Virtual reality is a hot topic lately. And with so much buzz about the technology, it’s easy to wonder which companies are actually creating virtual reality experiences and devices. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of some of the biggest names in the VR industry.
HTC Vive
The HTC Vive is a virtual reality system developed by HTC and Valve Corporation. The Vive was announced in March 2015, and originally released on 5 April 2016 to coincide with the start of the 2016 VIVE Spring Tour; this tour featured demonstrations of the device at various locations across the United States.
HTC has also announced that they will begin selling Vive online through their website starting on May 2nd 2016 as well as through Amazon and Best Buy stores later that month.
Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift is a virtual reality companies headset developed and manufactured by Oculus VR, a division of Facebook Inc. The device consists of a head-mounted display with stereoscopic OLED displays, rotational and positional tracking sensors, and an external sensor for the Xbox One controller.
The Rift has gone through numerous stages of development since its inception in 2012, while also shipping as a developer kit for those interested in creating software for it or otherwise experimenting with its technology; some consider this stage of development to be complete after two revisions: DK1 (2013) and DK2 (2014). However, even though it was not publicly released until March 28th 2016 – when pre-orders opened at 12pm EST – pre-production models have been sold as early as 2013 through an Indiegogo campaign that raised $2 million USD within 24 hours; these prototypes were intended primarily for developers who wanted access before release date but were also given away during gaming conventions such as E3 2014 where attendees could try out different games using different headsets including Sony’s Project Morpheus prototype which had previously been announced but hadn’t yet gone on sale yet either so there was lots going on there!
Samsung Gear VR
Samsung Gear VR is a virtual reality headset developed by Samsung Electronics, in collaboration with Oculus, and manufactured by Samsung. The headset was released on November 27, 2015.
Gear VR uses the smartphone to power its display and provide head tracking data through its internal sensors. The device consists of a modified Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or S6 Edge+ phone which acts as the screen while inserted into the front panel of the headset (which also contains sensors). It connects to an external Bluetooth gamepad controller for interaction with games and media.
Sony PlayStation VR
Sony PlayStation VR is a virtual reality headset developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released in October 2016, and can be used with the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro. The device has a 5.7″ OLED display with 1080p resolution (960×1080 per eye), an RGB subpixel matrix for each eye, 360-degree head tracking and 3D audio technology that uses sounds from all directions.
Microsoft HoloLens
Microsoft HoloLens is a mixed reality headset that can be used to create 3D models, play games and more. It’s available for $3,000 and works with Windows 10. The device was first unveiled in 2015 at an event held by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The company later released a developer edition of the HoloLens headset in 2016 priced at $3,000; however it has not yet been released on the general market.
Google DayDream View
The Google DayDream View is a mobile virtual reality headset developed by Google. It uses a smartphone to power the experience, and it’s one of the most affordable headsets on the market. The DayDream View supports games and apps from the Google Play Store, so you can find plenty of content for your new headset there!
Conclusion
There are many virtual reality companies out there, but these are some of the biggest and most notable ones. If you’re interested in learning more about VR or trying it out for yourself, check out our guide on how to buy a VR headset!
