Razer's Hacker Development Kit (HDK) 2 virtual reality headset is the newest product in its Open Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) ecosystem. In some ways HDK 2 competes with high-end VR headsets including Oculus Rift and HTC Vive in terms of the OLED panel, field of view, and refresh rate. While the display quality is lower than the VR devices from the Facebook subsidiary and Taiwanese tech giant, the HDK's higher resolution makes it perceptibly better than Sony's PlayStation VR and Samsung's Gear VR.
HDK 2 has a 2160 x 1200 resolution, low-persistence OLED panel, and 110-degree field of view. Meanwhile, the refresh rate is 90Hz.
The HDK 2.0 also has a price tag of $399, which is much lower than the $599 Rift and $799 Vive, according to Engadget. However, that is partly due to the pricier models being bundled with VR accessories.
There are pros and cons related to the HDK 2's build quality. The unit is comfortable due to its lightness but still feels like a work in progress.
Another issue with the Razer headset is compatibility. Valve supports HDK through Steam, so Vive can ironically also run HDK software.
However, it only contains a small infrared tracker and has no motion controls, so Razer has the options to make tweaks in the future or use third-party add-ons.
It should be noted that OSVR is still an unfinished project. However, the price tag and overall quality are significantly lower than the Rift and Vive VR headsets.
Razer specializes in gaming products including for PCs, laptops, and tablets. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.
In related news, Sony announced on June 17, Friday that its PSVR headset will be available for demos at over 30 Best Buy and GameStop locations throughout the United States. That figure will spike to around 300 North American locations on June 24, Friday, according to CNET.
The PSVR headset is set to be released on October 13.
Sony's in-store demos will feature five games including Battlezone, EVE: Valkyrie, Headmaster, PlayStation VR Worlds, and SuperHyperCube. It will add more titles leading up to the fall launch.
PlayStation VR will retail for $399. The wearable device requires a PS4 console and PlayStation Camera to work.