Coatsink Confirm New Gear VR Controller Support for Augmented Empire

During the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2017, British studio Coatsink Software revealed its latest virtual reality (VR) title Augmented EmpireWhile the new videogame has garnered interest, VRFocus has learned the upcoming project will support the newly revealed Gear VR controller.

Looking to rival Google’s Daydream controller, the Gear VR model was unveiled during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Spain just prior to GDC. Featuring a touchpad, trigger, home and back buttons plus volume control, there’s not yet been official confirmation on motion control input.

Augmented Empire screenshot2

At an Oculus event in London, VRFocus caught up with Eddie Beardsmore, COO of Coatsink, who confirmed that Augmented Empire has been designed to work with the aforementioned controller, as well as Gear VR’s touchpad and other Bluetooth controllers.

During MWC Oculus also stated that: ‘more than 70 new controller titles are already in development’ without clarifying title’s or development studio’s involved.

As yet, there’s been no announcement regarding a launch day for the new controller or Augmented Empire, or what the device will retail for. Samsung Unpacked takes place on 29th March 2017, so expect further details to emerge around that time.

Augmented Empire is a top down, tactical role-playing game (RPG), using a look-and-click control scheme. Players control a band of misfits by putting them in cover, moving them to flanking positions, setting them on overwatch, or attacking, very reminiscent of titles such as XCOM and XCOM 2. 

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Augmented Empire and Coatsink Software, reporting back with the latest updates.

Samsung Mobile World Congress Press Conference: A Gear VR Redesign and New Controller Revealed

Samsung hosted a press conference in Barcelona today prior to the opening of the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) event taking place this week. Alongside the reveal of two new tablets and a new class of convertible laptop-tablet device came the news of a redesign of the Samsung Gear VR – one of the most popular mobile platforms for virtual reality (VR) – as well as a brand new input device. VRFocus was at the conference, and has prepared a video from the event to give you all the details straight from Barcelona.

New Samsung Gear VR and Controller

In the video below you’ll find all the details announced regarding the new Gear VR head-mounted display (HMD) and the new controller. No release date has currently been set for the device, however Samsung did announce the company’s next in the series of Samsung Unpacked events, in which the Gear VR has previously played a prominent role, will take place later this month, 29th March 2017, in New York.

Watch the video below for all the latest details on the Samsung Gear VR, and stay right here at VRFocus for more information on the HMD and controller as it develops.

Samsung Announces New Gear VR with Touch Sensing Controller Included

Today at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Samsung announced the brand-new Gear VR with Controller, with 70 titles coming soon. The controller is said to add a deeper level of immersion, using motion sensors, and an intuitive touch pad and trigger input.

Announced today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and revealed on the Oculus Blog, Samsung’s new Gear VR has received a major new feature in the form of a motion controller.

The Gear VR Controller is a compact wand that uses motion sensors, a circular touchpad and trigger to interact with Gear VR content. With integrated home, volume and back buttons, the controller will be compatible with all existing Gear VR apps, but ‘more than 70’ titles designed for the controller are in development.

gear-vr-mwc-2017The single-handed controller has clear similarities with the controller that comes with Daydream VR, Google’s mobile VR platform. This input parity will certainly help developers create mobile VR apps that support motion controllers across both platforms. What’s more, every Gear VR shipped will include the controller as standard, a reassuring move for potential developers looking to support the new devices.

The new Gear VR headset still supports the same smartphones as the existing model, suggesting that the controller could be available separately for owners of the current hardware.

This story is breaking – more details will be added as we receive them.

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