lynx r1 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

June 7, 2022

Lynx R1’s Summer Launch is a “Moving Target” Due to Component Sourcing

There are a bunch of virtual reality (VR) headsets due for release later this year, with the Lynx R1 expected to arrive first for early backers. When that’ll happen though remains fluid, with Lynx founder Stan Larroque recently confirming the launch is a “moving target” due to external factors. On the plus side, he revealed new details regarding the headsets’ controllers.

Larroque holds a live, unscripted, update/Q&A stream on YouTube each month where he’s open and honest about the headsets’ progress and issues the team is currently facing. It makes for a far different approach than most other VR hardware manufacturers but also highlights the problems a smaller startup can face. That includes having to adjust a launch window which has been stencilled in for June/July.

When asked about the shipping date during the Q&A portion, he said: “It’s a moving target. As I told you, sometime during the summer. I know that’s not a good answer but that’s all I can tell you. We still need answers for some of the components. We’ve secured all of the components on the main board which was a pain but we still have some things to figure between Taiwan and China; which is a complicated matter.”

So for the time being, backers will still need to be patient for one of the most interesting mixed reality (MR) headsets coming to market.

As for the controller news, Larroque said he had “very good news”. In collaboration with Finch, the Lynx R1 will get optically tracked controllers much like the Meta Quest, with a ring the headset can see. This will mean the Lynx R1 will be able to support a far wider array of VR games on platforms like Steam. Out the box, the headset will still be focused on hand tracking as the primary input method as there’s no release timing or pricing for the controller at the moment.

Lastly, there’s been a bit of confusion around the previously announced SideQuest integration. In the stream Larroque mentions a cancelled contract without mentioning specifics but he followed this up with a statement via Twitter, clarifying that work was still ongoing.

Watch the full Lynx update for May below, and when further details arise, gmw3 will let you know.

June 6, 2022

Lynx R1 Now Shipping ‘Sometime This Summer’, Controllers Coming Later

The first units of the Lynx R1 mixed reality headset may not ship in June or July, as recently predicted.

The Lynx R1 is a new headset powered by the same X2 chip used in the Quest 2. It offers full VR alongside mixed reality experiences via passthrough cameras with color. It raised nearly $800,000 on Kickstarter in 2021. Addressing a shipping date for the device in a recent Q&A video, creator Stan Larroque said that the kit would launch “sometime during the summer”, citing issues with securing components for the kit. At GDC in March, Larroque was hopeful the kit would arrive this June or July.

“It’s a moving target,” Larroque said of the ship date. “As I told you, sometime during the summer. I know that’s not a good answer but that’s all I can tell you. We still need answers for some of the components. We’ve secured all of the components for the main board which was a pain but we still have some things to figure between Taiwan and China.”

Lynx R1 Gets New Shipping Estimate

Last month Lynx announced a round of investment, raising $4 million, and Larroque hinted that more funding news may arrive sometime in June.

Elsewhere, the kit creator also announced that Lynx will make and sell Quest-style controllers for the R1. Until now, the R1 has only featured hand-tracked input for both VR and MR experiences. But Larroque said these devices will be “the same kind of controllers that you know from the Quest devices with the ring, with the LEDs, tracked by cameras […] we are going to have exactly that.”

Designs for the controllers weren’t shown and Larroque warned that they wouldn’t have the same “volume” as Touch tracking, but they should allow you to play any game on SteamVR. “I’m not saying that the controllers are done,” Larroque added, “but it’s much better than what we anticipated with hand-tracking mixed [with] controllers.”

He also declined to give a price or timeline for the controllers, which seems to confirm they won’t be included with the headset itself at least at first.

Finally, Larroque also revealed that a previously-announced partnership with SideQuest to bring the platform to the R1 appears to have fallen through.

“[SideQuest] retracted the contract,” he explained. “I don’t why. I hope they’re good. Our door is still open but it looks like we won’t have SideQuest running at least as a first-class citizen on the headset. So we’re still going to have an app store, but at first I don’t think it’s going to be with SideQuest. I honestly don’t have an answer why, they just told me that it doesn’t look possible today.”

We’ve reached out to SideQuest to ask why this partnership may have fallen through and will update you if we hear back. For now, Larroque hopes to build Lynx’s own Android-based app store.

May 4, 2022

Work Already Underway on Lynx-R1 Successor

One of the most exciting mixed reality (MR) headsets coming to market in 2022 is the Lynx-R1, first revealed by creator Stan Larroque a couple of years ago. Like much of the tech sector chip shortages have led to delays with the launch now expected this summer. Even with that still to come the team has already begun work on the next generation of Lynx headset.

Hardware takes years to develop and quite often the big tech companies like Meta plan several iterations years in advance. For a small startup like Lynx which held a successful Kickstarter last year to gauge customer interest and production numbers, it’s not as easy, especially considering its first product hasn’t even arrived yet. But the features of the Lynx-R1 had to be locked in a while ago, which then naturally leads to the possibilities of what can be achieved next.

Gmw3 caught up with Larroque during the recent Virtuality 2022 event in Paris, France, where he spoke frankly about the issues the team has faced whilst also looking at where they were headed, confirming a second version is in development. “So the complexity of this product is, you know, what I say every time is all the headsets on the market, including Lynx, they are compromises, they are a product of a compromise. And I’m happy with the compromises we make with this version while we’re working already on version two, to make things better, of course, on all the metrics you can imagine for headsets,” Larroque explained.

“We are working on that I can share that we’re working on it,” he continues. “Because when you make hardware, you put on the paper, something that goes out on the market, maybe two years, two years and a half to do. So, Lynx, Lynx-R2, yeah, we’re working on that.”

As the focus is on the Lynx-R1 at the moment Larroque didn’t go into any specifics but he did say further details would be shared before the end of the year.

And this is because Lynx wants to build a solid ecosystem combining its hardware with software currently being built worldwide. “We have a lot of people that are building applications, they want to make sure that we are going to be around, we are going to have a v1, a v2 that the software will be compatible, you know, we have to reassure people and not just be a one time use. You know, we had to show that we know what we’re doing. We know where we’re going.”

Currently, the Lynx-R1 is expected to begin shipping to Kickstarter backers and those who pre-ordered the headset in June/July. The standard retail edition is priced at $599 USD while the Enterprise Edition jumps up to $1,099. For continued updates, keep reading gmw3.

March 26, 2022

First Lynx VR-AR Headsets Planned To Ship In ‘June – July’

The first shipments of the Lynx standalone VR-AR hybrid headset are due in a few months’ time.

Speaking to Between Realities during GDC this year, CEO Stan Larroque said that supply chain issues would prevent the device from making its original April launch date, but it should now be coming in the June – July timeframe. Check the end of the video below for the interview.

“So there’s the software and the hardware,” Larroque said when asked when the device would be shipping. “With the software we’re pretty mature, we’re going to put the SDK out soon. It’s going to be OpenXR runtime.

“And on the hardware side we’re in the process of manufacturing with our Taiwanese partner. We were supposed to deliver in April but we’re going to face some issues with supply chain. There’s drama every week here, I’m sure you’re aware with everything going on right now. So I think you can expect the first headsets to come between June and July. So it’s a matter of weeks, we have some weeks of delays here, but it’s [happening] now.”

Lynx holds a lot of promise as a standalone device featuring Qualcomm’s XR2 platform, potentially positioning it as a competitor to the Quest 2. The kit costs $499 and also places a significant emphasis on passthrough color AR functionality, with a partnership with SideQuest in the works to serve as the kit’s app store.

March 25, 2022

GDC Day 3: Cosmonious High, Lynx Mixed Reality Headset & More

Another day, another round of GDC 2022 coverage. Today is day three and the Between Realities crew hit the show floor again to bring you more interviews with VR/AR developers.

If you missed the previous two days, it’s been pretty jam packed already. Day one saw Alex and Skeeva talk to the developers of Walkabout Mini Golf, Zenith VR and more, and day two brought us interviews with Polyarc (Moss Book 2) Fast Travel Games (Cities VR and Virtuoso) and others.

Alex and Skeeva kept up the incredible pace today, speaking first to Owlchemy Labs (Job Simulator, Vacation Simulator) about their new game Cosmonious High, which releases next week.

They also caught up with the teams behind Patchworld: Sound of the Metaverse, Altair Breaker and Snapdragon Spaces.

Last, but definitely not least, Alex and Skeeva gave the upcoming Lynx R1 mixed reality headset a try and spoke to Stan Larroque from Lynx about the hardware.

When asked how far along everything was, Larroque said that things were “pretty mature” on the software side and they were “in the process of manufacturing” the hardware at the moment. The headsets were meant to ship next month in April, but Lynx has been affected by the ongoing global supply chain issues, which will mean a short delay.

“We were supposed to deliver in April but we’re going to face some issues with the supply chain,” said Larroque. “I think you can expect the first headsets to come between June and July. It’s a matter of weeks, we have some weeks of delays here.”

Keep an eye out for our GDC wrap-up show tomorrow, where Skeeva and Alex from Between Realities will join Ian live in the UploadVR virtual studio to discuss their hands-on experiences over the last few days.

You can catch that live on our YouTube channel tomorrow at 4pm Pacific.

December 23, 2021

Lynx-R1 To Integrate SideQuest in 2022

French startup Lynx has had a strong 2021 having redesigned its mixed reality (MR) headset earlier in the year followed by a successful Kickstarter that raised just over $800,000 USD. Founder Stan Larroque holds fairly regular live updates on the progress of Lynx-R1, yesterday revealing several new details that included the upcoming integration of SideQuest in 2022.

If you’ve not heard of the platform, SideQuest was originally set up to help Oculus Quest owners sideload early access projects by indie virtual reality (VR) developers, growing a community away from the official Oculus Store which was difficult for developers to get approved on. The news that SideQuest will be available for Lynx-R1 is not only exciting but highly important where content access is concerned. The Lynx headset already supports SteamVR but having access to SideQuest opens up another massive library of titles, plus it gives developers another platform they can sell their games on.

Larroque noted that SideQuest support should be available in April 2022, the same month that the Lynx-R1 should be shipping to Kickstarter backers.

While that was the main news, he also mentioned a couple of other details. Lynx-R1 focuses on hand tracking as its main input method but Larroque has confirmed that the Valve Index controllers will work. You’ll need to have separate SteamVR base stations, of course, for tracking purposes but at least the option is available ensuring compatibility with Steam content.

For developers, Lynx plans on making its software development kit (SDK), which supports OpenXR, publicly available at some point in January 2022. Unity developers – no mention of Unreal Engine – will then be able to use the SDK to test if their app works with the Lynx-R1 and make any adjustments if necessary.

The Lynx-R1 is a fully all-in-one (AIO) MR headset featuring a 2.1″ octagonal LCD panel, 1600 x 1600 per eye resolution at 90Hz with a 90° FOV, all powered by a Qualcomm XR2 chipset, 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage – that’s expandable via an SD card slot. While the Kickstarter had a limited-time Early Bird discount, the standard price for the Lynx-R1 is $599 USD.

November 11, 2021

Lynx-R1’s Successful Kickstarter Ends With Over $800,000 Raised

The Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign for the Lynx-R1 mixed reality (MR) headset was a success before it even had time to warm up, managing to exceed its $300,000 USD funding goal in less than a day. Now the campaign has concluded with over one thousand backers supporting the project and just over $800,000 raised over one month.

In total 1,216 backers pledged €725,281 EUR (approx $840,000) for the Lynx-R1 headset which supports both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications in a surprisingly small form factor. It’s this marriage of tech that has incited so much interest in the device because the passthrough is in full colour – rather than B+W like the Oculus Quest for instance. And just to be different, hand tracking is the main input method rather than controllers, utilising Ultraleap’s latest Gemini solution.

That’s not all the headset offers inside its compact frame. That svelteness is thanks to some special optics which are comprised of a 4-fold catadioptric freeform prism in conjunction with a 2.1″ octagonal LCD panel. That display provides users with a 1600 x 1600 per eye resolution at 90Hz with a 90° FOV. Under the hood is a Qualcomm XR2 chipset with the Lynx-R1 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage that’s expandable to 1TB thanks to an SD card slot. Also onboard are Wifi 6 and Bluetooth, and there’s a magnetic VR facial interface to prevent any light leaks.

As the Lynx-R1 is an all-in-one (AIO) headset it has a three-hour battery life with the battery located on the rear strap. A design becoming far more commonplace in AIO devices as it improves comfort over longer gameplay durations thanks to balanced weight distribution.

Now that the Kickstarter has concluded the focus moves to the official launch of the Lynx-R1, with backer shipments scheduled to happen in April 2022. For those that weren’t sure about backing the crowdfunding campaign, you can head on over to the official Lynx website to pre-order the standard headset for $599 USD or the Enterprise edition for $1099.

The redesigned website also offers several accessories including travel case, facial interface and 6DoF FinchShift controllers.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of the Lynx-R1, reporting back with further updates.

October 5, 2021

Lynx-R1 Launches Kickstarter to Raise $300,000

One of the most interesting XR headsets currently in development is the Lynx-R1 by French startup Lynx. Combining both virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) capabilities, today sees the launch of the company’s Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign, looking to raise a substantial $300,000 USD over the next month.

Lynx has garnered a lot of attention thanks to the technology its employing in the headset and founder Stan Larroque’s vision for the device and the company as a whole. He started developing his own headset back in 2016, a mishmash of various components that included an Oculus Rift DK1. Fast forward five years and the Lynx-R1 embodies the latest technology to provide customers with an all-in-one (AIO) headset with hand tracking, 6DoF tracking, and many more features.

All of which have now been confirmed by the company. The hand tracking for example comes from Ultraleap and will be the primary control method. The front-facing cameras will be full-colour passthrough – no B&W here – whilst the display will offer 1600 x 1600 per eye resolution at 90Hz at a 90° FOV. Powered by a Qualcomm XR2 chipset the Lynx-R1 will have 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage that’s expandable to 1TB thanks to an SD card slot. It’ll also have Wifi 6 and Bluetooth, compatible with SteamVR thanks to OpenXR support and three-hour battery life. Oh, and there’s a magnetic VR facial interface to prevent any light leaks.

What everyone really wants to see though is those lenses. While they’ve gone through several revisions the optics feature a 4-fold catadioptric freeform prism in conjunction with a 2.1″ octagonal LCD panel helping to keep the headset’s form factor small. To maintain comfort the battery is located on the back of the head strap which is becoming much more commonplace in AIO devices.

Lynx has launched the Kickstarter to help with the final production run with a variety of funding tiers available. To secure one of the standard black Lynx-R1’s you’ll need to spend €530 EUR, £453 GBP or around $600 USD. Or if you’re looking for an XR headset that’s aesthetically different a limited edition transparent version is available but that’ll cost €745/£636. Only 1000 of these will be offered.

While the Lynx-R1 doesn’t come with motion controllers Lynx has been working with Finch to supports its FinchShift controllers if hand tracking isn’t to your liking. As the Kickstarter progresses, VRFocus will keep you updated.

September 10, 2021

Lynx R-1 Kickstarter to Offer Mixed Reality from $499

For those after a reasonably cheap mixed reality (MR) headset then French hardware startup Lynx‘s R-1 device is a tantalising prospect. Lynx founder Stan Larroque has been developing the device for several years now, taking that next leap towards consumer availability with the launch of a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign this month. He’s also revealed the price, $499 USD.

In a new live stream this week Larroque revealed plenty of new details about the company’s plans and what it’s trying to achieve. While he refrained from unveiling a date or funding goal for the Kickstarter, he did say the current aim is to launch the campaign by the end of September between the third and fourth week. Larroque also highlighted several reasons for going down this particular route, aiming to keep Lynx independent from the big tech companies, helping to gauge order quantities for production and thus helping create a speedy delivery for customers.

Obviously, the big news revolves around the price. When the Lynx R-1 was officially unveiled at the beginning of 2020 it was marketed as an enterprise headset retailing for $1500. That’s dramatically changed, with the price coming down to $499. Now, that’s a special Kickstarter price to encourage backers, with a transparent limited edition available for $699 and a pro-enterprise version for $899.

Lynx hasn’t revealed what the eventual retail price will be post Kickstarter or what the main difference will be between the consumer and enterprise models. The R-1 headset specs have already been released, providing a 90° FOV with 1600 x 1600 per eye resolution at 90Hz. Powered by the Qualcomm XR2 platform – the same as Oculus Quest 2 and HTC Vive Focus 3 – the device won’t come supplied with controllers as it’ll use Ultraleap hand tracking as its main input method. However, Lynx R-1 will support the upcoming FinchShift controllers and Larroque did make a teasing comment about: “exploring with another, bigger company that is famous for making accessories in the PC world.”

When it comes to gaming he confirmed that Lynx R-1 will support OpenXR in Q4 2021 and the team has got the headset working with SteamVR. An early test showed Larroque in SteamVR’s home via a tethered USB-C cable. In the future, the team plans to enable WiFi 6 streaming that’s built into the device.

The Lynx R-1 certainly promises an interesting alternative in the XR hardware market and as further details are revealed, VRFocus will let you know.

September 10, 2021

Lynx R1 Standalone VR/AR Headset Costs $499, Kickstarter This Month

Hopeful standalone VR/AR newcomer, the Lynx R1, will cost $499 to pre-order when it hits Kickstarter later this month.

The French startup confirmed the news this week in a new video you can see below. The campaign will launch in later September, though Lynx hasn’t revealed its campaign goals. We also don’t know when it ships other than sometime next year, or what you’ll get in the box, though Lynx doesn’t have its own controllers to pair with the device. You’ll be able to pre-order a special edition version of the headset which has a transparent front face. You can sign up to be notified of the launch here.

Lynx R1 Price Revealed

We’ve remained cautiously optimistic about this headset, which uses the same Snapdragon XR2 processor found in Oculus Quest 2 & HTC’s Vive Focus 3, since news broke in July that it was being redesigned to sell for “a few hundred dollars”. While $499 might be more than some were expecting, it’s still low for a standalone VR headset.

Lynx plans to subsidize the low cost of the consumer model with a cut from selling apps on its own app store and B2B sales. That said, $499 still puts the device at $200 more than the 128GB model of the Oculus Quest 2.

The kit also includes dual 1600×1600 LCD panels running at 90Hz with independent lens separation adjustment and supports hand tracking from Ultraleap. It will also support the upcoming FinchShift controllers and can connect to a PC with a USB-C cable to play SteamVR titles, and it’s compatible with OpenXR.

When it comes to AR, the kit uses two high-resolution color cameras for passthrough. The Oculus Quest 2 only uses low-resolution black and white images.

We’ll definitely be interested to see how the R1 performs with its lofty promises. Check back later in the month for more coverage of the device. What do you make of the Lynx R1 price? Let us know in the comments below!