Vive, the virtual reality headset created in collaboration between Valve and HTC, will be releasing in April 2016. This is opposed to the limited launch that was projected for December 2015.
Through its official blog, HTC stated that, “We remain committed to delivering the HTC Vive to a broader group of content creators and partners, and remain focused on delivering the very best experience possible for a consumer release.
“Since announcing the HTC Vive in March of this year we have focused on developing immersive content, refining both hardware design and user experience, and building relationships with new partners both inside and outside of the gaming industry. In collaboration with Valve, we have been distributing the HTC Vive Developer Kits to developers and content creators, and are continuing to work with many other innovative companies to create content that spans gaming, entertainment, medical, education and retail.
“This includes hosting a developer conference in Beijing on December 18th, launching the second generation of the HTC Vive Developer Kit at CES and engaging audiences at key events including The Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, GDC and MWC while expanding our demo tours.”
Though the VR headset will be out on a commercial basis in April 2016, developers can still expect some early units. “We will be starting the new year by making an additional 7,000 units available to developers, followed by commercial availability in April 2016. We are incredibly excited about the future and look forward to sharing more information as we move forward towards launch.”
It should be interesting to see how this pans out especially if Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR plan to release around the same time. Stay tuned for more information and let us know what you think of the delay.