Samsung HMD Odyssey Joins Microsoft's Mixed Reality World

Microsoft's mixed reality ambitions always extended far beyond HoloLens. Today at a press event in San Francisco, HoloLens creator Alex Kipman revealed what's next for Windows Mixed Reality and the newest partner device added to the ecosystem—the Samsung HMD Odyssey.

Samsung's new headset joins devices from Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo that are all now available for pre-order ahead of Oct. 17, when the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update will officially be released with mixed reality support. The Samsung HMD Odyssey will retail for $499 and start shipping on Nov. 6.

According to Alanna Cotton, VP and General Manager of Samsung Electronics America, the headset will have dual AMOLED displays, built-in spatial AKG headphones, inside-out tracking, a built-in microphone, and motion controllers with a 110-degree field of view.

Samsung Windows Mixed Reality headset pic.twitter.com/pOelleMpew

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) September 26, 2017

Microsoft also announced the acquisition of social VR platform AltspaceVR to help build out its mixed reality community. Finally, the company unveiled two new programs to get the tech in the hands of consumers: a Windows Mixed Reality SteamVR preview for developers, and a new mixed reality experience created in the Halo universe to give consumers a chance to test out the devices in Microsoft Stores with a beloved gaming property.

Halo: Recruit will also be available as a free download along with the Creators Update on Oct. 17. Microsoft has already borrowed from Halo to name its virtual assistant, Cortana, so it makes sense that the company would turn back to Halo to show off new mixed reality advancements.

Redmond described the experience as a brief introduction into the world of Halo, where you'll see several iconic characters in mixed reality for the first time. The timing is no accident, given the coming launch of the Xbox One X on Nov. 7. The Windows Mixed Reality SteamVR preview is available to developers today and will be rolled out wide to consumers this holiday season.

As expected, there was no HoloLens news. The company is reportedly developing a second version of its flagship headset with a dedicated AI chip, but we may not see that until 2019. Microsoft's immediate focus is on its growing mixed reality software and partner device ecosystem, which includes a range of products, from simpler augmented reality (AR) experiences to more immersive mixed reality and full-blown virtual reality.

There's a range of pricing as well. The Acer Windows Mixed Reality Headset is the lowest at $299, followed by the Dell Visor and Lenovo Explorer at $349 apiece, and then the HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset priced at $450 including motion controllers. Microsoft's goal here is to foster an integrated mixed reality ecosystem that all feeds back into Windows 10.

The Fall Creators Update is what Kipman referred to as the "first spatial operating system," and will bring with it a mixed reality content library and support for five partner headsets and counting. Add in the company's new AltspaceVR acquisition and you've got a complete funnel to get consumers interested in mixed reality, a range of devices for them to buy, developer programs to create content, and a social network to keep them all there. Microsoft knows exactly what it's doing.

PCMag is at the event in San Francisco today, so stay tuned for more details as we go hands on with the Samsung HMD Odyssey and see what it can do.