Samsung’s Gear VR has problems on the input front, but it looks like the company is soon to find a solution.
Alleged images leaks from a Czech Samsung fan site have seemingly uncovered a brand new Gear VR controller that’s made by both Samsung and kit co-creator Oculus. According to the site the device will weigh in at around 300g, come in black, and consists of a matter finish on top and a textured one on the bottom. Take note that the site doesn’t cite a source for the leak and these images could have easily been mocked up, so take all of this with a huge pinch of salt right now.
It’s the details on the images themselves that are the most curious, though. It looks like this alleged controller will sport just one rubber analog stick unlike most traditional gamepads which feature two. We can sort of see how Samsung might arrive at this decision; the functionality of the right stick is usually to control a camera, which is now done through VR head-tracking. Still, it gives those making first-person VR games less options to play with for a user’s comfort, which could be a problem.
The rest of the rumoured device seems pretty standard. There are four face buttons, with the Home button that takes you back to the menu sitting in the middle. Two shoulder buttons are also included and, interestingly, the kit has a slot to fit into the Gear VR itself when your phone isn’t inserted, presumably for transport purposes. Previously, players have had to rely on a handful of existing Bluetooth gamepads for use with Gear VR, so we’d welcome a dedicated controller if this turns out to be real.
One of the biggest factors of this new kit will be price. Current gamepads can cost nearly as much as a Gear VR itself, so if Samsung has found a way to lower that price that could be key. Again, though, we’re questioning this leak; the back of the device seems to be very different in the two images above and an older version of the Gear VR is use in the mock up image. Crucially, the last image features the new Oculus logo on that kit, which was released when the old logo was still about. Even if they’re real, there’s no telling if Samsung has ditched plans for the controller, though the site does say it will be revealed soon.
It’s interesting timing for the supposed leak, though, as Google has just introduced its Daydream platform, complete with its own motion controller. Samsung itself is a partner for Daydream, and we’re yet to find out how the company will balance support for Google’s plans with its own.
