Tech company Valve has released a new virtual reality content creation tool completely for free. Named the Destination package, the tool includes the same Source 2 engine tools that Valve uses and a sample map which users can modify.

In a statement posted on its digital store Steam, Valve said "Content creators will be able to use the Source 2 game engine, the same engine that Valve uses when making its own games and experiences, to build and share their own worlds with the VR community. The latter, of course, will be done using the Destinations Workshop."

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Source 2 is the same game engine used by DOTA 2 gamers to create custom games. Valve added that samples that were created via photogrammetry will be added to the package at launch.

The new Destinations tool will allow virtual reality developers to create content for any headset that supports Valve's Open VR platform. Popular virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are among the devices that support this platform.

The software will be released in beta version through Steam's Early Access. Valve said that the company is still in the process of developing more sophisticated features for Destination. The company added that part of the reason why it is releasing Destinations for free is to gather feedback and suggestions from developers and the virtual reality community.

Valve programmer Tom Bui told Polygon that the primary vision of Destination is to have a platform for developers to create and share virtual reality contents.

Valve said that once the Early Access duration of Destination is complete, the tool will continue to be a free app. Once downloaded, Destination will be added to the Steam Library located under the Tools tab.

One of the scenes preloaded on Destination is an English churchyard, a close-up of a pile of popcorn, and an immersive, face-to-face experience with the Curiosity rover on Mars whose images were supplied by NASA.

TagsValve, VR, Virtual Reality, VR content, VR headset, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, valve news, Valve Steam, steam, Destination, Valve Destination, Destination VR creator