HP working with Valve and Microsoft on new VR headset

If you’ve been wanting to get into the virtual reality (VR) market but haven’t wanted to buy an older VR headset, the time for you to finally make that leap might be coming soon enough. HP, in collaboration with both Valve and Microsoft, is working on a next-generation VR headset for SteamVR and Windows Mixed Reality.

“Developed in collaboration with Valve and Microsoft, the next-gen HP VR headset delivers a more immersive, comfortable and compatible experience than the previous generation,” HP’s description of the product states. “It’s the new standard in VR.”

What we know

Expected to be known as the HP Reverb G2, details are scarce about what the new headset will offer users. In a short 15-second teaser sent out by HP, a slight glimpse of the new device is shown along with a tagline of “No compromises.”

A look at what the HP Reverb G2 looks like (Credit: HP)

Within that teaser, however, a few things are quickly noticed about the device. First, similarly to the Valve Index, off-ear headphones appear to be a feature of the new headset as you can see them appear to simply hover along the sides. Secondly, if the headset that was shown in the teaser is an accurate depiction, there are a least two cameras present on the front side.

There’s no word on when the new headset will have more information revealed or when it will become available for purchase. That said, it is officially listed on Steam with a store page link that sends visitors straight to the product page on HP’s website.

Until more is known, speculation will remain whether this new iteration of the Reverb headset will be more consumer-focused than the original as well as if it will have to ability to compete with Oculus and its Rift and Quest headsets.