HTC today announced that it’s released support for 5Ghz WiFi streaming for Vive Focus Plus, as well as all 6DOF standalone headsets supporting the Vive Wave platform. Much like Oculus Quest’s Link functionality, Vive Focus Plus can now play PC VR titles through Viveport, albeit without the need of a cable.
Now released in beta, WiFi streaming is only being made available to subscribers of Viveport Infinity, the company’s Netflix-style subscription service for its digital distribution platform, which allows unlimited downloading of select content.
Outside of needing a Viveport Infinity subscription and Vive Focus Plus (or any other full-6DOF Vive Wave headset, which excludes the original Vive Focus) users will additionally need a VR-ready PC and a ‘standard’ 5Ghz WiFi router.
Vive Focus Plus, which is sold starting at $800, is couched as an enterprise-focused device in the US and Europe, however in China it was launched as a bona fide consumer device, which may explain why the only promotional information we’ve found so far is in Chinese, courtesy of VR publication Skarred Ghost.
As Skarred Ghost’s Antony Vitillo notes, there are currently 300 games and experiences on Viveport M, the mobile version of Viveport; with the inclusion of official WiFi streaming, this effectively opens that number up to over 2,000 titles.
HTC Vive China President Alvin Wang Graylin announced the news via Twitter, making sure to mention there’s also “no need for special wires or cables,” an apparent swipe at Oculus Quest requiring a USB-C cable to play Oculus Rift platform games.
Before today’s release, Vive Focus Plus users typically streamed PC VR games via two popular unofficial software choices: Rift Cat’s VRidge software and AMD ReLive.
We haven’t had a chance to compare those methods with the new Viveport streaming implementation, although we’ll be looking out for user reports in the meantime. Whatever the case, HTC’s native implementation will need to hit an acceptable latency and video quality to be considered a true competitor to Oculus Link for Quest, which thus far has worked pretty flawlessly. That’s outside the fact that Vive Focus Plus simply isn’t competing with the $400 Quest, as it’s been deliberately sold as an enterprise device in the West, and at double its price.
Today at the ChinaJoy 2019 event, HTC announced that the Vive Focus Plus standalone VR headset will support integrated content streaming from Viveport via a nearby VR-ready PC over standard 5Ghz Wi-Fi networks.
The feature is described as a “one click” solution to offer “seamless content streaming” from Viveport accounts. This has been a hot topic for standalone VR headsets for some time and even the Oculus Quest has a host of solutions for PC content streaming but none of them are official from Oculus.
On the flip side, this solution for Vive Focus Plus is directly from HTC:
“5G Cloud VR has been a hot topic in the press recently, and in one to two years, after the 5G network is more robust, it will provide a new way for users to experience high quality VR without the need for a high-end PC. Until then, the new VIVEPORT Streaming capability being announced today will enable VR users to enjoy countless premium PC VR experiences on their standalone VR devices without the need for a wire.” said Alvin Wang Graylin, China President, HTC in a prepared statement. “PC VR streaming as a concept is not new, but having the PC and the Vive Focus Plus complete the full complex network connection automatically and providing a seamless UI to starting any VR content on the linked PC from inside the VR device makes the experience a real breakthrough.”
The concept is great, but from what we’ve seen with our own two eyes the execution isn’t quite perfect. Jamie tried Viveport streaming over 5Ghz at Mobile World Congress (MWC) earlier this year and had the following to say:
“The idea of instantly jumping from one high-fidelity VR experience to another no matter where I am is exciting. We’re just not there quite yet.”
PC VR streaming from Viveport is coming first to the Vive Focus Plus in Q4 2019, but will also support “other full 6DOF standalone VR devices built on Vive Wave VR open platform” after that. There is no timeframe on other devices besides “soon.”
In February, HTC unveiled its full 6DOF version of the company’s standalone VR headset targeted at enterprise users, Vive Focus Plus. Now, the company has officially announced pricing and availability for the headset and controller bundle.
Vive Focus Plus is slated to launch worldwide on April 15th on HTC’s Vive website for $800, which will be available in 25 markets with 19 supported languages. The company announced the news at the Vive Ecosystem Conference (VEC 2019) in Shenzhen, China this week.
Vive Focus Plus is touted for its inclusion of ultrasonic 6DOF controllers—something that was notably missing from the original Vive Focus, which first saw launch in China as a consumer device in January 2018, and then later in the rest of world as an enterprise-focused headset the following November.
As with its predecessor, Vive Focus Plus is launching in China as a consumer device too, and will be priced at ¥5,699 yuan (~$850) which includes local value-added tax.
In addition to the new 6DOF controllers, which puts it at input parity with the upcoming $400 Oculus Quest, Vive Focus Plus also boasts better comfort and better visuals over the old design thanks to a slightly updated headstrap and improved Fresnel lenses.
We went hands-on with Vive Focus Plus, and true to the company’s word the newly refreshed optics are remarkably clearer than those on the previous Vive Focus. We didn’t get a long enough stint with Vive Focus Plus to determine how much a step above it is over its predecessor in terms of comfort, although it did feel notably more comfortable than the previous generation.
Although marketed as enterprise device outside of China, HTC is boasting “nearly 250 Vive Wave applications at launch that run natively on the Vive Focus Plus.” How many of those have been built specifically for 6DOF controllers, we’re not sure at this time; all Vive Focus games are said to work on Vive Focus Plus.
The company additionally announced a ‘multi-mode’ capability which allows Vive Focus Plus to connect wirelessly with PCs to steam PCVR content via Rift Cat’s VRidge software, the ability to stream content from game consoles to a virtual screen, live 360 camera streaming, as well as upcoming Cloud VR services.
As for those promised Cloud VR services: the company’s recently announced 5G Hub is said to allow Vive Focus Plus users to stream cloud-rendered PC VR content, although it’s uncertain when this service will be live considering 5G is still in closed testing across very few cities worldwide.
Vive Focus Plus Specs
Display: 3K AMOLED (2,880 × 1,600)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Audio: Built-in Speaker
HeadTracking: Optical inside-Out
FrameRate: 75Hz
Fieldof View: 110-degrees
Battery: 4000 mAh
Controller: ultrasonic 6DOF
Data Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Memory(RAM/ROM): 4/32 GB
Connector: USB Type-C
Power & Battery: Build-in rechargeable battery (up to 3 hours of active use time), QC3.0 fast charging
HTC revealed its Vive Focus Plus standalone VR headset is priced $799. It starts shipping April 15 with two hand controllers included.
That is essentially double the cost of the consumer-oriented Oculus Quest, which starts shipping this spring starting at $399 for similar overall functionality. You can read our most recent hands-on impressions of Quest and everything else we know about the device here.
Vive Focus Plus
The Vive Focus Plus will ship in most markets with an enterprise license. The headset is said to launch with 250 Vive Wave applications while its Viveport Infinity subscription program claims to include “over 70 premium titles.” Here are the Vive Focus Plus specifications, according to HTC:
Display: 3K AMOLED (2880×1600)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Audio: Built-in Speaker
Tracking: Inside-Out
Frame Rate: 75Hz
Field of View: 110-degrees
Battery: 4000 mAh
Controller: 6DoF
Data Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Memory (RAM/ROM): 4/32 GB
Connector: USB Type-C
Charging: QC3.0
HTC is a company that appears to be in technological transition — with the Vive Focus Plus the latest example. HTC’s first generation Vive headset debuted in 2016 for $$799, a full $200 more than the Rift with a wider feature set. That system relied on Valve’s SteamVR Tracking technology to operate. All headsets HTC released since 2016, except for the Vive Pro, don’t rely on this technology. It should still be possible for some HTC systems to interact with SteamVR content but we’ve yet to test that sort of of functionality in a home setting. While Vive Focus Plus is HTC’s current standalone headset the company is also planning the convertible Vive Cosmos as well.
Currently, Oculus sells business editions of the original Rift for $799 with room-scale tracking and extra accessories while the Oculus standalone headset is $299 with 64 GB of storage. Oculus is also planning a 128 GB Oculus Quest for $499 but we don’t have any word on a business edition of the headset.
It is hard to get a full picture right now of how different Vive Focus Plus and Oculus Quest are from another in actual real-world use. HTC is trying to gear the headset to the business market but it is not clear how the headset or its business license will outperform Oculus Quest for business use cases.
Vertigo Games hat einen neuen Trailer zum kommenden VR-Multiplayer-Titel Skyworld: Kingdom Brawl veröffentlicht und gibt damit erste Einblicke in das Gameplay des kommenden Spiels:
Skyworld: Kingdom Brawl soll am 2. April für Oculus Rift, HTC Vive und Windows-VR-Brillen auf Steam für 9,99 Euro sowie im Oculus Store erscheinen. Eine Version für Vive Focus soll zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt folgen.
[Originalartikel vom 8. März 2019]:
Entwicklerstudio Vertigo Games (bekannt für Arizona Sunshine und Skyworld) hat sich mit den Vive Studios zusammengetan, um ein neues VR-Multiplayer-Kartenspiel für Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows-VR-Brillen und Vive Focus zu entwickeln. Im selben Universum wie der bereits veröffentlichte Echtzeitstrategietitel angesetzt, soll Skyworld: Kingdom Brawl Multiplayer-Duelle gegen anderen Kartenspielenthusiasten ermöglichen und dabei Cross-Plattform-Support gewährleisten.
Skyworld: Kingdom Brawl – VR-Kartenspiel mit Multiplayer und Cross-Plattform-Support für PC-Brillen
Bei der Ankündigung neuer Multiplayer-Kartenspielen rollen viele Gamer heutzutage eher mit den Augen, anstatt enthusiastisch von ihrem Stuhl aufzuspringen. Der Markt ist mit Spielen wie Hearthstone, Magic: The Gathering oder Artifact durchaus gesättigt. Mit Skyworld: Kingdom Brawl erhält das Genre allerdings eine neue Dimension, denn dank VR werden die taktischen Matches gegen andere Spieler zu einem immersiven Erlebnis.
Der VR-Titel versetzt die Spieler in bis zu 20 verschiedene Kampfarenen, um gegen Kontrahenten in taktischen Wettkämpfen anzutreten. Dafür könnt ihr aus einer großen Anzahl von Karten euer eigenes Deck erstellen und dieses mit bekannten Truppen, Fabelwesen und Zaubern erweitern. Die verschiedenen Karten sollen innerhalb des Spiels freispielbar werden. Genauere Informationen über die Spielmechaniken oder mögliche Bezahlinhalte wurden derzeit noch nicht veröffentlicht.
Per Cross-Plattform-Multiplayer dürft ihr jedoch jederzeit eure Freunde herausfordern und nebenbei Punkte für das globale Leaderboard sammeln. Auch eSports-Enthusiasten sollen auf ihre Kosten kommen, denn die verantwortlichen Entwickler versprechen regulär stattfindende Turniere. Nebenbei gibt es ein Clan-System, was euch mit anderen Mitspielern verbindet und die Möglichkeit auf einzigartige Belohnungen eröffnet.
Skyworld: Kingdom Brawl soll offiziell am 2. April für Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows-VR-Brillen und Vive Focus erscheinen. Eine Version für die Vive Focus Plus soll zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt folgen. Über einen Release für Oculus Quest und/oder PlayStation VR (PSVR) ist noch nichts bekannt.
Auf der GDC 2019 sollen weitere Informationen zum kommenden VR-Titel erscheinen.
Announced just last week, Vive Focus Plus is HTC’s next iteration of their standalone VR headset that adds a pretty big missing puzzle piece, namely a replacement for its predecessor’s single 3DOF controller (rotation only) for the new 6DOF controllers. But that’s not exactly all there is to Vive Focus Plus.
We’ve seen Vive Focus using 6DOF controllers a few times before the new version’s public debut at MWC 2019—it was only last month at CES that the company’s hardware partner Chirp Microsystems (now acquired by TDK) was still giving demos of the 6DOF controller dev kit in action, which included two controllers and an external snap-on faceplate studded with the little pinhole-size emitters and receivers for its ultrasonic controller tracking.
Vive 6DOF controller dev kit, Photo by Road to VR
A few thing have changed about Vive Focus Plus from its predecessor—the new headset now boasts better comfort, a clearer image delivered by new lenses, and of course the 6DOF controllers—although not much else has changed from Focus to Focus Plus outside of that.
It still contains the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, the same dual 1,600 × 1,440 OLED displays, and the same optical headset tracking as before.
Vive Focus Plus, Photo by Road to VR
I’ll save you some time if you’ve been following along already by not rehashing the entire product; if not, check out our in-depth hands-on with the original Vive Focus from last year’s MWC to learn more about what fundamentally makes both of the headsets tick.
Now let’s dive into what’s new.
6DOF Controllers
Predictably the controllers handle nearly the same as Chirp’s, and we’ve written good and plenty about them over the past few months too. A quick refresher: it’s a pretty acceptable controller tracking implementation that offers ‘good enough’ latency and a wide enough tracking volume to keep the controllers spatially positioned even when they’re directly outside of the user’s field of view, meaning you won’t actually ever notice when your controllers go outside of their operational range (putting your hands behind your back, or behind your head).
Photo by Road to VR
The headset and controllers send and receive ultrasonic sound in a frequency that it’s well out of the range of what even a dog can hear, so there’s seems to be little that can throw them off in terms of interference. I found the controller tracking to work as advertised even on the noisy expo floor.
That said, the final production controller isn’t the best design out there, but certainly not the worst. This mostly comes down to button layout and its ambidextrous design—both left and right controllers are interchangeable. While a bespoke left and right controller molded to each hand would invariably be a better fit, it’s decidedly much more natural-feeling than the wands that come with the other Vive varieties on offer.
Photo by Road to VR
On the controller you’ll find a touchpad, an index finger trigger and a secondary grip button on the under side, and two awkwardly placed menu and home buttons that require you to adjust your grip to press.
In contrast to the dev kit, the new controllers offer only one new real hardware feature I could tell just by handling them; button and trigger presses offer an improved analogue feel. In short, the controllers get the job done and appear to do so without taxing the Snapdragon 835 too much.
The new headset makes one obvious change from the original Vive Focus in the ergonomics department, a larger forehead piece that provides better weight distribution. And while it’s not an unsubstantial change, I’d really need a much longer session than an expo floor demo to figure out just how much of an effect it has. That said, it did feel more comfortable than Vive Focus, something I last tried at CES in January.
Now that the ultrasonic controller tracking system is embedded in the headset itself, the new Focus Plus boasts an obvious benefit over the dev kit by delivering better balance, as the front-heavy tracking tech is offset internally.
The one change that is pretty significant is the new optics, which are remarkably clearer than the previous Vive Focus. While I wasn’t able to get confirmation on what specifically changed from Focus to Focus Plus, thankfully it’s fairly easy to see with the naked eye.
Vive Focus Plus lenses, Photo by Road to VR
It appears the company has taken a few design cues from Samsung HMD Odyssey, which have a similar Fresnel ridge layout. All other Vive products, the original Vive Focus included, feature concentric Fresnel ridges that terminate at a much smaller circle in the middle of the lens. In Vive Focus Plus you can see the ridges dissipate much earlier before reaching the center.
The upside to the new lens design is a reduced perception of an optical artifact unique to Fresnels known as ‘god rays’, or streams of light that appear to emanate from the center of the lens and jut outwards like wispy beams of light. The only app on display with high enough contrast to test this was the company’s conceptual 5G Hub cloud-rendering setup that streamed PC VR shooter Superhot VR (2017) to Vive Focus Plus. The reduction in god rays was notable, and I’m hoping HTC moves more towards this lens style in future products.
Bereits vor dem MWC 2019 gibt HTC bekannt, dass es eine Neuauflage der HTC Vive Focus geben wird. Die HTC Vive Focus Plus soll mit trackbaren Controllern ausgestattet werden und komplett autark arbeiten. Es wird also kein PC und auch kein Smartphone benötigt. Somit bringt HTC tatsächlich einen Konkurrent zur Oculus Quest auf den Markt.
HTC Vive Focus Plus: Neue autarke VR-Brille mit 6DOF-Controller
Zwar HTC bereits Controller für die Vive Focus vorgestellt, jedoch sollen die neuen Controller für die Focus Plus nicht mit der alten Vive Focus kompatibel sein. Technisch hat sich jedoch wenig verändert und auch die Focus Plus wird auf einen Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 setzen und ein 3K-Display beherbergen. Dafür soll sich zumindest der Komfort beim Tragen erhöht haben.
Die neuen Controller der Vive Focus werden mit Ultrasonic-Technologie arbeiten. Beim Ultrasonic-Tracking wird ein Geräusch in einer nicht hörbaren und sehr hohen Frequenz abgespielt. Durch eine Zeitmessung an den Empfängern kann die Position dann berechnet werden. HTC sagt, dass das Tracking einen Bereich von 180 Grad horizontal und 140 Grad vertikal mit einer sehr hohen Genauigkeiten abdecken soll.
Die Vive Focus Plus soll in 25 Ländern im zweiten Quartal 2019 erscheinen. Einen Preis gibt HTC noch nicht bekannt, jedoch kostete die Vive Focus zum Start 599 US-Dollar und musste ohne Controller auskommen.
HTC today announced its planning to release a new version of Vive Focus targeted at enterprise users, this time including integrated hardware support for two ultrasonically-tracked 6DOF controllers. Enter Vive Focus Plus, a truly standalone 6DOF VR headset.
Update (12:35 PM ET): A previous version of this article stated that it appeared the Vive Focus Plus has the same Fresnel lenses as the Vive Focus. HTC reached out to us, telling us the lenses in Vive Focus Plus are indeed new, and result in “visibly better graphics.”
We’ve also obtained a copy of the specs list, which has been included at the bottom of the article.
Furthermore, HTC says that more information around pricing and launch date will come at the Vive Ecosystem Conference (VEC) in late March. We’ve included all of this in the body of the article.
The company’s original Vive Focus first launched to consumers in China early last year with a single 3DOF controller (rotation only). While the $600 standalone headset has since made its way westward, shifting away from consumers and emphasizing its use in the enterprise market, the controller remained a sticking point for users and developers who found its 6DOF optical head tracking and 3DOF controller tracking to be pretty strange bedfellows.
Unsurprisingly, Vive Focus Plus essentially incorporates the same technology found in the company’s Vive Focus 6DOF controller dev kit, which shipped out to developers a few months ago as a snap-on faceplate and two ultrasonically tracked controllers created by Chirp Microsystem’s (now owned by TDK).
Image courtesy HTC
Now that the tech is totally integrated, the only apparent differences from the original and Vive Focus Plus are the black and white color scheme and a few barely visible dimples embedded on the front a sides of the unit (seen below) where ultrasonic sounds are emitted and received by its controllers.
This presumably allows for the same ~180-degree controller tracking volume as the dev kit, although besides the addition of 6DOF controllers apparently not much else has changed about the headset itself from a hardware standpoint.
Image courtesy HTC
Like the original Vive Focus it has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, and the same single AMOLED display at 2,880 × 1,600 (1,660 × 1,600 per lens) resolution; it appears to have the same Fresnel lenses too(see update). HTC says however that the headset’s ergonomics have been refreshed to be more comfortable, and ‘rest easier’ on users’ heads and that the lenses are new too, resulting in a “visibly better graphics.”
Vive Focus Plus is slated to launch in Q2 2019 via the company’s website in 25 markets worldwide, supporting 19 languages. In most markets, the company says, Vive Focus Plus will include an enterprise license for use at no additional cost.
HTC hasn’t released pricing info yet, although the company says more information around pricing and launch date will come at the Vive Ecosystem Conference (VEC) in late March.
Image courtesy HTC
With the enterprise market in sight, Vive Focus Plus is said to ship with full enterprise support, as well as professional features including Kiosk Mode, Gaze Support, and device management tools to remotely enroll, monitor, and manage multiple headsets all at once. The company also highlights a few enterprise use cases already in the works including a full 6DOF medical training app by SimforHealth, and an occupational heath & safety app by Immersive Factory.
Just like the original Vive Focus though we suspect there won’t be any real barriers for stalwart ‘prosumers’ to plonk down the cash and get one too. To that end, HTC Vive Americas general manager Daniel O’Brien says Vive Focus Plus “furthers [their] commitment to rapidly iterate and refine the VR market for both businesses and consumers.”
Enterprise emphasis notwithstanding, Vive Focus Plus is powered by the company’s open source API, Vive Wave, and sources content from their digital distribution platform Viveport, making a more consumer-facing release not entirely out of the realm of possibility in the future—provided it gains a list of compatible games developed specifically for 6DOF controllers and has an attractive price tag to match the upcoming $400 Oculus Quest.
Moreover, HTC says that with Vive Wave and its SDK tools in hand that porting from PC-based VR apps to Vive Focus Plus “will be relatively easy for developers.”
HTC will be showcasing Vive Focus Plus alongside the new Vive Pro Eye at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, next week. We’ll have feet on the ground there, so make sure to check back soon for more info.
Vive Focus Plus Specs
Display: 3K AMOLED (2880×1600)
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Audio: Built-in Speaker
Tracking: Inside-out 6DoF
FrameRate: 75Hz
FieldofView: 110-degrees
Battery: 4000 mAh (up to 2.5 hours* of active use time)
Just update sw to latest.
(VR+PC UI below) @htcVive #ViveFocusPlus pic.twitter.com/wJ9K20dlHU
835