Refract Technologies unveils AXIS Lite, the newest VR accessory for gamers and creators

The all-new four-node motion tracker, AXIS Lite, is available globally for consumers to pre-order starting 8 February 2024 and will ship in May 2024. Its wireless nodes, needing no external base stations, make it ideal for easy setup and is compatible with popular VR headsets and systems

Refract Technologies, the company behind AXIS, the world’s first untethered plug-and-play full-body tracking system for virtual reality (VR) gaming, today unveils the newest addition to its roster – AXIS Lite. To celebrate its reveal, Refract is opening up its global pre-sale orders on 8 February ahead of its late Spring launch, allowing keen VR enthusiasts and gamers to secure their latest piece of immersive technology.

AXIS Lite tracks real-time lower body movement in addition to the upper body tracking typical of VR headsets and controllers, allowing for full-body immersion in VR. The technology was created especially for consumers looking to take their VR gaming experiences to the next level with ease. Designed to free the player from the constraints of complicated setups, external base stations, and endless wires, the AXIS Lite provides an untethered experience with a reduced number of motion trackers that balance quality with accessibility. With a streamlined four-node setup, AXIS Lite is convenient, easy to use, and simple to calibrate, significantly reducing setup time to allow for more playtime in VR experiences. 

Built with gaming in mind, AXIS Lite allows players to dance, jump, kick and more in real-time with low latency in games such as VRChatDance Dash VRZenith: The Last City, and Blade and Sorcery. With its 360-degree coverage and ample range, the four-node system allows players maximum freedom of movement to express full-body movements without sacrificing accuracy or space. For developers of VR applications, AXIS Lite is also compatible with SteamVR, OpenVR, OpenXR, Unity, and Unreal Engine.

“At Refract, we believe VR has legs”, said Michael Chng, Co-CEO of Refract Technologies“It is our goal to democratize full-body tracking. By making quality motion capture more accessible and affordable, we are confident that AXIS Lite will extend human experiences beyond reality for even more users. We can’t wait for people to get their hands on the AXIS Lite when it ships in late Spring.”

Refract’s technology is also currently being used in a partnership with the World Taekwondo Federation to develop ‘Virtual Taekwondo’ (VTKD), a new virtual experience complementary to the sport. VTKD allows players to experience the sport without the limitations such as geography, age, gender, and weight class. Refract’s involvement has led to a successful convergence of the worlds of sport and gaming, bringing physical exertion and the skill to win together. VTKD was recently recognized and showcased in the Olympic Esports Series in 2023, and with this validation, Refract and the World Taekwondo Federation look to create more opportunities for athletes to compete in the future with the implementation of world-class AXIS technology.

AXIS Lite will be available for pre-order starting 8 February 2024. Consumers can register to secure an exclusive Super Early Bird price of $248. Pre-order prices will then start at $288 until its May 2024 shipping date, where it will retail at its full price of $350. AXIS is available via Refract’s AXIS-dedicated website, which ships the motion trackers globally. 

For more information, visit the Refract website and its social channels to stay up to date.