The HTC Vive virtual reality headset now costs $599, a $200 reduction from the starting price of $799.
“I think this is going to make it much more attractive to consumers, much more attractive to businesses, and we feel confident this is going to be something that drives an enormous uptick as we move into the holiday season,” Rikard Steiber, president of Viveport, told Polygon.
The big question is whether this was done in reaction to the recent price drop of the Oculus Rift.
“I don’t think so. I think we are the leader in the market, and the plan was always that high-end VR be available to everyone,” Steiber said. “So of course there are a couple of components that need to fall into place ... in order to reach the mass market, you need to have a lower price point. That’s been the plan all along. I think it’s good that other players in the market are making similar moves.”
The HTC Vive package comes with the headset, two motion controllers and two wall-mounted sensors that deliver “room-scale” VR, allowing you to walk around and explore virtual worlds ... as long as you have room in your real-world surroundings.
You’ll also get some software to try with your VR system in the bundle.
“All Vive purchases come with a free trial to Viveport Subscription, where consumers can choose up to 5 titles per month to experience, and copies of many of the most popular pieces of VR content today, including Google's Tilt Brush, Everest VR, and Richie’s Plank Experience,” HTC said in a news release.