If reports are to be believed, the HTC Vive VR headset is slated for a mild redesign.
Speaking to TechCrunch, HTC’s Rikard Steiber, SVP of VR at HTC explained that we might see an update to the HTC Vive’s form factor. The Vive VR headset was released in April this year, right alongside competitor, the Rift CV1 from Oculus.
The Oculus Rift and Vive have been competing head to head in the PC VR space since their launch and reactions to both have been mixed. The consensus is that the Rift is the better headset, but that the Vive, with its bundled controllers and room-scale VR, offers the better experience.
Steiber’s suggestion that the Vive will see an update, is a welcome one. Oculus has, after all, already announced plans for room-scale VR and touch controllers of its own and it’ll be too bad if the Vive falls behind.
Steiber also told TechCrunch that HTC’s VR plans in countries like China and Taiwan revolves around enhanced peripherals like wheels and weapons. He also suggested that innovation cycles in VR, as far as high-end VR headsets are concerned at least, will be “sort of annual.”
The Rift and the Vive, with all necessary accessories for room-scale VR and motion controls are priced in the same range (around $799). With all accessories included, the two platforms also offer a largely similar gaming experience.
It’s hard to imagine how the two platforms will set each other apart in the near future.