In 2016, HTC revealed the Vive VR headset to the world. In the years since, HTC has released several versions, like the Vive Pro, Vive Pro Eye and the standalone Vive Focus and Vive Focus Plus (for developers and businesses). Now it’s ready to launch a brand-new headset aimed at consumers: the Vive Cosmos. It costs $699, which includes a trial subscription to Viveport Infinity; you’ll get a 12-month trial if you pre-order before October 3rd, and a six-month one thereafter (The VR game service is usually $99 a year).
As hinted at earlier this year, the Cosmos is a vastly improved headset compared to the original. It features flip-up goggles, inside-out tracking, a modular faceplate, brand new controllers and the highest-res VR display on the market. Like the Vive Pro, it also has integrated headphones, but the ones on the Cosmos can be unplugged and swapped out for your own set of cans if you prefer.
It’s worth noting that the Vive Cosmos is not a standalone headset; it still needs to be tethered to a PC. “I think there’s a place for both PC and standalone experiences,” said Dan O’Brien, president of HTC Vive in North America. “Mobile has made great strides over the years, but for right now, the problems that we can solve and the experiences we can deliver are just so much more powerful on the PC. The PC will always be up there.” HTC does offer a Vive Wireless Adapter, which lets you untether from the PC, but it costs around $300 each.
Author: Nicole Lee
Source: Engadget
gaming, gear, htc, htc vive, htc vive cosmos, personal computing, personalcomputing, virtual reality, vive, vr
