HTC announced its plans to enter the virtual reality market last year with the Vive VR headset that it has developed in partnership with Valve. Since then the company has released two developer versions of the Vive before finally announcing at Mobile World Congress 2016 when it’s going to release the consumer versions. Pre-orders for the consumer version of HTC Vive virtual reality headset are now open.
The consumer version of HTC’s first VR headset comes with new features, an updated headstrap and refreshed branding. Two updated wireless controllers are shipped with the headset that provide haptic feedback and dual stage triggers.
For a limited time customers who pre-order the HTC Vive will also receive two virtual reality games for free, aside from Lighthouse stations for positional tracking.
HTC Vive is priced at $799. Granted it’s more expensive than the Oculus Rift but HTC will be hoping that the difference in hardware makes customers pick its headset over the one made by Oculus.
Pre-orders are now open for customers in the United States and across the globe. HTC is promising pre-order fulfillment and full commercial availability of its first VR headset by April 2016. If you pre-order the headset keep in mind that you’re going to need a PC that’s capable enough of driving this headset.
Filed in . Read more about HTC, HTC Vive, MWC, MWC 2016 and Virtual Reality (VR).