Later this year, Microsoft"s hardware partners will release the first head-mounted displays (HMDs) for its Windows Mixed Reality platform. The Mixed Reality shell is already baked into the recently released Windows 10 Creators Update, but users still can"t take advantage of these new experiences without the headsets that will run them.
Today, the company announced pricing for the first two HMDs coming from Acer and HP later this summer, and also opened developer pre-orders for both headsets. In addition to that, it also revealed the first motion controllers for Windows Mixed Reality.
"A customer who pairs a Windows Mixed Reality headset with motion controllers," Microsoft said today, "will have a rich and immersive experience across creativity tools, productivity, games, and entertainment." It added:
The motion controllers offer precise and responsive tracking of movement in your field of view using the sensors in your headset. There is no need to install hardware on the walls around you. We created the controllers as a high quality and comfortable input device with the same ease of set up and portability as our headsets. We are keeping our promise to deliver a new mixed reality experience for everyone at an affordable price point.
Microsoft said that its partners "plan to market and sell these controllers on retail shelves this holiday". Additionally, Microsoft announced that Acer will sell a Windows Mixed Reality headset in a $399 bundle with the new motion controllers.
Check out our hands-on first impressions of Acer"s Windows Mixed Reality Development Edition headset.