Nod Labs raises $13.5m for VR game controllers

Nod Labs has raised $13.5m for the development of its motion tracking and gesture recognition hardware.

The firm’s latest product is the Nod Backspin, a multi-platform controller designed for virtual reality. It claims to provide low latency and sub-millimetre accuracy hand tracking. The controller features traditional inputs such as an analogue stick, and trigger and A, B, X, Y buttons.

Nod Labs has already developed the Nod Ring, a 3D gesture-tracking device. The Backspin and Ring currently support Oculus DK2, OSVR HMD, Samsung Gear VR and Google cardboard.

"The industry is starting to realise the need for an input method beyond game controllers, and we’re excited to introduce the solution – Nod Backspin – to the world," said Nod Labs CEO Anush Elangovan.

"Both Nod Backspin and Nod Ring provide a fully immersive user experience that makes for extraordinarily rich and beautiful experiences in a virtual, augmented or real world."