HTC VIVE introduces VIVE Ultimate Tracker: Enhancing XR Headsets and PC VR Streaming

HTC VIVE has launched the VIVE Ultimate Tracker, a compact and versatile device that takes interactivity, utility, and expressiveness in XR experiences to new heights. Whether you’re gaming, training for sports, capturing motion, or using it for industrial purposes, the VIVE Ultimate Tracker can handle it all. With its new “self-tracking” technology, this device is perfect for HTC VIVE’s standalone headsets, such as the VIVE XR Elite and VIVE Focus 3. Support for OpenXR and SteamVR based PC VR setups will be available in the near future.

The VIVE Ultimate Tracker is designed to provide XR users with enhanced versatility and functionality. It utilizes two wide-FOV cameras to accurately track its own location in 3D spaces, eliminating the need for external tracking solutions like base stations. This makes it ideal for standalone headsets like the VIVE XR Elite, offering super accurate full-body tracking on All-in-One devices.

Users can connect up to five VIVE Ultimate Trackers simultaneously per headset, enabling exceptional multi-point full-body tracking. The device also supports PC VR streaming and is compatible with existing VIVE Tracker supported PC content. This opens up a world of possibilities for gamers, athletes, and professionals alike.

The VIVE Ultimate Tracker has already received positive feedback from developers and industry professionals. Adam Dickinson, Co-founder and Director of Rezzil, praised its game-changing shift in foot tracking capabilities. Jesse Joudrey, CTO of VRChat, highlighted the device’s potential to bring a new immersive world to a wide audience.

The device’s versatility is further enhanced by its standard 1/4″-20 UNC mount and pogo pin interface, allowing it to attach to various objects. This makes it suitable for use in motion capture for film and games, VR training with industry-specific objects, dancing in VRChat, and more. To encourage creativity, VIVE is releasing developer documentation and the 3D CAD file publicly, enabling users to design their own custom mounts.

Looking ahead, HTC VIVE has an ambitious roadmap for the VIVE Ultimate Tracker. It plans to make the device work independently with SteamVR, without the need for a headset, allowing for the tracking of people or objects. This feature will be particularly useful in industrial settings where a wide range of equipment and props need to be tracked. Support for direct connection to SteamVR will be available as a beta in the coming weeks.

The VIVE Ultimate Tracker is already stirring up the VR community. Joe Sciacchetano, Founder and CEO of Rebuff Reality, praised its ability to deliver a truly immersive gameplay experience in Dance Dash. He emphasized how it allows users to go beyond being just a floating head and hands, fully embodying their digital selves.

For those interested in the technical details, the VIVE Ultimate Tracker weighs 94g and has a battery life of up to 7 hours. It offers connectivity through proprietary low-Latency 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, with an operating distance of up to 10 meters. The device utilizes 6DoF inside-out tracking for precise motion tracking.

The VIVE Ultimate Tracker is now available for purchase on vive.com, with special launch offers available in North America and Europe. In North America, the device is priced at USD $199 per unit, with limited-time bundle deals available until December 31, 2023. Similar bundle deals are available in the UK and Europe, priced at £209 and €229 per unit, respectively.

With its advanced features and wide range of applications, the VIVE Ultimate Tracker is set to revolutionize XR experiences and take them to new heights of interactivity and immersion. Whether you’re a gamer, athlete, filmmaker, or industrial professional, this versatile device promises to enhance your XR sessions and unlock new possibilities.

Technology Explained

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Latency: Technology latency is the time it takes for a computer system to respond to a request. It is an important factor in the performance of computer systems, as it affects the speed and efficiency of data processing. In the computer industry, latency is a major factor in the performance of computer networks, storage systems, and other computer systems. Low latency is essential for applications that require fast response times, such as online gaming, streaming media, and real-time data processing. High latency can cause delays in data processing, resulting in slow response times and poor performance. To reduce latency, computer systems use various techniques such as caching, load balancing, and parallel processing. By reducing latency, computer systems can provide faster response times and improved performance.