Valve - SlashGear

HTC VIVE X launched to accelerate VR universe

Chris Burns | Apr 26, 2016

This morning the folks at HTC have launched Vive X, a program which will invest $100-million, expertise, and mentorship for VR developers around the world. This program will be targeted at start-up groups, primarily, and will aim to not only cultivate the VR development environment, but foster it as well. "We are very excited." said Cher Wang, Chairwoman and CEO of HTC, "about gathering the brightest and the most creative minds to join Vive X."

Steam partners with Lionsgate for movie rentals

Chris Scott Barr | Apr 25, 2016

Steam is known for its solid platform for purchasing PC games. What it isn't known for is the ability to rent movies. It's a feature that's been around for a little while, but a lackluster selection has prevented the service from gaining much traction. However, a new deal with Lionsgate may change that.

HTC 10 detailed: video “confirms” all before official unveiling

Chris Burns | Apr 11, 2016

It's now under a day before the HTC 10 is revealed, complete with what we expect will be an iconic build and new software to boot. This device will be the second big-name release of the year, coming in right beside the surprise home run in the HTC Vive, a virtual reality headset that runs with Valve's SteamVR. The handset may not have as epic a set of VR tendencies itself, but the details in the release are vital to the image HTC will be projecting from here on out. A video leaked today seems to show the future.

Let’s Try HTC Vive “Phone Companion” in VR

Chris Burns | Apr 7, 2016

Those of you worried about being left unaware when you receive a phone call or a text in virtual reality should worry no more. The HTC Vive Phone Companion app has launched - and we've given it a try. What you're about to see is how simple the app is and how effective it's going to be when it comes to giving you a heads-up when your friends are about to barge in your room right after they've given you a call.

BMW picks HTC Vive for mixed reality car development

Chris Burns | Apr 7, 2016

BMW has chosen to incorporate the HTC Vive into their development process - opting for mixed reality experiences rather than costly prototyping for each new vehicle. What these folks will be doing is creating vehicles in the computer - as they would have anyway - and instead of creating each new iteration as a metal and plastic prototype, they'll step inside in virtual reality. Mixed reality is the term we're using here because they'll also be able to see where they actually sit in the real world.

Three HTC Vive experiences that’ll make you open your wallet

Chris Davies | Apr 6, 2016

HTC Vive is $799. That's a lot of money, especially when you factor in a suitably-potent gaming PC as well, so how do you justify taking the plunge? Consumer-level virtual reality is still in its infancy, and given how experiential the whole thing is, it's not hard to see why many people aren't quite convinced by what they see on-screen.

Valve debuts VR spectator mode for DOTA 2

Adam Westlake | Apr 6, 2016

Valve has just teased a new virtual reality-compatible spectator mode for the immensely popular MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game DOTA 2, one of the biggest titles in the growing trend of e-sports. The new mode is seen in a video clip on the SteamVR website, highlighting how the VR experience enhances spectating for fans. An e-sports match is played out in 3D right in front of a viewer, while additional information can be seen just looking to the sides of the map.

Valve creates the perfect demo for Steam VR and the HTC Vive

Chris Burns | Apr 5, 2016

This morning the HTC Vive officially went on sale, and with it, a launch of Valve's Steam VR initiative. To bring on a greater understanding of what this new environment is like, Valve set out to create a single video which showed what virtual reality was like for the user. To do this, they needed a bit of Mixed Reality. That is a green screen room, a 3rd-party camera, and an HTC Vive. To do this, they needed to be able to track outside the user - to do this, they needed to attach a Vive controller to their camera rig.

HTC Vive’s secret sauce is casual gaming

Chris Davies | Apr 5, 2016

HTC Vive isn't a small investment in time, gadgetry, or of course money. You'd be forgiven for assuming that, with its huge box full of headset, controllers, motion-tracking base stations, and all the many cables and power adapters that keep them connected and running, playing with Vive would be a similarly involved process. Still, you'd be wrong.

HTC Vive Review – the Holodeck you always wanted

Chris Davies | Apr 5, 2016

Virtual Reality is finally coming of age, and with Vive, HTC and Valve believe they have the finest and most flexible interpretation of next-generation gaming. A surprise announcement just a year ago, Vive aims to out-immerse Oculus' Rift by spreading VR throughout the room, rather than just putting it in a headset. The SlashGear team has been living with not one, but three Vive systems: read on for our verdict.

Windows 10 is now the most popular PC gaming OS

Chris Scott Barr | Apr 4, 2016

Since Microsoft started offering free upgrades to Windows 10 last year, a lot of people have been upgrading. Sure, there are plenty of people that are still holding onto their beloved Windows 7 installations, but that number continues to dwindle. So just how popular is the latest version of Windows? Well it's now the most-commonly used OS, at least for playing games.

Star Trek’s Holodeck has been recreated in SteamVR

Chris Scott Barr | Mar 25, 2016

Whenever I start talking about VR experiences to anyone, especially when it comes to the Vive, there are a couple of references that inevitably get made. The first is The Matrix, as no one can be told what VR is. You have to see it for yourself. The other is the Holodeck from Star Trek. Well now you'll be able to experience the Holodeck for yourself.