Starting today, HTC’s Vive VR headset is available to purchase direct from HTC at vive.com in at least 24 countries with the device expected to ship to customers in the next 2-3 days. And it’s also being made available to preorder at select retail partners including Microsoft Stores, GameStop and Micro Center with those orders expected to arrive beginning sometime this week.
HTC originally launched preorders in February and started shipping in April, but until this week orders have been backed up and the company has bene experiencing shipping delays and complaints from preorder customers.
In addition, HTC announced today that it’s greatly increasing the number of physical locations with Vive demos through the same retail partners, giving potential customers a chance to try out the product.
Beginning in June, Vive will be demoed in 100 retail locations throughout North America. In addition to current retail demo locations, Microsoft Stores will expand from 29 to 51 locations, GameStop will increase demo locations from 10 to 40, and Micro Center will add 5 more locations for a total of 10. The demonstrations are open to the general public to experience room-scale virtual reality first-hand with the variety of content available on Steam®. The full list of participating locations is available at http://www.vive.com.
You can get the Vive now from HTC for $799 ($1,149 CAD) and for that you get everything needed including the VR headset itself and “two wireless controllers, two base stations, link box, earbuds, Vive accessories.”
