Gaming accessory maker SteelSeries has partnered with Tobii Technology to develop a device that will let gamers use their eyes to control game play.
SteelSeries expects to announce further details about the partnership and products over the next several months. But the Tobii EyeX Controller, which will be demonstrated at International CES, will show how eye-tracking peripherals can look and function.
SteelSeries is sure eye tracking will play a big part in the future of gaming, because it expands the number of ways players can interact with games, company CTO Tino Soelberg said in a video announcing the partnership.
Danish SteelSeries and Swedish Tobii have several ideas about how players will be able to use their eyes to control games. It makes accessing menus easier, and makes games with complex controls easier to learn, they said. Developers can also let gamers aim a flashlight or a weapon by looking at a target, and then use regular controls to shoot. Another idea is to let gamers select the player they want to pass the ball to by looking at them.
Developers who want to be part of the first wave of games with eye tracking can preorder the Tobii EyeX Developer Kit for US$95 during the show, according to Tobii.
The kit includes hardware, middleware and a development framework, and will start shipping in March.
Send news tips and comments to mikael_ricknas@idg.com