Apple and Valve hand in hand to develop an augmented reality headset

The manufacturer would have preferred a partnership for the development of its augmented reality headset.

Steam would then be the platform to distribute the experiences offered by Apple and third-party developers.

Valve to the rescue for the development of an AR helmet

Change of strategy for Apple. The Californian manufacturer has spent the last few years developing its own helmet or augmented reality glasses. This technology is strategic in the brand's products, which promotes it on all occasions, whether it's during a keynote or, more recently, to present its latest products directly in the user's environment, through the Apple Store application.

Now, Digitimes indicates today that Apple would finally abandon the idea of ​​launching alone and enter into a partnership with Valve to develop its product. Pegatron and Quanta Computer, the usual subcontractors of the Apple, would be responsible for its manufacture.

Valve would develop no specific software for the headset but would bring its expertise in the field to accelerate the development of the product, especially at the interface.

A launch next year for the general public

Valve and Apple have already worked together on projects related to virtual reality, including SteamVR optimization for macOS High Sierra and compatibility with external GPUs or support for HTC Vive Pro macOS Mojave.

Apple now wants to go fast and launch its product, at best, in the second half of 2020. We could bet on a presentation at WWDC 2020, the conference given by the manufacturer to introduce developers to its new software.

An augmented reality headset could indeed be the ideal "  one more thing " to show this audience the possibilities offered by the product and encourage them to develop perfectly optimized experiences available on launch day.

Source: Apple Insider