HTC and Valve partner to Launch Vive Virtual Reality Headset

| Updated: Sunday, March 1, 2015, 22:09 [IST]

HTC Vive is official and it seems to be really cool. Taiwanese tech giant just announced its Virtual Reality (VR) headset, as part of its collaboration with Valve, a well known video game publisher. The new virtual reality headset was announced at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain.

According to HTC, its new VR headset is almost complete. There will be a developer edition that will be out shortly, followed by a public edition later this year. Pricing was not revealed.

HTC and Valve partner to Launch Vive Virtual Reality Headset

Basically the headset integrates with Valve's Steam VR tracking and input tech. Notably the HTC Vive is completely different from Samsung's Galaxy Gear. That's because the HTC Vive does not require a user's mobile phone, but instead relies on a PC.

The company promises the Vive virtual headset will deliver "the most immersive experience of any VR package," and that it will include full room scale 360-degree viewing.

At the launch event, HTC also announced a bunch of content partners for the Vive such as Vertigo Games, Bossa, Barry - Fireproof, Dovetail Games, Wemo Labs, Steel Wool Games, Owlchemy, Google, HBO, Lionsgate and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

Valve will also announce more details in respect to the Vive virtual reality headset at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco early next week.

HTC has also unveiled its first wearable device at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). Its new Grip fitness band looks similar to the Nike+ Fuelband with integrated GPS. HTC Grip was developed in collaboration with Under Armour.

The popular handset maker even showcased its new flagship device - the HTC One M9. HTC says the phone has better cameras and the audio system is enhanced with Dolby Audio Surround. It will come to India in the coming days.

With the Vive virtual reality headset, HTC is slowly and gradually trying to diversify its portfolio. The company last year launched the Re Action Camera - its first non-mobile device.