Microsoft Finally Has a Mixed Reality Headset You Might Really Want to Buy
Microsoft has been testing its mixed reality concept since early 2015, when it first introduced HoloLens . Two years later (and with the help of Samsung ), the company may finally be ready to offer a product that people really want at a price they can really afford.
Meet Samsung HMD Odyssey
On October 3, Microsoft unveiled the Samsung HMD Odyssey at its Windows Mixed Reality platform event . The new headset looks a lot like Facebook’s Oculus Rift and other high-end products, but Microsoft says it’s easier to use than its competitors and has several other big advantages.
The Samsung HMD Odyssey works with any computer running the Window 10 Falls Creators Update on October 17, while headsets like the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive need a high-end PC to work. Samsung’s headset also has a higher resolution than any of these headsets, and Microsoft also says it only takes a few minutes to set up, while the Vive and Rift can take an hour or more to install.
HMD Odyssey also has a built-in camera (so you can walk around in VR without setting up multiple cameras in the room first), as well as a microphone so you can talk to Microsoft’s AI assistant Cortana. It even has built-in titles with 360-degree spatial audio.
The Samsung HMD Odyssey costs $ 499 and comes with motion sensor controllers. It starts on November 6th.
New software and applications
Mixed reality still lacks the killer app that could make it mainstream, but Microsoft may have a solution for that too. Starting October 17, Windows Mixed Reality will offer 20,000 apps through the Microsoft Store, including popular games like Minecraft , Fantastic Contraption , Superhot, and an all-new Halo mixed reality experience (essentially a short demo) called Halo Recruit .
Microsoft is also working with gaming giant Valve to add support for SteamVR, its library of virtual reality games. We don’t know when this will happen, but some kind of preview should be available this year.
If you’ve skimped on VR because of its price or complicated setup, Windows Mixed Reality and Samsung HMD Odyssey might be your best bet. But if you haven’t seen the appeal before, it probably won’t change your mind – unless you’re a huge Halo fan.