HTC is doing a week-long holiday sale starting today that is bringing deep discounts to many of its PC VR headsets, as well as accessories such as the Vive Wireless Adapter and Deluxe Audio Strap.
The promo is in effect starting today, and goes until December 19th (or until supplies sell out).
We’ve listed prices in US dollars below, however you’ll find similar savings across both EU and UK regional sites. Here’s the full list of VR hardware currently on sale:
Natively compatible with original 2016-era HTC Vive
We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more savings in the coming days, as the usual rush of hardware and software discounts tend to arrive around this time frame, often seeing repeats of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Check back for more deals and discounts!
The HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit will start shipping in October, the company today confirmed.
Pre-orders for the bundle are already live in the US and will launch in Europe, Middle East and Africa on September 23rd. The kit costs £1,299 in the UK and you can also pre-order from Vive.com, Amazon, Scan or Overclockers to get a £50 voucher at the respective store. The pre-order window closes October 14th, so expect units to ship in the second half of next month.
HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit Ships Next Month
The Vive Pro 2 Full Kit includes the headset itself, two Vive wand controllers and two of Valve’s 2.0 SteamVR Base Stations. There’s also two months of the company’s VR subscription service, Viveport Infinity, thrown in too. Previously the headset had only been sold as a base model with just the device itself.
As we calculated back in May, though, you can actually get the Vive Pro 2 on its own and then buy the base stations and a pair of Valve Index controllers for $1,375. Not only are you saving yourself a little money, but the Index Controllers (which HTC has confirmed are compatible with the headset) support advanced finger detection and have analog sticks too.
It’s definitely worth doing a little digging if you’re in the market for a full PC VR kit, then. We haven’t tried the Pro 2 for ourselves yet but its specs certainly impress on paper – with dual 2448×2448 LCD panels, more than 2.6x as many pixels as the original Vive Pro. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring you some full impressions sometime in the near future.
HTC just officially revealed Vive Pro 2, the successor to the Vive Pro launched back in 2018. Read on for Vive Pro 2 specs.
Vive Pro 2 is a PC VR headset for both consumers and businesses. It uses the same design as the original but switches out the OLED panels for a much higher resolution 120Hz LCD, and uses HTC’s new wide field of view lenses.
The front of the headset is black like the original 2016 Vive, but the strap arm & rear remain blue. It still has built-in headphones and two color cameras for passthrough.
Vive Pro 2 Specs
If you already own SteamVR base stations & controllers, or plan to purchase those from Valve separately, the headset alone is priced at $799.
The headset will ship from June 4, with preorders before then getting a $50 discount.
A full kit with SteamVR base stations and HTC’s original “wand” controllers will be available from August for $1399.
2.5K Per-Eye 120 Hz LCD
Vive Pro used dual PenTile OLED panels with a resolution of 1440×1600 each – the same used in the first Oculus Quest.
Vive Pro 2 replaces them with a “5K” LCD panel providing 2448×2448 per eye – more than 2.6x as many pixels. That’s the highest resolution available in the consumer VR space, going beyond even HP’s Reverb G2.
Vive Pro 2 uses DisplayPort 1.2 with Display Stream Compression (DSC), so any graphics card that supported the original should still work.
Vive Pro’s panels ran at 90 Hz refresh rate, but Vive Pro 2 increases this to 120 Hz.
The switch from OLED to LCD means Vive Pro 2 can no longer display the true color black, since there’s a backlight behind the display instead of pixels controlling their own light.
HTC says the new lenses provide a clean 120 degree field of view, without introducing new distortion or blur at the edges. For comparison, it marketed the original Vive Pro’s field of view as 110 degrees.
There are multiple ways to measure field of view, and it changes depending on how close your eyes are to the lenses. We’ll bring you our impressions of the new lenses when we get hands-on.
Like with all HTC headsets so far, Vive Pro 2 has lens separation adjustment.
Same SteamVR Tracking
HTC’s Vive Cosmos line switched to “inside-out” positional tracking, but Vive Pro 2 sticks with SteamVR Tracking 2.0.
That means existing base stations and controllers should continue to work, and tracking should be extremely high quality in most environments.
What do you make of the Vive Pro 2 specs? Let us know in the comments below!
HTC today announced the Vive Pro 2, an upgraded version of the Vive Pro headset which first launched in 2018. The new version of the headset brings a huge upgrade to resolution, along with a boost to field-of-view, while retaining compatibility with previously released accessories like the Vive Wireless Adapter and Vive Facial Tracker. The headset itself will sell for $800 with a release date of June 3rd, while a full kit including controllers and base stations will be priced at $1,400 with a release date in July.
HTC first launched the Vive Pro back in 2018. Aside from its hefty price, which straddled the line between high-end consumer and enterprise, it was a well built headset. The Vive Pro 2 looks to be a return to form in both design and awkward price positioning, bringing an impressive leap in resolution and a boost to field-of-view.
Let’s take a quick rundown of the full specs (a few details are still unknown but we’ve reached out to HTC for more info):
Vive Pro 2 Specs
Resolution
2,448 × 2,448 (6.0MP) per-eye, LCD (2x)
Refresh Rate
90Hz, 120Hz
Lenses
Dual-element Fresnel
Field-of-view
120° diagonal
Optical Adjustments
IPD, eye-relief
IPD Adjustment Range
Unknown
Connectors
USB 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2
Cable Length
Unknown
Tracking
SteamVR Tracking 1.0 or 2.0 (external beacons)
Controllers
Vive wand controllers, rechargeable battery
Audio
On-ear headphones, USB-C audio output
Microphone
Dual microphone
Pass-through Cameras
Yes
Resolution & Lenses
Image courtesy HTC
The biggest upgrade to the Vive Pro 2 is surely the new displays. While the headset moves away from OLED in favor of LCD, the resolution has jumped from 2.3MP (1,440 × 1,600) per-eye on the Vive Pro to a whopping 6.0MP (2,448 × 2,448) per-eye. That gives the headset a class-leading resolution, handily beating out headsets like Quest 2 at 3.5MP (1,832 × 1,920) per-eye, and Reverb G2 at 4.7MP (2,160 × 2,160) per-eye.
In addition to a jump in resolution, the new LCD displays also boost refresh rate from 90Hz to 120Hz. A new dual-element lens design takes the Vive Pro 2 diagonal field-of-view to 120° (up from 110° on Vive Pro), according to HTC.
To push all those pixels, HTC says that Vive Pro 2 is the first headset to support Display Stream Compression, allowing it to handle the huge 719MP per-second throughput on DisplayPort 1.2 when running at full resolution and framerate.
Same Solid Design as Its Predecessor
Image courtesy HTC
While the Vive Pro 2 internals have been upgraded, the outer headset is largely the same design as the Vive Pro, which has proven to be a well designed bit of hardware with great ergonomics and smart cable management. This of course means the Vive Pro 2 is sticking with SteamVR Tracking, apparently using the same sensor layout as the original.
Vive Pro 2 also includes a welcome range of ergonomic adjustments, including a dial on the back for tightening the headstrap, an eye-relief adjustment, and an IPD adjustment.
The headphones are also the same as the original headset which we didn’t find to be the best at launch, though they saw some post-launch improvements which brought them up to par.
Vive Wands Are Still Kicking
HTC’s Vive wand controller has been largely unchanged since its launch in 2016 | Image courtesy HTC
Vive Pro 2 will continue to lean on HTC’s Vive wand controllers. Those opting for the ‘full kit’ version of the headset will receive the Vive wand controllers and base stations, both supporting SteamVR Tracking 2.0. That of course means that you can use any SteamVR Tracking compatible controller with the headset, including the Valve Index controllers if you so choose.
While many consumer headsets have moved away from the Vive wand and their large trackpads—instead opting for thumbsticks, buttons, and grip triggers—HTC says some still prefer the wand-style controllers, especially in enterprise-use cases where they can be easier to learn for users who aren’t used to gaming controllers.
Compatibility with Vive Wireless Adapter & Facial Tracker
The Vive Wireless Adapter is a pricey add-on that removes the cable | Image courtesy HTC
Vive Pro 2 will have compatibility with Vive accessories like the Wireless Adapter and recently released Facial Tracker.
The Vive Wireless Adapter will support up to 90Hz on Vive Pro 2, though it isn’t clear if it will support the headset’s full resolution (we’ve reached out to HTC for more details).
Of course the headset will also support any accessory in the SteamVR Tracking ecosystem, like the Vive Tracker or Tundra Tracker.
Vive Pro 2 Price and Release Date
Image courtesy HTC
The headset-only version of Vive Pro 2 has a release date of June 3rd and a price of $800. HTC will begin pre-orders of the headset today with a $50 pre-order discount.
The full kit version of Vive Pro 2 (which includes the headset, controllers, and base stations) will be released in July and priced at $1,400.
According to a report from Protocol, HTC will unveil two new headsets at ViveCon next week – the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition and Vive Pro 2.
Protocol found mentions of both devices in company documents, and reports that both were also briefly listed on Alzashop, a European ecommerce site.
The Vive Focus 3 Business Edition will be a standalone enterprise headset following up the Vive Focus Plus, while the Vive Pro 2 will be a high-end PC VR successor to the original Vive Pro.
According to the Alzashop pages, the Vive Focus 3 Business Edition will retail for €1,474 (approximately $1770) and the Vive Pro 2 for €842 (approximately $1012). Protocol reports that both devices will be available to purchase by the end of the month.
HTC’s previous comments suggested its standalone headset would not be a Quest competitor. This lines up with the Protocol report, which indicates that the Vive Focus 3 is aimed at an enterprise market and, priced somewhere around $1700, comes nowhere close to the Quest 2’s $299 starting price, and still more than double the $799 starting price of the Quest 2 business edition.
The Vive Pro 2 looks to be a successor to the original Vive Pro, which was mostly discontinued in March 2020, spare for a few Vive Pro Eye models.
HTC has made the pro-consumer move of partnering with popular DIY repair website iFixit to offer replacement parts, repair guides, and more for out-of-warranty headsets. The move contrasts with one of the company’s major competitors, Oculus, which has opted to quickly discontinue older headsets with little recourse for out-of-warranty DIY repairs.
HTC announced this week that it has partnered with iFixit to offer official replacement parts for the original Vive, Vive Pro, Vive Pro Eye, Vive Tracker, and base stations.
There’s 35 parts currently offered, even including some internal electronic components (like the Vive Sensor Array), external components like headphones and cables, and even minor items like individual screws.
While there are parts of the headsets that aren’t offered (like lenses and displays), the availability of components and the knowledge offered through the disassembly and repair guides are a veritable treasure trove for DIY repairers hoping to keep their headsets up and running for years to come.
The offering contrasts with Oculus which has moved to quickly discontinued its older headsets, often meaning that basic replacement parts—like headphones, cables, and sensors—are simply unavailable to out-of-warranty headsets. HTC is going several steps further by offering not just the basics, but even internal and components, casings, and even many of the bits and bobs that keep its headsets together.
HTC has a good reason for betting on the longevity of its older headsets. While its latest VR headset, Cosmos, has hardly caught on, the original Vive headset still makes up a little more than 12% of active headsets on Steam, despite being released more than five years ago. Along with the Vive Pro, these older HTC headsets collectively make up nearly 15% of active headsets on Steam.
Mit Blaston schickte Resolution Games in diesem Jahr einen Duell-Shooter ins Rennen, bei dem ihr stets nur gegen einen Mitspieler oder eine Mitspielerinnen antretet. Blaston ist bereits seit einigen Wochen für die Oculus Quest erhältlich und nun schafft es das Spiel auch auf Steam.
Blaston für PC-VR veröffentlicht
In Blaston führt die richtige Taktik zum Sieg, denn ihr schießt zwar aus kurzer Entfernung auf eure Gegner, aber die Projektile fliegen extrem langsam. Dies gibt den Gegenspielern Zeit zum Kontern oder Ausweichen. Aus der Vermischung von Echtzeit und Zeitlupe entsteht ein ganz besonderes Spielgefühl, welches in VR aktuell einzigartig ist.
Die Version auf Steam bietet etwas mehr Funktionen als die Version für die Oculus Quest. So bietet die PC-Version einen Spectator-Modus, mit dem ihr Übertragungen und Aufzeichnungen interessanter gestalten könnt.
Blaston auf Steam ist kompatibel mit der Oculus Rift S, Oculus Quest via Link, HTC Vive und Valve Index. Eine Angabe zu Windows Mixed Reality Brillen fehlt.
Wenn ihr unser Spiel Tower Tag schon immer ausprobieren wolltet, dann ist jetzt die richtige Zeit. Aktuell erhaltet ihr das Spiel mit 70% Rabatt im Steam Lockdown Discount, damit die müden Knochen auch im Home Office in Bewegung bleiben.
Tower Tag Lockdown Discount gestartet
Seit mehrere Jahren bieten wir Tower Tag für Arcades auf der ganzen Welt an. Seit Mai 2020 haben wir auch eine Version auf Steam, welche euch Tower Tag in die eigenen vier Wände bringt. Der Plan, Tower Tag auch für Heimanwender zugänglich zu machen, wurde durch die aktuelle Pandemie unser wichtigstes Ziel in diesem Jahr.
Gerade zur Weihnachtszeit kämpfen wir nun wieder mit hohen Infektionszahlen und obwohl wir gerne bei unseren Liebsten wären, ist es besser, in der eigenen Wohnung zu verweilen. Damit euch nicht komplett die Decke auf den Kopf fällt, haben wir uns dazu entschieden, Tower Tag um 70% zu reduzieren.
Wir würden uns wahnsinnig freuen, euch auf den Servern von Tower Tag bald begrüßen zu dürfen. Regelmäßig veranstalten wir Turniere, Challenges und mehr, um die Community zu festigen. Schaut also gerne vorbei, wenn ihr gerne mit anderen Menschen zusammenkommt und der Isolation entkommen wollt.
Wir würden uns außerdem sehr freuen, wenn ihr unserem Discord-Kanal beitretet und gemeinsam mit uns über die neusten Entwicklungen diskutiert und ein Team findet.
Aktuell arbeiten wir auch an einer Umsetzung für die Oculus Quest und Oculus Quest 2 und hoffen, dass diese in den kommenden Monaten das Licht der Welt erblickt.
Wenn ihr unser Spiel Tower Tag schon immer ausprobieren wolltet, dann ist jetzt die richtige Zeit. Aktuell erhaltet ihr das Spiel mit 70% Rabatt im Steam Lockdown Discount, damit die müden Knochen auch im Home Office in Bewegung bleiben.
Tower Tag Lockdown Discount gestartet
Seit mehrere Jahren bieten wir Tower Tag für Arcades auf der ganzen Welt an. Seit Mai 2020 haben wir auch eine Version auf Steam, welche euch Tower Tag in die eigenen vier Wände bringt. Der Plan, Tower Tag auch für Heimanwender zugänglich zu machen, wurde durch die aktuelle Pandemie unser wichtigstes Ziel in diesem Jahr.
Gerade zur Weihnachtszeit kämpfen wir nun wieder mit hohen Infektionszahlen und obwohl wir gerne bei unseren Liebsten wären, ist es besser, in der eigenen Wohnung zu verweilen. Damit euch nicht komplett die Decke auf den Kopf fällt, haben wir uns dazu entschieden, Tower Tag um 70% zu reduzieren.
Wir würden uns wahnsinnig freuen, euch auf den Servern von Tower Tag bald begrüßen zu dürfen. Regelmäßig veranstalten wir Turniere, Challenges und mehr, um die Community zu festigen. Schaut also gerne vorbei, wenn ihr gerne mit anderen Menschen zusammenkommt und der Isolation entkommen wollt.
Wir würden uns außerdem sehr freuen, wenn ihr unserem Discord-Kanal beitretet und gemeinsam mit uns über die neusten Entwicklungen diskutiert und ein Team findet.
Aktuell arbeiten wir auch an einer Umsetzung für die Oculus Quest und Oculus Quest 2 und hoffen, dass diese in den kommenden Monaten das Licht der Welt erblickt.
Wie die Entwickler und Entwicklerinnen vom Flight Simulator mitteilen, wird der VR Support am 17. Dezember für die wichtigsten VR-Brillen veröffentlicht.
Microsoft Flight Simulator VR Support ab 17. Dezember
Ursprünglich sollte die VR-Unterstützung zunächst für die HP Reverb G2 ausgerollt werden, aber da diese weiterhin nicht im größeren Umfang ausgeliefert wird, scheint Microsoft sich nun an die Besitzer und Besitzerinnen anderer VR-System wenden zu wollen.
Wie flüssig das Ganze laufen wird, werden wir im Dezember erfahren. Wir werden testen, ob eine GTX 1080 für eine gute Erfahrung ausreichend ist, denn diese wurde für die Beta als Minimum angegeben:
