HTC

Some of the biggest names in virtual reality have teamed up to develop technological standards for the nascent industry.

The appropriately-named Global Virtual Reality Association (GVRA) is made up of Acer, Google, HTC, Oculus, Samsung and Sony and will work to “promote responsible development and adoption of VR globally”.


No software-only companies are included in the partnership, with some hardware big players also missing. Most conspicuous by its absence is Valve, the company behind the Steam store and SteamVR platform used by the HTC Vive. Microsoft, which is working on the HoloLens augmented reality system, is also not involved.

The hope for consumers will be for the GVRA to introduce compatibility between different VR hardware and software. In a statement, the non-profit said it would “share best practices for industry and foster dialogue between public and private stakeholders” while also serving as a “resource” for consumers, policymakers and industry interested in working with VR.

A noble cause, but if the games industry is any guide it might not deliver the cross-platform utopia it posits. For developers, though, it offers some hope. Being able to easily develop virtual reality content that works across platforms will be crucial if the technology is to truly take-off.