GDC 2017: LG's SteamVR Headset Comes With Features Similar To HTC Vive, Including Controllers

It was reported earlier this week that LG has partnered with Valve on a new VR headset for PCs. At the Game Developers Conference this week in San Francisco, LG presented a prototype to the press confirming its features and specifications.

First and foremost, the VR headset presented by LG at GDC 2017 is a development kit and is not what the final product will look like.

LG and Valve’s new headset has been described as being similar to the HTC Vive, but with some very distinct design differences. The front of LG’s VR headset can actually be flipped up like a motorcycle visor, according to The Verge. This is similar to Lenovo’s Windows Holographic headset.

The frame of LG’s headset is similar to the one found on the PlayStation VR. Users will have to wear it like a crown by sitting it on top of their heads, while the backside can be adjusted to their preference.

The reason why LG’s VR headset is being compared to the HTC Vive is because both are using Valve’s SteamVR platform. LG’s headset comes with the same set of the Vive’s laser-tracking “lighthouses” that are supposed to track the user’s movements.

Like the HTC Vive, LG’s headset also comes with its own pair of controllers that have built-in touchpads. These controllers are equipped with position tracking modules which the lighthouse towers track and detect.

As for hardware specs, LG says that its VR headset comes with a pair of 3.64-inch displays with a resolution of 1,440 x 1,280. The display has a refresh rate of 90Hz and users will have a 110-degree field of view, according to Engadget. The headset is also has built-in headphones

An assistant research engineer from LG told UploadVR that the new headset will be priced similar to current VR hardware that’s available today. The representative also said that a consumer release will still depend on the feedback they get and that the device will improve with better displays and a lighter build.