GoPro's New Spherical Camera Rig Is A Sports VR Play

GoPro is forecasting a marked increase in the development of sports-related virtual reality content with the release this month of its new Omni spherical camera rig. The new system, being formally announced today, includes six of GoPro’s Hero4 Black cameras tied together with newly developed software for image synchronization, editing and distribution. GoPro recently tested the system with the Tour de France, where the company was an official race partner, and is now actively marketing the system to numerous sports properties and brands, as well as other content verticals.

The fully inclusive kit carries a list price of $5,000, with a rig-only price of $1,500 for those already owning a series of Hero4 cameras. “This is basically VR in a box, a fully end-to-end product that we think will eliminate a lot of existing barriers for VR content development,” said GoPro Senior Dir of Immersive Media Solutions Alexandre Jenny.