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HTC Vive costs $799, ships in April

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HTC Vive price revealed

Virtual Reality is meant to boom this year, but at the rate things are going it’s only deep-pocketed enthusiasts and those who have to have things first who are going to be driving it forward. Earlier this year Oculus revealed the Rift’s price to be a staggering $599, and at MWC last night Valve and HTC showed their hand. Unsurprisingly, the Vive is even more expensive.

The HTC Vive comes with a lot more, but will ask for just as much in return. The unveiled consumer version that was shown off in Barcelona will retail for $799, with pre-orders opening on February 29th and shipping starting in April later this year.

So just what comes in the box? Unlike Oculus, HTC will ship the Vive with their own version of motion controllers, as well as the two room scanning cameras that you’ll need to map out the space around you so you don’t walk into a wall. This is on top of the Vive itself, which features a front-facing camera that allows you to switch between virtual and real-world views. Something not present on the Oculus Rift.

So more than worth the $200 addition on the price I think.

In terms of requirements the Vive asks around he same as the Rift, meaning you’ll need a beefy PC to back up your new and shiny purchase. The Vive itself is a little different to the Rift in that it works with actual space rather than being a VR headset that you sit in a chair with. I preferred it when I got some time with the Vive at Gamescom last year, and I’m please that both Job Simulator and Fantastic Contraption will come bundled with the Vive at launch (the latter being a title from acclaimed indie studio Northway Games).

But it’s just another example of how VR itself won’t be making the break into mainstream market space this year, or probably the foreseeable future. VR requires expensive hardware, and I’m very curious to see how the last runner in the race, Sony, deals with the PlayStation VR headset. With the Rift and Vive setting the bar so high, it’s hard to see Sony undercutting them too drastically.

Last Updated: February 22, 2016

No Comments

  1. LOLWUT?

    Reply

  2. Commander Admiral Chief

    February 22, 2016 at 07:36

    “as well as the two room scanning cameras that you’ll need to map out the space around you so you don’t walk into a wall”

    Dammit, I was hoping for some people failing videos

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    February 22, 2016 at 07:38

    I don’t need a stupid headset to play Job Simulator in 3D, I’m doing it right now without one.

    Reply

    • Commander Admiral Chief

      February 22, 2016 at 07:45

      Mine has a decent rating, but the loading times from Home Sim to Job Sim is flippen ridiculous

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        February 22, 2016 at 08:19

        Worse than console? 😛

        Reply

        • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

          February 22, 2016 at 08:24

          They did bother to put in a mini-game during the loading screen, it’s a very boring version of Carmageddon…

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 22, 2016 at 08:33

            hahaha

          • Commander Admiral Chief

            February 22, 2016 at 08:39

            A VEEEEEEEEERY boring version yes

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            February 22, 2016 at 08:49

            And I don’t know what happened to the music score, but they should’ve fired the guy that reinvented Tuksfm.mp3…

          • Commander Admiral Chief

            February 22, 2016 at 10:39

            IKR????

            Geez, I totally stopped listening.

            Only old Erras is worth listening to, the rest are muppets

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            February 22, 2016 at 10:57

            And now that he’s gone, no more retro riffs, that show was awesome, I’ve now also completely stopped, it’s a shame really…

          • Commander Admiral Chief

            February 22, 2016 at 11:20

            Well drat, didn’t know he was gone…

            Screw it, no more radio for me

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            February 22, 2016 at 11:36

            Yep! Hopefully they’ll get the message, but until then, my radio will be playing mixed mp3 disks…

    • Ghost In The Rift

      February 22, 2016 at 09:12

      And the NPC’s suck, especially the guy that gives you quests.

      Reply

  4. Captain JJ the "saviour"

    February 22, 2016 at 07:44

    Looks like an ad for cologne.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      February 22, 2016 at 07:50

      I’d rather buy cologne. It’s slightly cheaper and will last much longer than this.

      Reply

  5. Jonah Cash

    February 22, 2016 at 08:18

    So there goes my early adopter plans… Will buy the third or fourth version when it arrives for $200 or never.

    Reply

  6. Vernon Jonker

    February 22, 2016 at 10:24

    R12 296 DAMN!!! thats alot without a game. i realy want the playstation VR but looks like iam gonna have to become a Escort to afford these fancy headsets lol

    Reply

  7. HairyEwok

    February 22, 2016 at 10:30

    I only need head tracking and the actual VR headset for my space sim enjoyment thanks. Now make one of those that’s like $200 and I may consider buying it.

    Reply

  8. Deceased

    February 22, 2016 at 10:46

    But where in South Africa can I pre-order at the end of this month?

    Reply

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