HTC cuts the price of its Vive VR headset to $599
Virtual reality got a lot cheaper this summer. Oculus sliced the price of its Rift VR headset to $399 in June, and now HTC has reduced the price of the competing Vive headset to $599.
Besides the Vive headset and controllers, for the price you also get a 1-month free access to HTC Viveport subscription and three VR titles: Google Tilt Brush, Everest VR, Richie's Plank Experience.
Reducing the price of Vive was a no-brainer for HTC since the price difference between the Vive and the Rift was just too large (both started at $800 at launch).
Technically, the Rift, together with Touch controllers, costs $499, but it has been discounted to $399 for months now. This makes the Vive two hundred bucks more expensive than the Rift, but the Vive, with its room-sensing sensors, arguably offers a more immersive VR experience.
And if you're hoping for new HTC VR hardware, sorry: It's not going to happen. Engadget claims this is likely a competitive move and not HTC clearing inventory to make room for an upcoming product.
Of course, to run either system, you still need a fairly powerful computer, but with these latest price reductions, getting a VR platform from either manufacturer is not the bank breaker it used to be.
Topics Virtual Reality
Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.
