HTC Vive Pre
£689, htc.com/uk
Ooh, this looks exciting. Is it HTC’s new VR headset?
Aye. The Vive Pre (packaged with two controllers for a full range of actions) is the second generation of the dev kit, which bridges the gap between this and the final consumer version of HTC’s VR headset that you’ll be able to buy this April. Excited? You should be – this baby is going to deliver one heck of a VR ride.
Truth time, T3: what’s it really like?
We had an extended session with the Vive Pre at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, and we can confirm that the experience is nothing short of incredible full immersion.
Immersion, you say?
You bet. We were stunned at how much it affected us – standing on a shipwreck was the best part, with a whale coming out of the ether towards us. The scene was so realistic, we had to take several steps back as the whale swooshed past.
Could you hear the sniggers? What games are available, then?
Watch your step, cheeky. Anyway, HTC has already partnered with games developer Valve for the headset, using Valve’s SteamVR system. It wants to get the Vive into the hands of more developers, and will be dishing out around 7,000 headsets to get the ball rolling. If you’re interested, check out some of the demos on YouTube.
Screw the developers! When can I get one of these bad boys?
The consumer edition (pictured here) is available to pre-order now. Pricing has been set at £ 689, and for a limited time will include three VR experiences – Tilt Brush, Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives and Fantastic Contraption – to get you started in the virtual world.