One of the things holding back music virtual-reality startups so far as been the slower-than-expected growth of VR-headset ownership. Now startup MelodyVR is making moves to tackle that challenge.
First: it’s launched a closed beta of its app for Android and iOS devices, with plans for a commercial launch this summer. It’ll offer the company’s catalogue of performances and music-related VR content as 360-degree videos, watchable on a phone with no headset required. However, the second plank in the company’s strategy is the launch of its own hardware: the MelodyVR Viewer. “A high quality, low-cost product that enables anyone with a recent smartphone to experience a true VR experience, without the need for a dedicated VR device,” as the company pitched it in an announcement to the financial markets.
The viewer device will launch later this year “at an extremely low cost compared to current hardware offerings”. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet. Based on the preview site launched by the company, the viewer looks a lot like Google’s Daydream View headset.
In separate news, MelodyVR has teamed up with the UK’s Wireless Festival in July as a launch event for the new app, with plans to stream performances and host a VR space for fans to “hang out” with artists virtually during the concerts.
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