Das Open-World-Spiel Minecraft vom Entwicklerstudio Mojang wurde im Jahr 2014 von Microsoft aufgekauft und erhielt Adaptionen für sämtliche Plattformen wie PC, Konsolen und Smartphones. Es gilt als eines der meistverkauften Spieler weltweit. Bereits seit einiger Zeit ist die VR-Version des Spiels mit der Oculus Rift und Samsung Gear VR spielbar. Eine Version für die neuen Windows-MR-Brillen ist ebenfalls in Planung. Ab sofort ist es jedoch durch einige einfache Schritte möglich, die Beta-Version des Spiels für Windows-MR-Brillen schon jetzt auszutesten und das VR-Update zu erhalten.
Minecraft Beta: Zugang mit Windows-VR-Brillen dank Insider Hub
Die Beta-Version von Minecraft ist ab sofort fürBesitzer der Windows-MR-Brillen zugänglich. Die Besitzer der digitalen Windows-10-Version des Spiels können mit folgenden Schritten das Update herunterladen und ein Teil der Beta-Phase werden:
Im Microsoft Store auf Xbox One oder PC mit Windows 10 muss man im Suchfeld nach der Insider Hub App suchen. Diese muss der Anwender anschließend installieren, starten und sich anmelden. Falls noch kein Konto vorhanden ist, muss es erst erstellt werden. Innerhalb des Hubs sucht man nach dem Reiter Insider Content und daraufhin nach der Minecraft Beta. Nach der Auswahl erfolgt der Download des Updates. Das ursprüngliche Icon sollte sich daraufhin in ein 3D-Icon umgewandelt haben.
Dadurch ist der Zugang zum Beta-Server offen und ihr könnt Minecraft mit einer Windows-VR-Brille ausprobieren und euch auf Fehlerjagd begeben. Wie das aussieht, kann man in diesem Video sehen:
Minecraft VR ist aktuell für Oculus Riftund Samsung Gear VRim Oculus Store (Rift / Gear VR) erhältlich. Wir halten euch über neue Informationen zur kommenden Version für Windows-MR-Brillen auf dem Laufenden, sobald diese bekannt gegeben werden.
Microsoft’s Windows 10 ‘Fall Creators Update’ is available for download today, making the operating system compatible with its line of Windows “Mixed Reality” VR headsets, which coincidentally are arriving on doorsteps and store shelves starting today too.
Windows 10 Fall Creators Update was first announced at the Microsoft Build dev conference back in May, and promised to bring with it some incremental updates alongside one of the most important of all: support for its line of Windows VR headsets. You can wait for the timed rollout, which is said to come to all compatible PCs over the next few weeks, or skip the line entirely and download the update today.
Setting them apart from other PC VR headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, Windows VR headsets (confusingly named “Mixed Reality”) include inside-out tracking thanks to the on-board vision processing sensors, meaning there’s no need for external sensors or base stations—a truly ‘plug and play’ experience. As a product of the same reference design, the headsets pack identical specs, although the build quality and design aesthetic seem to differ along price lines.
Windows VR Headsets: Basic Specs
Dual displays at 1440 x 1440 per eye
2.89” diagonal display size (x2)
Front hinged display
105 degrees horizontal field of view
Display refresh rate up to 90Hz (native)
Built-in audio out and microphone support through 3.5mm jack
Single cable with HDMI 2.0 (display) and USB 3.0 (data) for connectivity
Inside-out tracking
4.00m cable
Headsets from Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo are available both online and in select stores starting today.
Acer Windows Mixed Reality Headset
Image courtesy Acer
At the lowest price tier for $400 (with controllers) is Acer’s retro-styled headset. Like all headsets in Microsoft’s lineup, it features a halo-style head strap and a flip-up design, although it uses less expensive materials in its construction, making it seem a little more plasticy than the others while offering the same basic functionality.
Dell Visor
Image courtesy Dell
Smooth and futuristic, Dell’s Visor falls in line with some premium styling that will set you back $450 (with controllers). A rubberized texture gives the headset good grip without collecting finger prints, and was supposedly weighted in strategic spots to be more comfortable for longer play sessions.
HP’s headset is more business than play in styling, with its facial interface featuring cutouts for eye glasses to go along with its sober grey scale tones. HP matches Dell in pricing at $450 (with controllers)
Lenovo Explorer
Image courtesy Lenovo
Another headset that looks like it means business is the Lenovo Explorer. With styling that looks at home with Lenovo’s line of ThinkPads, the headset sits at the lowest price tier of $400, of course offering all the same functionality.
Samsung HMD Odyssey
Samsung’s sleek Odyssey headset may be slated for a November 6th launch in the US (now available for pre-order), but it sets itself a part from the others with a higher comparative resolution with its 2880 x 1600 OLED, pushing a 90Hz refresh and up to 110 degree field of view. Integrated audio and integrated dual mic array clearly put this ahead of its cousins, but it also comes at the price tag of $500 (with motion controllers), $100 more than the Oculus Rift.
Image courtesy Microsoft
The headsets are being sold in a bundle including two wireless controllers that utilize the headsets’ room-tracking tech. Ergonomically, the controllers aren’t that great when compared to Oculus Touch, although they seem to provide positional tracking that is clearly above that of PSVR’s Move controllers. Check out our hands-on here.
If you’re worried about whether your computer can handle the headsets or not, Microsoft recently published a minimum spec list that says the only thing you need is a desktop or laptop with a fairly recent i5 processor and a GPU with integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 or greater DX12 capable integrated graphics card. You’ll also need a minimum of 8GB of RAM, a single HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2, and a single USB 3.0 Type-A or Type-C port to get you started in the world of VR.
Granted, a PC reflecting Oculus or Vive’s recommended specs will get you into more graphically intensive applications like games on Steam, although you won’t be able to play Steam games just yet. Developers already have a preview version of Windows Mixed Reality SteamVR support, but consumers will gain access sometime before the end of the year.
We’re putting out our deep dive hands-on with the hardware later today, so check back for the most comprehensive breakdown you’ll likely find on the subject.
Microsoft’s special Windows “Mixed Reality” event today saw the unveiling of its latest addition to the VR family, the Samsung HMD Odyssey, and also announced that all VR headsets slated to ship before holiday season are currently in pre-order. With a fresh advert, the company is delineating just how portable and easy to use their new class of VR headsets are in comparison to competing room-scale PC VR headsets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Topping out at $500, the same price as the Oculus Rift, Microsoft is drawing a pretty specific picture with their new Windows VR headset spot, and there’s really no subtext about it: Open up your laptop (almost any modern laptop will do for basic programs), turn on the wireless motion controllers, plug it the headset, and put it on.
While Rift and Vive require their own room calibration setup process, making you mark your playspace so you don’t smack straight into a wall, Microsoft’s line of headsets use inside-out positional tracking thanks to a set of wide-angle cameras on the front. This also allows the headset to track the motion controllers, making it truly a plug and play experience without the need of external sensors or basestations of any kind.
Noticeably, the new advert emphasizes travel and experiences instead of gaming, something that ought to attract non-gamers to the newest VR ecosytem.
At Microsoft’s special Mixed Reality event today, the company announced that all of their VR headsets destined to ship this holiday season are accounted for, and are now available for pre-order including headsets from Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo and the newly revealed Samsung ‘HMD Odyssey’. There’s still no word on a launch date for Asus’ futuristic low-poly headset.
Since Microsoft provided its list of OEMs the same reference design, all of the available headsets except Samsung Odyssey follow the basic specs below.
Windows VR Headsets: Basic Specs
Dual displays at 1440 x 1440 per eye
2.89” diagonal display size (x2)
Front hinged display
95 degrees horizontal field of view
Display refresh rate up to 90Hz (native)
Built-in audio out and microphone support through 3.5mm jack
Single cable with HDMI 2.0 (display) and USB 3.0 (data) for connectivity
Inside-out tracking
4.00m cable
Samsung HMD Odyssey
Leading the pack is Samsung’s HMD Odyssey, featuring a higher comparative resolution with its 2880 x 1600 OLED, pushing a 90Hz refresh and up to 110 degree field of view. Integrated audio and integrated dual mic array clearly put this ahead of its Windows “Mixed Reality” cousins, but it also comes at the price tag of $500 (with motion controllers), the same as an Oculus Rift.
The Samsung HMD Odyssey will be available later this year in the US, China, Korea, Brazil and Hong Kong, with pre-orders beginning in the US only on October 3rd. US launch is slated for November 6th.
At the lowest price tier for $400 (with controllers) is Acer’s retro-styled headset. Like all headsets in Microsoft’s lineup, it features a halo-style head strap and a flip-up design, although it uses less expensive materials in its construction, making it seem a little more plasticy than the others while offering the same basic functionality. Shipping October 17th.
Smooth and futuristic, Dell’s Visor falls in line with some premium styling that will set you back $450 (with controllers). A rubberized texture gives the headset good grip without collecting finger prints, and was supposedly weighted in strategic spots to be more comfortable for longer play sessions. Shipping October 17th.
HP’s headset is more business than play in styling, with its facial interface featuring cutouts for eye glasses to go along with its sober grey scale tones. HP matches Dell in pricing at $450 (with controllers). Shipping October 17th.
Another headset that looks like it means business is the Lenovo Explorer. With styling that looks at home with Lenovo’s line of ThinkPads, the headset sits at the lowest price tier of $400, of course offering all the same functionality. Shipping October 17th.
Die VR-App Bigscreen überträgt euren Bildschirminhalt in ein virtuelles Wohnzimmer und ermöglicht das Teilen der eigenen Inhalte in Echtzeit. Somit ist sowohl die Übertragung des Desktops möglich, wie auch das direkte Online Streaming von Videos oder Spielen von der eigenen Festplatte. Im Juli brachten die Entwickler bereits das Cinema Update heraus und kündigten weitere Verbesserungen an. Nun veröffentlichten sie das Avatar Update, welches durch neue Avatare und Features die soziale Komponente der VR-App verbessern soll. Auch im Bereich der Performanz hat sich einiges getan.
Bigscreen Avatar Update bringt neue Avatare und Performanzverbesserungen
Das Avatar Update für die VR-App Bigscreen vom gleichnamigen Entwicklerstudio bringt einige Verbesserungen und Upgrades mit sich. Ab sofort werden die Avatare innerhalb der VR nicht mehr körperlos dargestellt, sondern erhalten nun endlich Torsos. Deshalb wird man zukünftig keine fliegenden Köpfe mehr sehen, sondern kann zwischen sieben verschiedenen Körperformen auswählen. Zudem lassen sich die Torsos mit über 100 verschiedenen Kleidungsstücken wie T-Shirts oder Hoodies ausstatten.
Zudem haben die Entwickler die Steuerung an die Motion-Controller der unterschiedlichen VR-Brillen angepasst, um eine intuitivere Eingabe zu ermöglichen. Beispielsweise ist es mit der neuen Poking-Funktion durch einfaches Anstupsen möglich, innerhalb der Tablet UI oder dem virtuellen Keyboard Funktionen auszuwählen.
Der Bigscreen-Monitor erhielt eine Menüleiste mit Verknüpfungen, um eine einfache und schnellere Ausrichtung und Auswahl zu gewährleisten. Zusätzlich gibt es neue interaktive Tools, wie beispielsweise einen Laserpointer oder einen Selfie-Stick.
Auch im Bereich der Performanz hat sich einiges getan: Besonders Besitzer von AMD-Grafikkarten dürfen sich über eine stark verbesserte Stabilität freuen, denn die Entwickler konnten diverse Fehler beheben, die für Instabilität mit den entsprechenden GPUs sorgten.
Bisher befand sich die App zumindest im Oculus Store noch in der Early-Access-Phase. Diese wurde nun mit dem Avatar Update offiziell beendet. Jedoch war die App auf Steam niemals im Early Access und sie steht auch weiterhin unter dem Namen Bigscreen Beta zum Download zur Verfügung.
Last week, images of the Samsung Odyssey Windows VR headset leaked online, and although they seemed plenty legit, a new leak from Microsoft’s own website confirms the existence of the device and offers new details of this premium headset.
When it comes to the Windows “Mixed Reality” VR headsets launching soon from Dell, Asus, Acer, HP, and Lenovo, they’re all essentially the same product with a different look and branding—we’re talking same display, same lenses, same resolution, same, same, same. I was baffled to see that not one of those companies had found a way to offer differentiation, say, in the form of the integrated audio.
Samsung it seems was willing and ready to go beyond Microsoft’s reference design, and the result is a device which is clearly the premium option among the first wave of Windows VR headsets. The Samsung Odyssey Windows VR headset was spotted on a product page on Microsoft’s website touting a $500 price point (with motion controllers included) and a November 6th release date. It seems quite likely the headset will see a formal announcement during Microsoft’s Mixed Reality event today (Tuesday).
Pack Leading Specs
So what makes it premium compared to the other Windows VR headsets? First is the resolution, which, at 1,440 x 1,600 per eye, is slightly higher than the other Windows VR headsets (1,440 x 1440), and quite a bit higher than the Rift and Vive (1,080 x 1,200). And while the other Windows VR headsets, to our knowledge, all use LCD displays, Samsung’s headset uses an OLED display which is likely to provide better color and low-persistence performance.
Next is the field of view. While we’ve seen varying reports of the field of view of the other Windows VR headsets, the most common number we’ve seen is 95 degrees (which we presume to be measured diagonally). The leaked product page for the Samsung Odyssey headset says “up to 110 degrees,” which could put it on par with the Rift and Vive. From the leaked images we can also see that the headset has a hardware IPD adjustment (for changing the distance between the lenses), which lets users dial in the ‘sweet spot’ where the image is the sharpest for their specific IPD. The other Windows VR headsets lack a hardware IPD adjustment.
And then there’s the integrated headphones, which we believe is a ‘must’ for high-end VR. The Samsung Odyssey headset is the only Windows VR headset so far to offer them, and it appears from the images that they’ve added a volume up/down button directly onto the underside of the headset (though we wonder if it will be a bit awkward to press while holding a controller). The leaked images show AKG branding on the headphones, an Austria-based acoustics company with which Samsung has previously worked.
Friends (could) Become Foes
What’s especially interesting about the Samsung Odyssey VR headset is its price. At $500 it leads the Windows VR pack on cost as the premium option, but more importantly it’s the exact same price as the Oculus Rift, putting the headsets in direct competition with one another.
That’s an interesting twist in the relationship of the two companies who previously worked closely together to create the Samsung Gear VR mobile headset, which is sold by Samsung but draws its apps from the Oculus content platform. But that relationship on the mobile side recently become rocky as well. We’ll have to wait and see if the companies end up competing on both fronts, or if they’ll manage to remain friendly on mobile while competing for headsets on the PC side.
About a week and a half ago I was at VRDC in San Francisco, CA and got the chance to see a bunch of upcoming games and technology. In addition to the likes of Fallout 4 VR and Skyworld, I also got to play around with the Windows VR motion controllers a bit more as well. The first demo I did with them at a Dell event left me impressed and we had mostly positive things to say about an event in the UK that showed off Superhot, but now we also got to put them through their paces on something a bit more intense: Space Pirate Trainer.
With its release out of Early Access and into a 1.0 post-launch state, Space Pirate Trainer is looking better than ever. When played on a Lenovo Windows VR headset using the same upcoming Windows VR motion controllers everything worked as intended.
Space Pirate Trainer is a very mobile game. To play it well you need to bob and weave from side to side, duck down below lasers, twist your body around, and generally contort yourself like Neo in The Matrix. Despite using only inside-out tracking without any external sensors or cameras at all, I’m happy to report the headset never lost track of my movement.
The controllers were a mostly similar story. In Space Pirate Trainer you can select from a variety of weapons and even use a shield in either of your two hands. For the demo I decided to go with the classic shield in the left hand and automatic gun in the right hand. This way I could focus on mowing down drones with ease while also being able to block bullets I have trouble getting out of the way of.
The big question at hand with this demo was how the controllers would perform when out of view of the headset’s internal front-facing inside-out tracking cameras. If my hands were off to the side, or behind my back, would the headset still know where they are located? Can I interact with objects that I can’t actively see in front of me?
Well, the jury is still out on this topic for the time being.
In a game like Space Pirate Trainer I didn’t notice any issues. I only ever had to reach out to the side a few times to hold my shield or take some shots, but generally I didn’t need to turn around too much. The once exception for controller movement is when I reach behind my shoulder to switch weapons and this action was a bit finicky. It eventually worked fine, but I had to repeat the motion once or twice to get it to register what I wanted.
One of our other reporters noted similar issues with Superhot when trying to reach over and grab something that wasn’t in his field of view. However, I can confirm that guns fired just fine even if I was extending my arms outside the range of the cameras. We’ll have to wait and see what the end result is once we get the chancee to have extended time with the controllers.
Let us know any questions or feedback you have about Space Pirate Trainer, Windows VR, or the upcoming motion controllers down in the comments below!
Das Indie-Spiel Luna vom Entwicklerstudio Funomena erscheint am 17. Oktober für Oculus Rift, HTC Vive und Windows VR. Der VR-Titel führt die Spieler in eine märchenhafte Welt, um dort kleine Welten zu erstellen, Rätsel zu lösen oder mit Tieren und Pflanzen zu interagieren.
Luna – Taucht ein in eine märchenhafte Welt und rettet das kleine Vögelchen
Der Indie-Titel Lunalässt den Spieler die Kontrolle eines kleinen Vogels übernehmen, der sich durch seine eigene Erinnerungen kämpft, um den Weg nach Hause zu finden. Er wird eines Abends von der Melodie einer Eule angezogen, woraufhin er ihr folgt und den Mond verschluckt. Daraufhin wird der Vogel von einem starken Sturm von seinem Heimatnest weggeweht. Nun muss er seine Erinnerungen sortieren und zu seinem Nest zurückfinden.
Die Erinnerungen werden im Spiel in Form von diversen Sternkonstellationen dargestellt, was kleinere Rätsel offenbart. Der Spieler muss die Konstellationen verändern, damit sie das Vögelchen wiedererkennt. Durch das Fortschreiten im Spiel werden neue Auswahlmöglichkeiten freigeschaltet. So erkennt das Vögelchen unter anderem Tiere und Pflanzen wieder, die sich daraufhin auswählen lassen. Während seiner Reise trifft er zudem auf andere Tiere, die ihm helfen.
Außerdem ist es möglich, seine eigenen kleinen Welten aufzubauen und mit Dekorationen zu schmücken. So kann man Bäume, Hügel oder Seen ansetzen und seiner Kreativität freien Lauf lassen. Auch Tiere wie Schildkröten oder Vögel finden dort Platz, um die Flora und Fauna wieder lebendig zu gestalten. Daraufhin kann der Spieler mit seiner erschaffenen Umwelt interagieren und sogar musizieren, um Soundtracks zu enthüllen.
Das Indie-Studio Funomena beheimatet keine Unbekannten, denn das Team setzt sich aus diversen Entwicklern zusammen, die bereits an Projekten wie Journey oder Die Sims 2 arbeiteten.
Luna erscheint am 17. Oktober für Oculus Rift, HTC Vive auf Steam sowie im Oculus Store und Windows VR im Windows Store. Auch eine 2D-Version wird für PC-Spieler erhältlich sein. Wir werden euch bezüglich weiterer Informationen über das märchenhafte Spiel auf dem Laufenden halten.
It feels like every few days for the past month or so we’ve been covering a new Windows ‘Mixed Reality’ VR headset from a different manufacturer that gets new details, new apps, or a price/release date. As a result, today is no different. Lenovo announced that its newly dubbed “Lenovo Explorer” headset will cost $349 and is expected to be available across the globe “in coming weeks” according to a company blog post.
The Lenovo Explorer joins the Acer, HP, Asus, and Dell in a growing portfolio of VR headsets running on the Windows VR platform that we’ve known about but haven’t seen many details on. The Lenovo device comes in at the exact same $349 price tag as the Dell, while the HP is $20 cheaper at $329 and the Acer is poised to be the cheapest with the lowest price of $299. The lack of headstrap padding and less precise tightening mechanisms both contribute to the lower cost. We’re still waiting to find out the US price of the Asus, but it’s set at 449 euro for now.
In terms of specs the Lenovo Explorer is expected to be identical to all of the other Windows VR devices with inside-out tracking cameras and no need for external sensors. You can read more about the system requirements here. Optionally, just like the other headsets, you can also purchase a pair of Windows VR motion controllers for $99 or in a bundle with the Lenovo Explorer for $449. The controllers connect via bluetooth and grant you hand presence inside the virtual space.
Once the Windows VR platform is fully launched there should be plenty of stuff for users to do. In addition to big VR titles like Superhot, Arizona Sunshine, and Rec Room all making their way over to the Windows Store, these headsets will also support Steam and are expected to receive their very own Halo VR game as well sometime soon. In fact, Lenovo is stating that “more than 100 VR-ready titles” are in the line-up. Although we expect that at least some of these “more than 100 VR-ready titles” could just be non-VR games upscaled to VR using Lenovo’s Entertainment Hub.
On a mostly unrelated note, Lenovo also detailed today its upcoming collaborative project with Disney: the Star Wars: Jedi Challenges AR platform. It’s releasing this November for $199 and includes the new Lenovo Mirage AR headset, lightsaber controller, a stationary tracking beacon, and a suite of apps that let you duel Sith lords and command forces on the battlefield.
What do you think of the Lenovo Explorer and Windows VR as a whole? Let us know down in the comments below!
As the holiday launch of the Windows VR headsets nears, Microsoft has published a new set of system requirements and an app allowing you to see if your PC will be ready for the company’s “Mixed Reality” platform.
Check to See If Your PC is Ready for Windows Mixed Reality
If you want to know whether or not your computer makes the grade, Microsoft has handily published a new application which will tell you just that. The ‘Windows Mixed Reality PC Check’ app is available on the Windows store, and will check your hardware against the Mixed Reality specifications.
Update (8/28/17): Microsoft seems to have pulled the Windows Mixed Reality PC Check app from the Windows store for now. It will likely return closer to the launch of the Windows VR headsets.
Image courtesy Microsoft
Even if your computer meets the specs, the app is likely to trigger a ‘Can’t run mixed reality’ message because the platform relies on the upcoming Windows 10 Fall Creators Update which hasn’t yet been released.
