Two weeks after extensive rumors and leaks, and two years after the successful launch of the virtual reality headset, the Vive, HTC has announced that a new successor is on the horizon. Officially revealed at CES 2018, the new piece of hardware will be called the Vive Pro, and will release sometime in Q1 2018. Added and upgraded features will include things such as screen resolution of 2880x1600--an immense improvement at a 78% increase, built in headphones, a headset strap which will help keep the machine balanced, an additional microphone, and an outward facing camera.

Also announced was the Vive Wireless Adaptor, which can wireless connect your Vive or Vive Pro to a computer nearby. This will be released sometime this summer. Though third party technology to do this has existed, the official adaptor will utilize Intel WiGig technology. HTC did not mention what the price of the Vive Pro will be, nor did they mention what PC specs will be required to run games on the updated hardware.

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[BlueFox gui]

lol this thing will even be affordable?

 

[GalladeGuy]

lol this thing will even be affordable?

Of course!

If you have a thousand bucks to spare, that is.

 

[BlueFox gui]

Of course!

If you have a thousand bucks to spare, that is.

just people who saved a lot of money and don't have any way to spend it XD

 

[gudenau]

I was going to get a regular Vive in a couple of months, I am guessing this one will be 799$ USD.

 

[SirNapkin1334]

Wow... that's crazy.
I guess I'll have to choose between this and an iPhone X

 

[shaunj66]

A nice upgrade but certainly not the Vive 2.0 I was anticipating. Where's my increased FOV, eye tracking, foveated rendering? The strap and headset design still looks ridiculous compared to the PSVR also.

 

[Jonna]

I hope this means the old model will have a list price.

 

[DSpider]

Makes the PSVR look silly, at 1080p for BOTH eyes.

Still looks bulky af. I thought they were supposed to be working on slimming it down. It looks like a first-gen headset.

And are you sure you want a high-speed router strapped to your head? (health-wise, I mean)

 

[Deleted member 388531]

Wish they would just modify the design to make glasses wearable while playing. :/

 

[GalladeGuy]

And are you sure you want a high-speed router strapped to your head? (health-wise, I mean)

Why would that even be a problem?

 

[Spectral Blizzard]

My god!
A $1000 emoji machine has turned into a $1000 hentai simulator?

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Why would that even be a problem?

It's only an issue if your tinfoil hat acts as an antenna

 

[Xzi]

The resolution bump is pointless without an increase in FoV. It's the same Vive with a new strap and paint job, basically. Not impressed. I'll just wait for my Pimax kickstarter order.

 

[DarthDub]

Vive just doesn't give me that vibe you know? Is it any good?

 

[Xzi]

Vive just doesn't give me that vibe you know? Is it any good?

The whole system is great, but the HMD is a little heavier than it needs to be and I'm ready for an HMD with better FoV (Vive is 110 degrees). Resolution isn't even really an issue since you can supersample.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

The whole system is great, but the HMD is a little heavier than it needs to be and I'm ready for an HMD with better FoV (Vive is 110 degrees). Resolution isn't even really an issue since you can supersample.

Better resolution means lower screen door effect, though

 

[Xzi]

Better resolution means lower screen door effect, though

Even gen1 it's really easy for me to look past SDE and not see it at all. Regardless, the best thing to do is increase FoV and resolution to maintain PPI but still be a noticeable upgrade. The Pimax 5K is two 1440p panels and 200 degrees FoV. IMO that's a sweet spot for current PC VR. I'd be fine with the FoV a little lower at around 180, too. Problem with Vive's 110 is that you have to turn your head for everything, moving your eyes you just see black edges.

 

[duffmmann]

Gotta say, as someone with little interest in VR, this is a pretty sexy looking piece of tech.

 

[osaka35]

I'm looking forward to 8k in each eye. Hopefully within the next 5 years or so.