Open Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) software now accommodates Android devices, the project revealed this week. This adds to existing distribution for Windows and Linux.
OSVR is an ecosystem designed to set an open standard for virtual reality input devices, games and output with the goal of providing the best possible game experience in the virtual reality space.
The project also said 22 new partners have joined OSVR, bringing its total number of contributing members to 144.
"What this means for the global VR landscape is fewer walls between software and hardware solutions and a more collaborative approach to develop virtual reality," says Andr'e Ruff, senior PR specialist at Razer.
Currently, virtual reality is "facing a 'chicken and egg' situation," continues Ruff. "Without an existing hardware base, an industry can't sell their software. Without existing software, even interested users have no urge to actually buy the hardware."
Hardware fragmentation adds to this challenge, Ruff points out. Content developers struggle to support as many hardware options as possible as the race to provide a consumer-ready ecosystem of headsets and peripherals spawns an ever-growing variety of hardware solutions relying on a range of different forms of technology, he adds.
Standardisation of both hardware and software is needed to get the VR ball rolling. "That's why we started OSVR with many other pioneering companies - we expect that an open standard is the foundation that the currently-forming VR industry needs to start blooming."
OSVR also revealed on Wednesday that its Hacker Development Kit (HDK) version 1.2 has been approved for distribution, and is now shipping to selected developers.
The latest HDK offers a tested positional tracking technology to support spatial interactivity.
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