HTC Vive Virtual Reality Headset Price And Release Date Unveiled At MWC 2016

HTC's Virtual Reality Headset Has A Price, But You're Not Going To Like It

HTC has unveiled the consumer price and release date of the Vive virtual reality headset at Mobile World Congress 2016.

The Consumer Edition will be available to everyone and will cost around £550 with deliveries expected in early April.

HTC first unveiled the Vive Pre at MWC 2015, showing off a large, bulky headset that when paired with some 3D-printed controllers and a partnership with games publisher Valve.

Since then HTC has steadily refined the Vive, making it smaller, easier to wear while updating the controllers significantly.

One of the Vive's standout features is that it allows the user to physically stand up and walk around a room. Using two sensor boxes the Vive scans the room and then creates a 3D overlay which becomes visible to the user whenever they walk near to an obstacle such as a wall or sofa.

The Vive will launch with two full-games: Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives and Fantastic Contraption. Of course the Vive is also compatible with current virtual reality games such as Eve Valkyrie, Alien Isolation and more.

Of course there's no getting around the price, over £500 is a lot to pay, and that's before you've even bought the PC you'll need to make any of the content run.

What's important though is that this is just one of three very good virtual reality options all catering to different people. For the casual user there's the mobile VR headsets such as Samsung's Gear VR and LG's 360 VR headset.

For the more enthused there's PlayStation VR, expected to cost around £300 it'll connect to the PS4 and run a range of compatible games.

Then there's the PC VR headsets in the form of Oculus Rift and HTC's Vive. Both are expensive but both offer the most immersive experience thanks to their high PC requirements.

While Vive might not be for you, the good news is there's at least something for everyone.

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