Standalones headsets are the new flavor of the VR town this side of 2018. They bring a sorely needed dimension to this segment, allowing users to enjoy some VR experiences that are near what the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive offer, but with a much more palatable price and format. The ability to not be tethered also means being able to experience room-scale VR without having your lizard brain worry about tripping on cables either. This brings us to the Oculus Quest that was launched this week at the Oculus Connect 5 developer conference, just a couple of years after the debut of Project Santa Cruz that has finally culminated in a retail product.

The new wireless, standalone headset goes beyond what Oculus Go went to when announced earlier this year. Based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (Oculus Go was based on a Snapdragon 821) and offering 64 GB of integrated storage, the Oculus Quest offers 1600x1440 resolution per eye and has full six degrees of freedom (6DOF) support versus the three degrees on the Oculus Go. The headset will be available in spring of next year for $399, and more details can be seen past the break.

LucidSound , the fastest growing gaming headset brand, announced today shipping of their LS25 eSports Stereo Gaming Headset within Europe. Developed to appeal to the eSports community and competitive PC gamers, the LS25 remains focused only on the features essential to providing superior performance during tournament play. Committed to audio fidelity, comfort and ease of use, the LS25 delivers rock-solid, distortion free performance, ideal for the PC gaming community, yet compatible with Xbox One, PS4 , Nintendo Switch , Mobile and PSVR .

The all-new LS25 features improved driver units delivering crystal-clear sound and tuned in-house by LucidSound engineers so players can easily distinguish between their teammates, in-game audio and the sounds of their competitors. Improved ear-cups provide even greater comfort for sustained play and are easy to detach from the headset for cleaning or replacement. The signature LucidSound control scheme is ideal for when gamers cannot afford to lose their concentration allowing gamers to quickly adjust volume.

SteelSeries, the global leader in gaming peripherals, announces the availability of the upgraded Arctis 3 Bluetooth, widely regarded as the best gaming headset for the Nintendo Switch. The award-winning headset now features updates based on user feedback, a new price and is the best headset to work with the newly launched Nintendo Switch Online service. The Arctis 3 Bluetooth allows gamers to easily chat by connecting simultaneously to the Nintendo Switch via the 3.5mm wired connection and the Nintendo Switch Online phone app via wireless Bluetooth audio.

"The Arctis 3 Bluetooth was the first headset on the market that could seamlessly have both wired gaming audio and wireless Bluetooth at the same time," said Brian Fallon, SteelSeries Audio Category Manager. "The unique solution makes this headset the best for Switch gamers so that they can easily chat with their friends over Nintendo Switch Online."

Worldwide shipments of virtual reality (VR) headsets were down 33.7% year over year in the second quarter of 2018 (2Q18), according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Augmented and Virtual Reality Headset Tracker. IDC expects this to be a temporary setback as the VR market finds its legs. The arrival of new products, such as the Oculus Go and HTC Vive Pro, and new brands, combined with the need for greater headset fidelity all point to a positive outlook for the quarters ahead.

Screenless viewers brought a lot of attention to VR in the early days as the entire market was artificially propped up by brands like Samsung, Alcatel, and Google that bundled the headsets with smartphones. However, since then, the screenless viewer category has declined substantially, shrinking from 1 million headsets in 2Q17 to 409,000 in 2Q18. This category was the largest contributor to the decline in shipments for the overall VR headset market.

(Editor's Note: Naturally, the adoption of such a standard does imply that graphics card manufacturers will have to start fitting USB 3.1 connectors on their graphics card outputs. This opens up a proverbial can of worms on backwards compatibility of this new data delivery protocol, however, in that even current top-of-the-line graphics cards lack such a port - meaning that this protocol will only be compatible with eventual, future GPU releases.)

A new industry consortium led by NVIDIA, Oculus, Valve, AMD, and Microsoft today introduced the VirtualLink specification - an open industry standard that enables next-generation VR headsets to connect with PCs and other devices using a single, high-bandwidth USB Type-C connector, instead of a range of cords and connectors.

With the SKILLER SGH3, Sharkoon introduces the most versatile stereo headset of the SKILLER series. The Hi-Fi capable 53 mm drivers promise a forceful sound which can be adjusted according to personal preferences via the external USB sound card. The sound card incorporates a hardware equalizer and is supplied with the headset. The straightforward design, detachable microphone and modular cable connections should also make the headset attractive for mobile use.

The HTC VIVE Pro Full Kit is one for the enthusiast, with the full bundle launching with the updated Steam VR 2.0 compatible base stations for a total play area of an incredible 10m x 10m, over three times that of the original. Also included in the Full Kit is a new set of pro controllers in the iconic blue colour. The VIVE Pro headset itself features a resolution of 2880 x 1600 (an increase of 78% over the original), with a built-in deluxe audio strap and slimlined cable management.

LucidSound, the fastest growing gaming headset brand, announced today their full roster of premium headsets being shown off at the E3 Electronics Entertainment Expo. The fresh line-up of headsets includes the all new LS31 and LS41 Wireless Headsets, alongside the eSports developed LS25, and the Xbox-licensed LS15X and LS35X. As one of the only independent 'pure play' gaming headset companies, LucidSound's primary focus is to create audio products for the new generation of multiplatform gamers. The LS15X, LS35X, LS25, LS31, and LS41 all target the audio and comfort needs of specific types of players with the exact feature set they require.

"The LucidSound team is a renegade group of gamers gathered from the top gaming headset companies in the industry who are focused on innovation and determined to reinvent the gaming headset," said Chris Von Huben, CEO of LucidSound. "Our focus is on exceptional comfort, outstanding sound quality, durability, clear chat communication and easy-to-use controls. We are proud to present the LS15X, LS35X, LS25, LS31, and LS41 at E3 this year."

HyperX , the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced it has shipped 5 million award-winning gaming headsets. With the popularity of video games Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), the gaming headset market continues to grow at a rapid pace and HyperX continues to gain new fans. HyperX gaming headsets are worn by gamers globally, including first-time players and professional gamers.

"With the explosive growth of Fortnite, NBA 2K and esports, HyperX is seeing an exciting expansion in the global gaming headset market," said Marcus Hermann, senior business manager, HyperX. "HyperX has been supplying hardcore gamers with gear for over 10 years and we are now seeing our HyperX headsets becoming more popular with casual gamers. Shipping 5 million headsets is a major milestone as we continue to grow."

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Strix Fusion 700 and Strix Fusion Wireless, two new wireless headsets designed to provide gamers total freedom of movement and convenient connectivity for uninterrupted gaming experiences. ROG Strix Fusion 700 features Bluetooth 4.2, which lets gamers simultaneously connect the headset wirelessly to their phone and to their PC via USB, so they can answer incoming calls using intuitive headset touch controls without interrupting gameplay. ROG Strix Fusion Wireless features dual 2.4GHz antennas, 50mm ASUS Essence drivers and an exclusive airtight chamber design to deliver stable, great-sounding audio for gaming and entertainment. The ROG Strix Fusion Series has recently been recognized with a prestigious iF Design Award 2018, demonstrating why ROG products continue to be the preferred choice of gamers and enthusiasts around the world.

ROG Strix Fusion 700
ROG Strix Fusion 700 offers versatile connectivity with Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connections to PCs and phones, and USB 2.0 for wired connections to PCs, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. With Bluetooth 4.2, gamers can simultaneously connect ROG Strix Fusion 700 to their phone wirelessly and to their PC via USB, so they can enjoy high-quality gaming audio and answer phone or VoIP calls without interrupting their game - perfect for team chat. Intuitive touch controls on the left ear cup let gamers easily answer and disconnect from calls, as well as instantly adjust volume and other audio settings.

Seagate, a world leader in data storage solutions, and HTC VIVE, an innovation world leader in the field of smart mobile devices and virtual reality (VR), have jointly launched the SeagateⓇ VR Power Drive at the 2018 HTC New Ecosystem Conference in Shenzhen, China, helping VR device users expand their storage capacity and battery life.

Virtual reality is developing with great speed and momentum in China, and VR applications are emerging one after another in the fields of entertainment, education and healthcare, etc. According to a report jointly released by iResearch and Greenlight Insights, China will become a main VR market globally. In 2016, the VR market in China reached RMB 3.46 billion (about US$550 million). With high growth rate, the VR market in China is estimated to exceed RMB 10 billion (about US$1.6 billion) in 2018. In the next five years, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the VR market could exceed 80 percent. Moreover, by 2021, China is forecast to become the largest VR market in the world, and the whole scale of the industry could reach RMB 79.02 billion (about US$ 12.64 billion), with the VR headset device market forecast to be RMB 29.75 billion (about US$4.76 billion). With the overall market for VR hardware expanding, the market of content, including VR games, VR films and television, as well as live streaming, are also growing rapidly, bringing more comprehensive entertainment experience to users.

(Editor's Note: Read our own review of the new Corsair HS70 WIRELESS.)

CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today announced the latest addition to its growing line of gaming headsets, the CORSAIR HS70 WIRELESS Series. Joining CORSAIR's award-winning range of HS headsets launched last year with HS50 and HS60, HS70 WIRELESS headsets are available in subtly styled Carbon, White or SE trim and are compatible with both PC and Sony PlayStation 4, for great gaming audio whether you play on a desktop, laptop or a couch.

Combining exceptional comfort, premium build quality and precision gaming sound with long battery life, HS70 WIRELESS is the perfect companion for gamers looking to get serious about their setup.

Facebook has announced that their Oculus Go portable VR headset is now available in 23 different countries at oculus.com, Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg. The headset features a cordless design which means that it doesn't need to be connected to a PC or smartphone to function. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, the Oculus Go boasts a fast-switch LCD display with a 2560 x 1440 WQHD resolution and a pixel density of 538 ppi. The headset is designed to be worn by consumers with or without glasses. However, consumers can purchase compatible VirtuClear prescription lenses and insert them directly into the Oculus Go. The headset also comes with built-in spatial audio and an integrated microphone for communication. The unit is shipped with over 1000 VR games, social applications, and 360° experiences for users to experience. The Oculus Go starts at $199 USD for the 32 GB model and $249 USD for the 64 GB model.

AVerMedia Technologies, Inc., a leader in digital video and audio, today introduced its brand-new line of SonicWave gaming audio solutions. The two headsets, the stereo SonicWave GH335 and the virtual 7.1 surround sound SonicWave GH337, have both been designed to give gamers a satisfying, immersive audio experience on PC, all current consoles and even mobile platforms. AVerMedia listened to gaming community feedback to ensure the SonicWave line measures up to the most demanding gaming audio needs.

Both headsets feature oversized 50mm neodymium drivers delivering powerful sound at a fraction of the weight of regular magnets. The stereo SonicWave GH335 features analog audio and microphone connections and its oversized drivers and closed back design help keep gamers focused on their gaming experience.

Leap Motion today announced their North Star project, an open-source approach to a VR headset that comes with some very impressive specs. For now, it's still in the prototype phase; but Leap Motion are pinning high hopes on the overall concept to come to fruition into a competitive market. The 100º degree FOV (Field of View) is already impressive, but alongside it come some more respectable features, such as resolution (1,600 x 1,440 per eye) and an extremely high refresh rate - set at 150 Hz. It wont be easy to power those specifications with current hardware and graphics technology.

But that's not all, and really couldn't be - this is Leap Motion we're talking about. The company's real move here is to integrate their motion technology with the VR headset, improving current technologies by a margin. Even better: Leap motion says a headset with the above specifications could likely be produced at scale for only $100 (though of course, the big question here is at what scale one would need to go to actually achieve that manufacturing price-point).

Logitech G, a brand of Logitech, today announced the Logitech G PRO Gaming Headset, offering esports-grade audio performance and features for professional and competitive gamers. The newest addition to the Logitech G PRO lineup of professional gaming gear, the Logitech G PRO Gaming Headset is lightweight, strong and extremely comfortable for extended gameplay. It features Logitech G Pro-G drivers for superior audio, premium leatherette ear pads for excellent noise isolation and a pro-grade condenser microphone for crystal-clear communications. With the clarity and quality of the most advanced gaming headset speaker, gamers can hear every approaching enemy footstep in super-efficient detail. The Logitech G PRO Gaming Headset has also been named the official headset of Electronic Sports League (ESL) CS:GO Pro League, ESL One and ESL Premiership, and will be the headset of choice for several top teams and players.

"As a leading gaming gear manufacturer, we develop what esport professionals, players and enthusiasts are looking for," said Ujesh Desai, vice president and general manager of Logitech Gaming. "The PRO headset was developed in close collaboration with TSM, G2 Esports and London Spitfire players. Our design includes features such as a tournament-grade mic and comfortable leatherette for the perfect headset for esports and pro gamers."

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced the addition of HyperX Cloud Revolver Gunmetal gaming headset to its Cloud Revolver family. Featuring the same award-winning sound, comfort and durability inherent in Cloud Revolver, the new gunmetal edition offers the immersive audio profiles engineered in the Cloud Revolver family, creating a larger sound stage for FPS and open-environment gameplay, as well as concert hall-like audio experience when listening to music.

HyperX Cloud Revolver Gunmetal uses 50mm drivers that directs sound into the ear for precise audio positioning and a clean, crisp sound with enhanced bass. The headset is versatile with its detachable noise-canceling microphone that is certified by TeamSpeak and Discord. The headset is designed to deliver ultimate comfort during long hours of gameplay with HyperX signature memory foam and premium leatherette on the ear cups and head band.

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced it has shipped more than 4 million units of its award-winning gaming headsets. HyperX began shipping gaming headsets in April 2014, reaching 1 million units in less than two years. HyperX gaming headset popularity extends from first-time gamers to professional gamers on tournament stages around the world. HyperX headsets are now available in 15,000 stores, in over 100 countries and across 6 continents.

HyperX headsets deliver the ultimate comfort for hours of gaming for pro gamers and enthusiasts alike, featuring premium HyperX signature memory foam, an adjustable headband, and multi-platform capability. HyperX headsets are designed to deliver industry-leading sound quality for an immersive gaming experience, as well watching movies, listening to music and chat.

ROCCAT proudly announces its new Khan AIMO headset. Part of the AIMO illumination series, the premium headset builds upon the strengths of the critically acclaimed Khan Pro. It boasts high quality 50mm drivers capable of Hi-Res audio, a microphone that covers the full vocal spectrum and a supremely comfortable fit. The Khan AIMO features an integrated sound card capable of producing crystal clear sound up to 24-bit at 96KHz, easily outperforming onboard audio solutions provided on most gaming motherboards. This ensures gamers don't have to worry about having a headset that needs a specific sound card, with the Khan AIMO representing a complete, premium solution right out of the box.

At SOLIDWORKS World, HP today announced it will power its bestselling performance workstation, the HP Z4, with a choice of Intel Xeon or Core X processors and support dual extreme graphics. HP's latest technology was showcased at SOLIDWORKS World, where it also unveiled its low-cost, full-color 3D printers -- highlighting the company's comprehensive end-to-end solutions for product developers.

"The revamped Z4 workstation, along with our latest HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset and new customer-friendly VR solutions and services, will transform the way products across industries are developed," said Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, Z Workstations, HP Inc. "Over the past year, HP has launched the world's most powerful workstation, the most powerful detachable PC and the first-ever professional VR backpack. Today's news reflects our focus on continuously raising the bar with a portfolio of workstations and VR capabilities that will enable amazing new experiences and define the future of computing."

MSI, leader in true gaming hardware, today announces the Immerse GH60 GAMING Headset, Vigor GK40 GAMING Keyboard and Vigor GK40 Combo to provide more choices for mainstream gamers who are looking for powerful weapons to conquer the battlefield.

Immerse GH60 GAMING Headset
Using 50mm Neodymium driver units with Hi-Res certification, the Immerse GH60 provides highly detailed and crystal clear sound. Whether you're trying to hear the enemy's slightest movements or just looking to enjoy your favorite music in all its glory. The 3.5mm headphone jack doesn't only bring the convenience in PC games but also in mobile devices to communicate with friends. With ergonomic design, GH60's flexible headband and soft ear pads ensure a comfortable fit that distributes the weight of the headset evenly, while still fully enclosing the ears to isolate distracting noises. Two sets of ear pads are included to provide a choice between smooth leather or soft cloth, or to simply allow gamers to switch to a fresh pair.

Plantronics, an audio pioneer and communications technology leader, today introduced Voyager 6200 UC, the company's latest addition to its flagship Voyager family of enterprise headsets. The new neckband wearing style features Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a boomless design with comfort-fit earbuds, active noise cancellation (ANC) and integration with major unified communications (UC) applications. With the addition of Voyager 6200 UC to its line-up, Plantronics is now offering professionals the widest range of stereo Bluetooth devices with ANC of any vendor in market.

"Accommodating individual employee workstyles is becoming increasingly important, especially when it comes to retaining millennial and Gen Y talent," said Alaa Saayed, ICT Principal Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. "By offering a wide choice of headsets and letting people choose their preference, IT and line of business managers can create a solid win-win scenario; optimizing the UC and collaboration experience overall for the company, and engendering goodwill with highly valuable personnel."

ASUS introduced the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Strix Fusion 500 gaming headset, a step up from the Strix Fusion 300 the company launched last September. The headset essentially retains the design of the Fusion 300, but steps it up with gold-metallic body panels around the cans, RGB multi-color LED diffusers replacing the red LED accents, which you can control via ASUS Aura Sync RGB software; and under the hood enhancements.

The headset uses a higher quality ESS Sabre 9018 DAC combined with ESS 9601 amplifier. The DAC has a high SNR, and puts out 24-bit/96 kHz audio. The enhanced audio setup is mated with 50 mm ASUS Essence drivers, and improvements made to the passive acoustic dampening material around your ears. ASUS included game-specific virtual-7.1 surround DSPs with this headset. Available now, the ASUS ROG Strix Fusion is priced at USD $179.99, about $50 pricier than the Fusion 300.

Dell today announced it will be the first authorized reseller of the Meta 2 Augmented Reality Development Kit, equipping commercial companies with the tools needed to more easily innovate and adopt new AR technology applications that can advance their business. In partnership with Meta, Dell aims to make AR more accessible for business deployment, particularly in healthcare, manufacturing and construction, by providing tools for creating immersive experiences unique to the needs of those industries.

Dell is the only technology provider with an end to end ecosystem to consume, create and power VR and AR. The new offering with Meta stems from Dell's VR/AR Technology Partner Program, which brings together other innovators in VR and AR to test and collaborate on the best technology solutions for varying applications and experiences. This program allows Dell to help current and potential customers to better navigate the new and rapidly evolving VR/AR ecosystem, by working with partners to verify and certify the best software and hardware solutions for VR and AR applications - bringing standardization where it is needed most.

Cooler Master, a Taipei-based leader in designing and manufacturing computer components and gaming peripherals, will debut the M800 gaming series consisting of the MK850 and MK851 keyboards, MH850 headset, MM830 mouse, and the MP860 RGB dual sided mouse pad. The series provides the highest level of flash and expression while combining features such as Aimpad technology, hidden D-Pad, Focus FX, and precision wheels that work together across the series for the ultimate competitive gaming advantage.

"The M800 gaming series embodies the best of the best. We aimed to raise the bar with unique technology and features such as the collaboration with Aimpad, but also set the stage with a fresh level of design to ensure we deliver a premium gaming experience," says Bram Rongen, Senior Product Marketing Manager.