integrated material editor and adjustable signal strength, frequency and resonance.
Finally, the Xsens Prime is a glove designed for integration into a Xsens motion capture suit, to complete the hand with finger data on their IMU suits.
We have zero experience with any of these three new products so we can’t comment on their quality or effectiveness, but it’s certainly exciting to see a company continue iterating on and improving their technology. Glove-based interaction has a lot of potential for the future of VR, especially if we’re looking to pop fiction as inspiration. Hopefully we get a chance to try these new versions at SIGGRAPH later this year to provide hands-on accounts.
Check out the website for more details or if you’re interested in creating content for the gloves as a developer and let us know what you think down in the comments below!
We’ve seen reports from others now confirming an issue with the battery compartment of the new Oculus Touch controllers which ship with Rift S and Oculus Quest.
I noted in my review of the Rift S that “I also found the battery compartment on the new Touch controllers came loose in my hand easily enough to ruin playthroughs in games like Beat Saber.” I emailed Facebook at the time, asking about the issue, and received the following on-the-record explanation:
“The Oculus Touch controllers have been designed and tested under a variety of play conditions. If people experience the Touch battery compartment cover loosening or shifting during play, we recommend first ensuring the batterycover friction pad is in place and intact, and the wrist straps secure but not too tight. Adjustments to grip strength and position can also help. If they encounter persistent issues, users are encouraged to reach out to Oculus Support.”
The issue with the new Touch controllers seems to reveal itself when gripping the controller tightly during active play or when sliding your palm over the cover in a certain way. Not everyone is reporting the issue and Facebook is recommending, essentially, that people should loosen their grip and use the wrist straps to feel more comfortable not holding the controller so tightly.
We haven’t resorted to using tape just yet to lock the battery cover into place but it might come to that at some point. If you are experiencing the issue or have any recommendations for how to fix it, please share in the comments.
We’re expecting hands-on time with a lot of new VR headsets at GDC 2019 next week. But Tactical Haptics will be offering a look at its latest design for its VR controllers, too.
In a Kickstarter update from last week the company confirmed it will be at this year’s show. Not only that, but it will be bringing the production-ready design along with it. The company reasoned that this was mainly for business development meetings but we’re hoping to get a look at them too.
“We’re looking to establish partnerships with location-based entertainment (LBE) VR system integrators as well as non-gaming partners,” the company explained.
Tactical Haptics offers a pair of motion-tracked VR controllers. Each includes three metal plates that shift around as you use them. The aim is to provide more convincing haptic feedback in VR, replicating the shift in weight and pressure you’d feel when, say, opening a door or picking up an object.
They controllers hold a lot of promise, but they’ve been a long time coming. The original (unsuccessful) Kickstarter for the devices first ran in 2013. The company kept working on the product, debuting new designs at CES last year.
In the Kickstarter comments section, the company addressed the long time it’s taken to get to this point. “Part of what has taken a long time is as we’ve made the hardware simpler, the software has had to become more complex,” Tactical Haptics wrote. “Now the software development has almost caught up again with the hardware.”
As for future funding, the company says it probably won’t relaunch a new Kickstarter but has “other plans” it will discuss soon.
If you play a lot of shooters or are interested in getting into the VR FPS scene with games like Onward, Pavlov, and Contractors then you could stand to gain a lot in terms of immersion and also just pure enjoyment by using a dedicated Rifle Stock. These devices let you slot in your VR controllers and hold it, cradled in your shoulder, like you would an actual two-handed rifle. We haven’t tried 
