HTC Vive News: Valve to Offer New Virtual Reality Headset for Free to Select Developers

Many have already heard about the VR headset, the Oculus Rift, and how the company decided to let both developers and every-day consumers buy it for a hefty price. However, now that Valve has collaborated with HTC to release their own VR headset, they have decided to offer it for free to select developers, starting this Spring.

Dough Lombardi, a Valve spokesperson, said that qualified developers would be able to try out their new VR headset for free with the proper sign ups and applications filled out. He added that more information regarding the matter would be out soon in the form of a new website.

The HTC Vive will be the next new virtual reality headset. According to VH247, the package will include the headset, two base-stations and two controllers.

Adi Robertson from The Verge was privileged enough to test out the HTC Vive. She said in a promo video that the base stations allow for more movement throughout a room. The base stations are set up in the corners of the room that picks up sensors which are found on the front of the headset and controllers.

This new feature allows for players to walk around a few square feet, giving a more realistic feel to a virtual reality world.

She added that the prototype has a lot of wires for both the controllers and the headset. She had to wear a belt in order to access it, but overall she was very pleased with it.

"We don't really know how this would work outside an extremely controlled environment, but just as a demo it's incredibly exciting," she said.

According to Latino Post, Vive has 1,200 x 1,080 displays that refresh 90 frames per second.