Soulart says it’s working to support Steam Frame with its standalone motion tracker, a device the company describes as a supercharged Base Station-like device that doesn’t require headset support. The device, simply called Station, could bring full body tracking to the Steam Frame, which currently relies on inside-out tracking limited to controllers and headsets.
Valve had previously relied on Base Stations to track the Valve Index. Those stations use infrared to track the absolute position of objects, namely headsets and controllers, and they can be used with trackers attached to objects or a person to track their movements in VR or on stream. Bigscreen Beyond and Pimax also use Base Stations.
Soulart’s approach is different. The company’s device runs independently of a PC using its own NPU, which means it no longer needs another computer plugged in to work. It can then be hooked into SteamVR to be used in any game that supports this level of motion tracking, with VRChat as the main target.
What Soulart’s Station Does
Station maps up to 50m2 and runs up to 120 Hz. It does admit that using machine learning can lead to “slightly higher latency and error,” which is a funny way of saying it might be slower and less accurate. The company says only one is required, but for improved tracking, multiple Stations are best.
The cost claim is vague. Soulart says each unit costs “under $400,” but that figure is tied to early production before a planned Kickstarter campaign, so it should be treated as provisional rather than confirmed. The company posted on its X account that it’s working on developing standalone support for the Steam Frame, which would completely cut out the need for another computer.
The Machine Learning Tradeoff
The admission about machine learning is the story’s odd hook. A device pitched as a supercharged Base Station-like tracker, designed to replace the old infrastructure, openly concedes that its own AI processing introduces “slightly higher latency and error.”
That’s a funny way of saying it might be slower and less accurate.
Alternatives Already Exist
Soulart isn’t the only company chasing full body tracking for VR. Fluxpose offers a competing system that uses a whole bunch of rechargeable 6DOF trackers that can track whatever they’re stuck to. These work in SteamVR as well, and they’re all about mapping full-body movements in VRChat.
Fluxpose’s approach is different from Soulart’s. Instead of a single stationary tracker, it relies on multiple small devices attached to the body. Both systems aim at the same target: VRChat users who want their full movements tracked in-game.
Inside-Out vs. Full Body
Inside-out tracking means the Steam Frame no longer requires any external setup to get you into VR. But for games that demand full-body movement — dance games, sports simulators, or just walking around a virtual space — the current controller-only tracking is limited.
A full body tracking system changes that. It lets players move naturally in VR without worrying about controller dead zones or tracking loss. For VRChat, which is built around social interaction and performance, full body tracking could make avatar-based interactions feel far more natural.
The Kickstarter Road Ahead
Soulart’s Station is still in early production, and the company plans to run a Kickstarter campaign later. The exact timing hasn’t been shared yet, but the company’s X post indicates the work is underway.
The device’s standalone nature is a key feature. Unlike traditional Base Stations, which require a PC to process data, Station runs on its own NPU. That means it can be placed in a room and used immediately, without a separate computer plugged in.
Comparing Soulart’s Station To Fluxpose
- Soulart’s Station: A single stationary tracker with its own NPU, running independently of a PC. It maps up to 50m2 and runs up to 120 Hz.
- Fluxpose: Multiple rechargeable 6DOF trackers attached to the body, each one tracking what it’s stuck to.
- Both systems: Work in SteamVR and target VRChat users who want full-body tracking in-game.
The comparison shows there is an alternative that already works in SteamVR, targeting the same use case: full-body tracking for VRChat. Soulart’s approach is different, but the competition exists.
The device’s standalone nature is a key feature. Unlike traditional Base Stations, which require a PC to process data, Station runs on its own NPU. That means it can be placed in a room and used immediately, without a separate computer plugged in.
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