HTC VIVE Announces “Mars Beta Software” for Educators and Students

HTC VIVE isproud to announce the upcoming launch of Mars Beta Software, an easy-to-use software platform designed to help educators teach the fundamentals of real-time VFX and green screen compositing with the VIVE Mars CamTrack virtual production system.

Developed incollaboration with teachers and training centers, Mars Beta Software removes the complexity of virtual production workflows by eliminating the need to learn 3D creation tools. It offers a streamlined, step-by-step interface that allows instructors and students to jump into real-time filmmaking—no prior experience required—and save tremendous time and energy in the process. “What once took roughly 100 hours to learn and apply can now be achieved in 20 minutes,” said Tim Wen, Marketing Director of HTC VIVE Mars. Now in public beta, Mars Beta Software allows users to effort lessly create scenes with their own GLB files. In the future, users will be able to generate realistic, depth-mapped scenes from image files alone.

Mars Beta Software is the latest addition to HTC’s Mars CamTrack virtual production system, transforming it into a turnkey, ready-to-go setup for educators. By combining the Mars Studio Kit with the Mars Beta Software, HTC VIVE now offers a fully portable, classroom-friendly solution. It sets up in minutes and requires no soundstage or LED wall—making it easy to roll in, teach, and pack up all within a single class session. This means less time spent on setup, and more time on learning.

“Mars Beta Software was built to spark creativity and lower the barrier to entry for students exploring the world of real-time filmmaking,” said Wen. “We wanted to give educators a true turnkey solution—something that doesn’t just teach software, but encourages storytelling, collaboration, and technical agility. And this is just the beginning—later this year, we’ll be introducing powerful AI tools that simplify scene creation even further.”

Mars Beta Software will make its debut as a public beta at this year’s BILD convention, hosted by B&H. HTC will showcase the full Mars CamTrack system live at Booth #872 on June 17th and 18th. Attendees can participate in a hands-on VP challenge, “Creator in a Subway,”for a chance to win prizes. They’ll step into a virtual subway environment and act out creative scenes—powered entirely by the Mars Studio Kit and Mars Beta Software.

The Mars CamTrack team is especially interested in connecting with educators who have no prior experience in virtual production but are passionate about introducing innovative technology to the classroom. BILD attendees are invited to visit the booth, explore the system firsthand, and discover how easy it is to bring real-time filmmaking directly to students.

📩 Email mars-partnership@vive.com to launch Mars Beta Software at your school, and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible!