CES 2019: MLB Adds ‘VIVE Pro Eye’ Tracking Technology to MLB HR Derby VR

At CES 2019, HTC VIVE has unveiled the VIVE Pro Eye, a new headset with built-in eye tracking that enhances the high-end VR experience from VIVE Pro. Also at CES, Major League Baseball is debuting eye tracking on Vive Pro Eye. Eye tracking is integrated into the “MLB Home Run Derby VR” video game experience, allowing users full menu control without a traditional controller. The new Vive Pro Eye will launch in the second quarter of 2019.

The integrated eye tracking on the new Vive Pro Eye gives users new levels of accessibility, including gaze-oriented menu navigation and removing the need for controllers. With the inclusion of eye tracking, the new Vive Pro Eye will allow businesses and developers to gather more data about their training environments, help optimize computer and VR performance, and offer product design and research groups unprecedented levels of feedback.

“We’ve invested in VR technology to bring fans a fun immersive experience and connection to our game and deliver a new level of engagement through VR game competitions, at-home play, and in-ballpark attractions,” says Jamie Leece, Senior Vice President, Games & VR, Major League Baseball. “By integrating eye-tracking technology into Home Run Derby VR, we are able to transport this transformative baseball experience to any location without additional controllers needed. Our fans can simply operate menus by using their eyes.”

Vive Pro Eye is targeted at the enterprise market where eye tracking has a number of immediate benefits — from performance, to accessibility, to improvements in training applications. It will also benefit developers by minimizing computing resources needed to render high-end VR environments.

In addition, VIVEPORT, HTC’s global app store for VR content, announced unlimited subscription access with Viveport Infinity so all the best content is available at any time. HTC also unveiled a developer kit for a future headset, VIVE COSMOS, created with a new level of accessibility and ease of use. Revealed alongside Cosmos, the ‘Vive Reality System’ reimagines what VR should look like in the age of spatial computing, with fresh ways to display content and transport users between immersive environments.