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Open Source Virtual Reality
open-in-new
<h2 id="project-information">Project information</h2> <p>OSVR has two main and independent parts: <a href="/facts/Open-source_hardware/UgCHeVsm">open-source hardware</a> and <a href="/facts/Open-source_software/HzTaB8E9">open-source software</a>. The project is primarily sponsored by <a href="/facts/Razer_Inc./jbrN1NSa">Razer</a> and <a href="/facts/Sensics/yCGv2tNV">Sensics</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> Partners in the project include game developers <a href="/facts/Ubisoft/Pnw08RvF">Ubisoft</a> and hardware manufacturers <a href="/facts/Vuzix/WLguxLdK">Vuzix</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> OSVR has requested help with creating Android <a href="/facts/Google_Daydream/eYWJYMQ6">Daydream VR</a> Plugin.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>The open source software platform allows virtual reality developers to detect, configure and operate virtual reality devices across a wide range of operating systems. It is provided under the <a href="/facts/Apache_License/5AeIjas8">Apache 2.0</a> license. Since August 2018, the electrical hardware source files are available.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> The files that have been released so far are under a proprietary, <a href="/facts/Source-available_software/axtrf73j">source-available</a> license.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>One of their most popular hardware consists of <a href="/facts/Virtual_reality_headset/wzMo56XW">virtual reality headset</a> called the Hacker Development Kit. The first model of the headset was introduced in January 2015 in <a href="/facts/Consumer_Electronics_Show/JUmN49Fl">CES</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> Shipping to select developers started in July 2015.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Pre-ordering was opened to the general public by October and shipping started by November 2015.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="games">Games</h2> <p>Some of the games with the support of OSVR:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p> <ul><li><i><a href="/facts/Elite_Dangerous/C2eKwEJ8">Elite Dangerous</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Pollen_(video_game)/Ykal8Knc">Pollen</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Project_CARS/f9GY8p6n">Project CARS</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Redout_(video_game)/1YdG0VI8">Redout</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/The_Vanishing_of_Ethan_Carter/Vb8TbuuF">The Vanishing of Ethan Carter VR</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/VirtualRealPorn/aj4Waql2">VirtualRealPorn</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/War_Thunder/0PvHHgwC">War Thunder</a></i></li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/OpenVR/5g61elbM">OpenVR</a>, a library with similar goals by <a href="/facts/Valve_Corporation/zlRE5vJL">Valve</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/OpenXR/QqQIgBAe">OpenXR</a>, an open, royalty-free standard for access to virtual reality and augmented reality platforms and devices</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://osvr.com/">Official website</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/OSVR/">OSVR at Github</a></li> <li><a href="https://osvr.github.io/">Source code repository for OSVR</a></li> <li><a href="https://osvr.github.io/presentations/20150729-intro-osvr-boston-meetup/">Video of OSVR presentation at Boston VR meetup, July 2015</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.gamespew.com/2016/04/razer-hdk-possible-low-budget-vr-solution/">An in-depth report of OSVR on GameSpew.com, April 2016</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Stein, Scott (2015-01-06). "Meet Razer's OSVR Hacker Dev Kit, the 'open-source' hackable VR headset". CNET. Retrieved 17 June 2015. <a href="https://www.cnet.com/uk/products/razer-osvr/" target="_blank">https://www.cnet.com/uk/products/razer-osvr/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"OSVR's virtual reality headset is for making the weird VR of the future". TheVerge. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2018. <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/16/11952016/osvr-hdk-2-vr-headset-hands-on-photos-e3-2016" target="_blank">https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/16/11952016/osvr-hdk-2-vr-headset-hands-on-photos-e3-2016</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Prasuethsut, Lily (2015-03-05). "Razer updates OSVR virtual reality headset". TechRadar. Retrieved 17 June 2015. <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/wearables/razer-updates-osvr-virtual-reality-headset-1286822" target="_blank">http://www.techradar.com/news/wearables/razer-updates-osvr-virtual-reality-headset-1286822</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Help wanted: Google VR SDK Plugin". GitHub. <a href="https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-Android-Plugins/issues/1" target="_blank">https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-Android-Plugins/issues/1</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Sources for MCU binaries? #2". Github. Retrieved 30 September 2016. <a href="https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK/issues/2" target="_blank">https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK/issues/2</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>The license as laid out in the HDK repository README explicitly excludes rights required for OSI compliance (updated 31 March 2025) <a href="https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK#readme" target="_blank">https://github.com/OSVR/OSVR-HDK#readme</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Razer OSVR headset hands-on: a platform, not a competitor". SlashGear. January 6, 2015. <a href="http://www.slashgear.com/razer-osvr-headset-hands-on-a-platform-not-a-competitor-06362814/" target="_blank">http://www.slashgear.com/razer-osvr-headset-hands-on-a-platform-not-a-competitor-06362814/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"OSVR Hacker Kits Have Started Shipping". Tom's Hardware. July 8, 2015. <a href="http://www.tomshardware.com/news/osvr-hmd-hacker-kits-shipping,29530.html" target="_blank">http://www.tomshardware.com/news/osvr-hmd-hacker-kits-shipping,29530.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Public pre-orders for Razer's OSVR headset are now open". Digital Trends. October 26, 2015. <a href="http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/public-pre-orders-for-razers-osvr-headset-are-now-open/#/3" target="_blank">http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/public-pre-orders-for-razers-osvr-headset-are-now-open/#/3</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Charara, Sophie (May 9, 2016). "The OSVR apps, games and experiences to download". Wareable. Retrieved September 30, 2016. <a href="http://www.wareable.com/vr/best-osvr-apps-games-experiences" target="_blank">http://www.wareable.com/vr/best-osvr-apps-games-experiences</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"TopGameswith OSVR (Open-Source Virtual Reality) support". itch.io. Retrieved September 30, 2016. <a href="https://itch.io/games/osvr" target="_blank">https://itch.io/games/osvr</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>