Frankfurt-based video game developer and publisher, Crytek, has announced the launch of its new worldwide virtual reality development program, VR First.
Through the program, Crytek will be partnering with academic institutions all over the world to provide students and researchers with the technology and facilities to explore the possibilities of virtual reality (VR). Crytek will be providing full source code access to Crytek’s CRYENGINE development suite as well as free use of hardware from VR First affiliates to beneficiaries of the program.
In the announcement trailer for the program, which you can watch below the article, Crytek states that VR technology will revolutionize many industries besides video games:
“VR will revolutionize a wide range of industries and change how we live our everyday lives, with immersive experiences and infinite possibilities. With this potential, VR technology can be used in architecture, medicine, movies, games, and much more, making the whole market reach $30 billion by 2020.â€
The initial VR First lab has already opened its doors at BahçeÅŸehir University in Instanbul, where it’ll serve as a pilot destination for the initiative. The program hopes to encourage other academic institutions all over the world to establish their own VR labs on their campuses.
For more info on the VR First program, you can check out its website at: http://vrfirst.cryengine.com/.
Established in 1999, Crytek is a technology provider, as well independent video game developer and publisher based in Frankfurt, Germany, with seven other studios around the world. The company is best known for their award-winning titles, including the Crysis series, the original Far Cry, Ryse: Son of Rome, and Warface. All games developed by Crytek use CRYENGINE, a cutting-edge 3D game engine that is also utilized by other developers and licensees when creating games for Android, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Crytek’s games are known to push the limits of PCs to achieve a higher level of graphics. Crysis in particular was known for its steep hardware requirements upon release, so much so that it was difficult for a lot of people to even run the game smoothly at launch.
Things have been gearing up for VR technology over the past year. The long-awaited Oculus Rift will have its first wave of online pre-orders shipped on March 28, while Sony’s Playstation VR is slated for release sometime this year, though an official release date has yet to be announced by the company. Make sure to stay tuned to Mouse n Joypad for more announcements on upcoming VR-related releases and news.