Samsung has unveiled a virtual reality rig designed for use with Windows PCs . 
HMD Odyssey joins previously announced VR headsets and hand controllers from Dell ,  HP ,  Lenovo ,  Acer and Asus to form the launch hardware line-up for Microsoft's new Mixed Reality platform . 
Unlike earlier PC-based VR kit ,  the new products are able to track their wearers' movements in a room without requiring additional external sensors . But experts have questioned whether the market will support so many brands . 
Until now ,  HTC's Vive and Facebook's Oculus Rift have had most of the market in high-end PC-based VR headsets to themselves . But the two firms had only sold a combined total of just over one million headsets by the end of June ,  according to SuperData Research . Both have cut their prices in recent months in an attempt to stimulate demand . 
By contrast ,  Samsung's more basic Gear VR - which works with some of its smartphones - had sold more than eight million units ,  according to the same market research . 
 " VR is still a very youthful medium ,  "  commented Kevin Joyce ,  editor-in-chief of the news site VR Focus .  " There's a number of significant barriers to entry - price ,  lack of variety in software collections etc - all of which are slowly being addressed .  But in the short term ,  I do think we'll see some of the hardware manufacturers in the current race fall before the final hurdle [ since some ] will want a return on their investment sooner rather than later .  " 
Microsoft hosted an event in San Francisco to mark the release of a new version of Windows10 on 17 October that supports new virtual and augmented reality capabilities . The firm uses the term  " mixed reality "  to refer to both VR experiences ,  which are based solely in computer-generated worlds ,  as well as AR ,  which mixes graphics and real-world views together . 
Samsung's headset was pitched as a premium way to experience VR ,  thanks to it featuring higher-resolution OLED  ( organic light-emitting diode )  displays than the other new kit .  It also has a slightly wider field-of-view and integrated headphones .  However ,  its $499  ( ?425 )  price makes it more expensive and it will go on sale a month later in November . 
Microsoft is also developing an AR-based headset that does not require a separate PC called the HoloLens .  But a prototype sold to developers costs ?2,719 and there was no update as to when it will get a mass-market release . 
One industry-watcher suggested that consumers tempted to invest in Microsoft and its partners' VR tech should wait a while before making a purchase .  " The launch of all of those head mounted displays will create a lot of competition and possibly price aggressiveness in this space in the coming holiday season ,  "  Annette Zimmermann from the consultancy Gartner told the BBC .  " Until now all PC vendors were linking their high-end devices with Oculus or HTC headsets . With their own headsets available ,  it is likely that they will focus on promoting bundles with their own devices .  " 
By Leo Kelion , Technology desk editor . 
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41491862