When it comes to details regarding the latest consumer-focused headset from HTC Vive, the Vive Cosmos, the company hasn’t exactly been shouting from the rooftops. While the announcement was some of the biggest news to come out of CES 2019, since then it was revealed a launch window of Q3 2019 was in place. Now it seems HTC Vive has begun building developer interest in the headset to ensure launch window content.
Over on the Vive Developer portal the company has created a ‘Getting Started with Vive Cosmos Development’ guide to help studios either currently building or with a published title fine-tune their experience for the new headset. Vive Cosmos will be fully backwards compatible with current SteamVR videogames but there are areas developers can upgrade if they so wish, ensuring their titles make the most of Vive Cosmos.
To make sure content looks and feels awesome on the device the Vive team states that it’ll be “committing the next 2 months to comprehensive testing.” So for developers that means plenty of time to send in an updated build for the team to test and prepare for the headset launch. For consumers, two months means a possible release could happen in August (for Gamescom?) or more likely September putting it closer to the festive sales season.
While this is good news for developers as it’ll mean another platform to sell on, details regarding Vive Cosmos’ actual specification are yet to be confirmed such as resolution and FOV. What is known is that Vive Cosmos will be a tethered headset with inside out tracking, 6DoF controllers and a hinged front. It’ll be more like a rival to Oculus Rift S than a competitor to Oculus Quest, HTC Vive has the Vive Focus for that.
It was also revealed that Vive Cosmos will get a wireless adaptor although it’s currently unknown if this will be an upgraded device to the current Vive wireless adaptor.
One thing is for sure, there isn’t long left to go until Vive Cosmos will be in the hands of consumers. The only problem, by the end of 2019 those interested in VR will be spoilt for choice. As further details are revealed VRFocus will keep you updated.
