Razer announced that its Open Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) Hacker Development kit is being upgraded to include image diffuser technology, native support for Crytek’s Cryengine and an embedded Leap Motion faceplate.
Crytek’s Cryengine, which was made famous by the Far Cry game series, now natively supports OSVR. This announcement came in conjunction with a slew of new content reveals, including support for inCellVR, Windlands, DCS World, War Thunder, the BIVROST media player and more. These additions further increase OSVR’s reach of influence in the still-young VR market.
The upgraded diffuser technology comes in the form of an over-the-screen film that is applied on top of the existing display. This upgrade will come stock with HDK v1.4, but it will also be made available for standalone purchase this April so that HDK v1.3 users can easily upgrade their existing headsets. The diffusion film is intended to provide improved visual fidelity with a reduced “screen door” effect while maintaining OSVR’s minimal-cost approach to VR.
We first heard about an attachable version of Leap Motion’s hand-tracking sensor for OSVR last year, and now the technology has been fully integrated into an upgraded OSVR faceplate. The new hardware is compatible with Leap Motion’s recently announced Orion beta software, which offers developers accurate hand- and finger-tracking capabilities. The OSVR faceplate with integrated Leap Motion can be bundled with the OSVR HDK v1.4 for $349.99, or purchased separately for $74.99.
In addition to the hardware and software upgrades, OSVR HDK v1.4 also gained a few ergonomic improvements in the form of extra padding for the cheekbones and rubber inserts for the nose bridge.
OSVR HDK v1.4 is available now at the Razer Store for $299.99.
Derek Forrest is an Associate Contributing Writer for Tom’s Hardware and Tom’s IT Pro. Follow Derek Forrest on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.
