We finally got the details on HTC’s virtual reality headset, the HTC Vive, and its availability. You’ll be able to pre-order it later this month starting February 29th and it will hit the shelves early April, though we still don’t know the exact date yet. How much will it cost you? A whopping $US799 ($1,118) dollars, even more than the high-priced Oculus Rift, which starts at $US600 ($839).
For the money you’ll get the headset (duh), two wireless special controllers for both of your hands, two cameras that you hang in the wall to track your position and the hub that collects all the data and sends it to your PC. So the system is indeed a little bit more complete than the one you get with Oculus (and therefore more immersive you could argue), but also more expensive.
There are also a couple of improvements and new features in the product. Headset has now a microphone and the ergonomics in the straps that go around the head have been vastly improved, according to HTC. The two little cameras that track your motion across the room are now wireless, which implies a huge, huge step forward (previous one were very bulky and wired). Valve has also announced the titles that will be released with the Vive when it launches: Job Simulator. The 2050 Archives, y Fantastic Contraption.