Not only be more stable with VR support, like it is now with GPU support, but also progress the technology further through additional R&D team and close knowledge with the GPU architectures? Now, instead of worrying about what VR headset supports what game, you just have to worry about if your GPU can run the game.
What do guys think will happen to the industry if AMD and Nvidia had their own VR Headset? How will this affect consumers? Will we also see different level of tiers for the VR Headsets like there are for GPUs? Will optimizing be easier for GPUs?
If Nvidia and AMD were the only players in the VR headset game, it would end up just like G-Sync and FreeSync. The market is segmented, and that probably is one of the largest reasons that something-Sync screens are still not at all pervasive in the gaming computer space.
OC3D makes a good point, it'll be just like the HD-DVD and Blu-ray battle, one will come out on top anway, so why not just have AMD and Nvidia by out each of these VR Headset companies instead of having to wait which one will come out on top. This way, we still have option, just like we do with GPUs. Unlike the hard disc media which is dominated by Blu-ray only. It's an interesting idea by him.
No, me neither. But I think that's how VR Headsets are currently. It's a technical demo at the very best, and each companies are pushing their own proprietary technology which we don't know which will be pervasive. If AMD and Nvidia bought out these major companies, the first and big layer of step to play VR is gone. In other words, instead of this: VR Headset + GPU + Game. Now it's this: GPU + Game. We have two GPUs and we see exclusive deals with from each GPU companies, instead of adding VR Companies adding their own exclusive optimizations on top of that it's now only down to GPUs.
When making a poll it is best not to 'colour' the answers. I voted no, but it is not a stupid idea.
It is in the best interest of everyone (the VR companies, and the graphics companies) to get the best experiences possible for the consumer. However you do not need to merge companies to get them working together.
In some circumstances, companies will collaborate to the point where they will have their own employees working at the facilities of the other company. For example, Vive could have an Nvidia software specialist of some sort working 'on loan' from Nvidia to help develop Vive products to work the best on the Nvidia platform.
I do not really care about VR. I am a simple person, I just want global industry standards everyone follows. Simple request to make anyone happy. Instead I get a load of bullshit I have to dig through...
That's a good point, however, where I see the idea failing in terms of fair competition is $ to pay staff. AMD use to be on top of this, they would have their GPU experts go to individual game studios and have the game optimize for their GPUs. Now since AMD has scaled back, it's mostly Nvidia's team out in the industry knocking door to door helping devs optimize their game for them (no surprise, they have more money after all). It's no wonder why AMD changed the way optimization works by creating an architecture for a new API that they would now dominated on but which all the control is left to the developers where as before with DX11 most of the optimization was left to the GPU Companies.
However, if AMD where to have their own VR Headset they wouldn't have worry about sending people out to devs for optimizing.
Yeah that is true. I thought of going into detail about both companies, but that is a bit long winded lol.
For what you say though:
For AMD, since they are scaling back, I can't imagine them having lots of extra cash laying around. I doubt they would have the millions needed to buy an established VR company, but probably could afford to pay an extra salary to send someone to these companies (Somewhere between $50 000 and $100 000 a year)
Yeah that's what we need. More physx, more gameworks, more g-sync overall more proprietary bullshit.
I can see it now. Either rift or vive owners wake up to the reality that now half their future library is 100% useless. Looking forward to Game X VR and it us bought up by one of the companies so you can not play it any more. Great idea.
That will really stabilise things.
Edit: as for this,
AMD did announce a partnership for a VR headset and they have the Liquid VR SDK/API thing. The headset kind of disappeard but that is just AMD.
Do I want Bethesda to come up to me and tell me that the next Fallout or Elder Scrolls game will only run on my machine if I have a Samsung monitor? Yeah, no. Bullshit. I wouldn't be having any of it.
Now, that might seem like an oversimplification, but it really really isn't. What is a VR headset, essentially? It's a pair of monitors strapped to your eyes with a gyro and some sensors to help it figure out where it's pointed. If you strapped a gyro to your monitor and had the orientation of the monitor determine where the camera points, it would be the same thing as a VR headset.
Don't segment the market. Make it much much wider, open up the technology to dozens of other companies. That's the way it ought to be. These are monitors, not processors.