Back at CES 2024 in January, a company called DPVR revealed a new VR headset that was made with arcades in mind. Today, they have announced another headset with the same target market, called the E4 Arc. Let’s see what it is all about, and there’s a press release at the bottom of the post if you are interested.
E4 Arc VR Headsets
The E4 Arc is a variant of that aforementioned E4C design, the main difference is that it uses a special hand tracking camera developed by UltraLeap. The intent is to allow users the freedom of interacting within the virtual environment, without the need for controllers. The camera has “a tracking range depth between 10 cm and 110 cm and a maximum field of view of 160° x 160°,” which sounds like it would handle anything you would typically do in an arcade setting.
As the release below also points out, it will work fine for “corporate training and 3D designers” too. Given a stronger push to use VR in the educational space, I also wouldn’t be surprised if hand-tracking would work well in that situation. In fact, that might be a little better, since students wouldn’t have to be entrusted with a pair of controllers, in addition to the headset.
As you can see from the image above, this maintains the light-weight form factor of the E4 series, which is one of the reasons that Raw Thrills used the E4s in Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR. That game wouldn’t be using this particular headset (no need for hand tracking in that game), but I imagine that titles like VR SpongeBob Bubble Coaster or Trio-Tech’s Storm VR could get some mileage out of this. Which arcade game do you think would mesh well with hand-tracking tech?
Pre-orders can be requested here, although a price is not mentioned in the release. The E4C is currently listed at $398, while the regular E4 is at $600. I would assume that with this camera tech it will be a little higher, but certainly not even close to the realm of the Apple Vision Pro.
Press Release
DPVR Unveils New Hand Tracking Supported Headset E4 Arc in Collaboration with Ultraleap
April 23rd, 2024 – DPVR, a pioneering VR hardware and software solution provider, announces the launch of its new hand tracking supported headset, E4 Arc. A variant of its best-selling 6 DoF PCVR E4, this new headset is integrated with Ultraleap’s Leap Motion Controller 2 hand tracking camera, allowing operation and interaction within a VR environment naturally and without separate controllers. This model is specially crafted for arcade game manufacturers, corporate training and 3D designers. Now available for preorder and shipping in late May.
Exclusive Features, Advantages, and Benefits:
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Integration of the compact, low-power consumable Leap Motion Controller 2 camera with the most robust and advanced hand tracking algorithms, enabling a tracking range depth between 10 cm and 110 cm and a maximum field of view of 160° x 160°. This ensures the capture of hand gestures from wide angles for ultimate interactivity.
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The only model at consumer level price point available in the market that utilizes a built-in structure for enhanced durability and stability, making it ideal for unattended attraction spots.
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Equipped with turbo cooling system featuring an upgraded fan model, improved vapor chamber and optimized fan operating logic. This system ensures better air outflow and internal heat control, guaranteeing stable performance for high-traffic usage. Additionally, it includes easily replaceable cables for effortless maintenance.
With deep involvement in Raw Thrills’ Godzilla™ Kaiju Wars and LAI Games’ simulators, being the only VR headset vendor for game developer International Games System, as well as for manufacturers including Wahlap Tech, UNIS Technology, and VR 360 Action, DPVR provides a high premium on arcade-related projects, continually polishing hardware durability to enable the most challenging commercial requirements.
While initially designed for arcade needs, E4 Arc is also suitable for demanding enterprise use cases, enabling collaborative spatial design, prototyping, and immersive visualization and review of CAD designs. Additionally, with the natural interactions that Ultraleap hand tracking delivers it facilitates high-stakes safety training, industrial skill development, surgical education and aviation training, offering realistic, hands-on experiences without the need for physical materials or equipment.
The R&D team is conducting compatibility tests to ensure a smooth gaming experience for hand-tracking supported titles in the SteamVR library, including VRChat, Half-Life: Alyx, and more. Empowering designers, engineers, educators, gamers, VR enthusiasts, and anyone requiring seamless and precise interaction is also a top priority for the company.
“DPVR stands ready to provide support whenever and wherever headset customization is required.” said Derek Liu, VP of DPVR. “Aligning with Ultraleap’s visionary pursuit to breaking down the barriers between physical and digital worlds, we anticipate bringing E4 Arc and its intuitive, touchless gesture control to arcade simulator manufacturers as our first step. Through this strategic partnership, we envision endless possibilities for our upcoming next-gen headset.”
“Ultraleap is proud to collaborate with DPVR in introducing the brilliant new E4 Arc headset to the market,” said Miguel Rodrigues, Senior Vice President of Product at Ultraleap. “With our world leading hand tracking technology seamlessly integrated into DPVR’s innovative hardware, users can now experience immersive virtual interactions like never before. We’re excited to empower users across industries with natural and intuitive interactions and can’t wait to see what new and engaging experiences they will create.”
About Ultraleap
Ultraleap’s world-leading hand tracking and mid-air haptic technologies have been developed over 10 years using machine learning and computer vision to allow you to naturally engage with the digital world using only your hands. No controllers. No touchscreens. No keypads. From enhancing 2D screens to developing fully immersive 3D experiences, Ultraleap powers natural, safe and effortless digital interaction in the increasingly connected world.
About DPVR
DPVR is an innovative Shanghai-based technology company specializing in VR device design and manufacturing. With a diverse portfolio of tethered and wireless VR headsets, DPVR caters to various industries, providing transformative solutions for education, training, simulation and entertainment. DPVR offers fully customizable VR solutions tailored to meet the dynamic immersive technology requirements of enterprises and consumers.
For more information: www.dpvr.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Discord.
