HTC Pursuing Vive Timed Exclusivity with New Dev Registration

    The previously promised limited launch may no longer be taking place but the HTC Vive virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD) is having a busy month all the same. Earlier in December the Taiwanese smartphone maker revealed that its much anticipated kit, made in partnership with Valve, would now be releasing in April 2016, with pre-orders hitting next February. Just this week a new leak has also seemingly unveiled the latest version of the device and its SteamVR controllers. Now a new sign-up for developer editions of the device has opened, and looks to be pursuing some timed exclusives for the device.

    The new sign-ups are this time hosted on HTC Vive’s official site for the kit. The most surprising addition is a check box at the end that asks: “Do you agree to deploy your application to HTC’s store first as debut?” The box is already checked but is not necessary to push on with the rest of the application. It certainly seems, then, that HTC is looking to secure some timed exclusives for the HTC Vive given that the Oculus Rift will launch with its own store in Q1 2016 with much of the content that will also be coming to HTC’s kit also due there too.

    The original sign-ups, which opened all the way back in April 2015 were available on Steam and were closed the follow August. They didn’t make mention of any kind of timed exclusivity for the device. Elsewhere, the form asks developers how many years they have been working on VR content as well as what types of applications they plan to create. It also wants to know if applicants have any previously released VR content and if they have worked on other HMDs and, if so, which ones.

    In the past Valve has noted that it wants developers to be able to publish its content on all platforms in order to help VR overall thrive. It appears that HTC itself doesn’t quite agree with this concept if it is indeed pushing for some timed exclusives. Oculus VR, on the other hand, has gone about securing several exclusives for the Oculus Rift, including the recently announced Rock Band VR from Harmonix and The Climb from Crytek.

    VRFocus will continue to follow the HTC Vive and all the latest updates on the device.

    -END-

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