Valve on HTC Vive: ‘all efforts are being geared to commercial release’

With under two months left of 2015, time is running out for HTC and Valve and their supposed limited launch of the HTC Vive virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD). The companies have suggested over the past few months that a small number of units will become commercially available towards the end of the year before a wider role out in Q1 2016. Some fans are concerned that this limited launch may not happen at all with so little time left, but Valve has recently assured that ‘all efforts’ are currently being focused on a commercial release.

The company’s Jeremy Selan recently said as much during his ‘Keeping an open mind in VR’ talk at the 2015 VR Intelligence Conference and Expo (VRX) over in San Francisco, California. When asked about a possible date for the consumer rollout of the HTC Vive, Selan simply replied: “I’m not the person to ask. I know that all efforts now are being geared to commercial release.” VRFocus recently spoke to HTC itself about this potential limited launch, though the company also wasn’t willing to give a date.

Not only are fans waiting to hear a release date for the HTC Vive but also a price point and specifications for a PC capable of running the device too. The device works with Valve’s SteamVR system, which offers Room Scale user tracking. This uses a laser-based peripheral known as Lighthouse to follow players around an area of up to 15-feet by 15-feet and have those movements replicated within the given experience. It also features two position-tracked controllers to replicate hand movements within a title.

VRFocus will continue to follow the HTC Vive closely, reporting back with any further updates on its progress.

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