It looks like those hoping the HTC Vive would be cheaper than the Oculus Rift are out of luck.
Pricing for the VR headset from HTC and Valve has leaked before its expected announcement at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and well, the price tag is steep. One of these headsets will set you back a whopping $799–which is $200 more than the Oculus Rift. Obviously, this is meant for VR enthusiasts that want to get their hands on the best tech.
This isn’t shocking news– many predicted it would be the priciest headset. I mean, it’s the most immersive VR experience by all accounts, thanks in large part to the impressive specs and room-scale movement features.
Those who decide this is the right VR headset for them can look forward to a package that includes two controllers (one for each hand) and the base stations. The two games that will be included are Job Simulator and Fantastic Contraption. Pre-orders open up on February 29.
Alright, now breathe. I know that $799 is not an ideal price point, but we all need to remember that this is the early stage of household VR rigs. Any new technology like this is going to be expensive for at least a few iterations. Through time, components will get cheaper, thus making the headsets more wallet friendly later on.
Now, all that’s left is to wait for Sony to announce the price tag of the PlayStation VR.
What do you guys think about this price point? Will it become the niche VR headset? Are you still waiting on more information about the PlayStation VR? Let us know in the comments below!
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HT: Polygon
Image: HTC, Valve