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Razer adds Android and position tracking support to its open VR platform

Razer adds Android and position tracking support to its open VR platform

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Razer and a small group of other companies have been trying to standardize how VR headsets work, and today the standard is getting an important update. Razer said this morning that OSVR — the Open Source Virtual Reality platform— now supports Android and position tracking. Position tracking, in particular, was a noted absence from OSVR's initial release back in January. It's something that the biggest VR headsets are using, and OSVR had to eventually get on board with it. Android support is a nice update as well, which should allow developers to start creating mobile VR experiences. Hardware support within OSVR will eventually be added to allow Android phones to take the place of a dedicated VR display.

In total, OSVR is now up to 144 supporters, although the number doesn't mean much on its own. These are largely small names — the Unity and Unreal engines are perhaps the two most important supporters — so Razer's quest to standardize VR development still hasn't changed much. The hope of OSVR is that developers will have a consistent way to make hardware accessories and software for VR headsets. It makes plenty of sense that Razer, an accessories manufacturer, would love to see that, but it also makes plenty of sense that the leading names in VR, like Oculus, would be hesitant to adopt this and potentially limit their ability to customize hardware.

osvr position tracking

OSVR infrared position tracking kit.