This week, virtual production specialists Scenez entered a developer partnership with HTC VIVE to leverage its XR Elite headset for mixed reality (MR), “4D,” content creation and distribution.
Scenez is leveraging AI, MR, and volumetric capture technology to provide enterprise clients with immersive music, entertainment, sports, healthcare, and training solutions.
The news follows HTC’s announcement of its XR Elite MR headset at CES 2023 last month. The device is a serious Meta Quest competitor, boasting a lightweight frame with a modular design including features like 1920 x 1920 pixels per eye, 90 Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor, 128GB storage, and 12GB memory.
Brian Master, Scenez’s Founder and CTO, noted:
We aimed to solve the problem of quick and scalable 4D delivery that, until now, was extremely expensive and delivery times were weeks. With Web3 and the metaverse becoming a household term, we wanted a solution that offers a more realistic entertainment experience than what’s currently available and work with emerging extended and mixed reality devices.
Developing Volumetric Content with Scenez
Scenez is attempting to provide a volumetric capture and distribution service for various use cases which promote time and capital efficiency.
The firm also made its service offerings interoperable, meaning that Scenez-designed content can work across multiple headset types, desktops, and mobile devices.
Scenez promotes its content offering across two avenues: The Marketplace and The Platform – two accompanying services that allow clients to manage, monetise, and distribute volumetric content as an NFT.
Scenez users can find, acquire, sell, and trade immersive 4D experiences on The Marketplace. Moreover, The Platform provides a space for users to interact with their purchased Scenez assets. Users can also experience their Scenez products alongside a user’s already-owned web3 assets.
The firm also employs a Metamask digital wallet which allows users to buy and sell their virtual experiences on the blockchain.
The firm encourages individuals to experience immersive live performances, exchange assets, and interact on emerging metaverse platforms; using its The Marketplace, The Platform, and digital wallet/blockchain ecosystem.
Scenez creates its volumetric content via a subsidiary called 4D Fun. The sister firm has a volumetric capture studio based in Los Angeles. Thanks to the prime entertainment industry location, 4D Fun has gathered roughly 3300 music artists and bands to participate in its content service, including performers like Onyx and Juvahn.
Scenez: Developing for the HTC VIVE XR Elite
The firm chooses to work closely with the HTC VIVE XR Elite headset while also maintaining support for other hardware, perhaps partly due to the device’s promise to deliver deep MR experiences to end-users.
Paul Vowell, Scenez’s Founder and CEO, also added:
This HTC developer partnership and delivery of content for their launch at CES is the first glimpse at visualizing the future of spatial computing. An opportunity for us to demonstrate what we call standalone content. Delivering artists and entertainers into all environments real and meta.
HTC’s MR device is one of many products which aim to distribute low-cost passthrough technology to international audiences. Alongside devices such as the Magic Leap 2, Meta Quest Pro, and Pico 4, HTC is a leading vendor in enterprise-grade and consumer-grade XR/MR.
The firm is banking on developing a device which can dethrone the Meta Quest portfolio from its marketplace lead. Although HTC must design and secure system selling content to complete its goals, the Scenez partnership may entice consumers and brands to leverage the XR Elite headset.
Developing system selling content and components is a significant concern for XR device vendors. Recently, when discussing the development of upcoming XR headsets, immersive technology experts at Microsoft and Meta expressed considerations in securing system selling hardware and software.
