HTC unveils Focus standalone VR headset and VR platform

HTC announced a standalone VR headset called Focus at its developer conference in Beijing. The device runs on a Snapdragon 835-soc and does not require any external drives for tracking. HTC also announces a VR platform.

HTC has put a page online on its Chinese site with limited information about the headset. It can be concluded from this that the headset supports 6DoF and is not equipped with cables. Tracking is possible based on an inside-out system that does not require external stations; HTC itself refers to this as ‘world scale’. In an announcement, the company also speaks of a ‘high-resolution AMOLED screen’, without providing further details. The headset is shown with a single controller.

The Taiwanese manufacturer tells Engadget that he will focus on China with the headset until the end of the year and that there is no Daydream version for the time being. On a previously available product page, HTC already mentioned a standalone headset with Daydream support. The price or release date of the glasses has not yet been announced. Facebook previously announced the standalone headset Oculus Go for $199. The company explains to the site that the glasses can also be paired with other Focus headsets or the original Vive, so that user interaction can take place.

In addition to the headset, HTC announces a VR platform under the name Vive Wave. Twelve hardware partners are said to have joined so far. According to HTC, the platform should make it possible to develop mobile VR content. There is an SDK with which different headsets and accessories can be used in combination with each other. Wave can be used in conjunction with HTC’s Viveport store, where VR applications can be found. It should be possible to port existing applications to the Wave platform. The company goes on to say that Unity will integrate Viveport through a partnership.