As part of a special preview before the rest of the world, China has today launched the sale of an official HTC Vive wireless upgrade kit. Adding a battery and wireless transmission, the kit makes the headset completely untethered from your PC, giving you true wireless virtual reality.
All of those VR backpacks suddenly seem woefully outdated.
This also steals the thunder from Oculus' upcoming debut of the Touch controllers, which will finally bring it up to par with the HTC Vive in terms of input mechanisms. Even before it can though, HTC and Valve are now launching the wireless upgrade, which enters a whole new world of immersion.
Once you're no longer kicking a cable around your feet, you'll be so much more able to forget where you are and head into the virtual world uninhibited.
The upgrade is priced at $220 and will only be available in China initially. HTC has confirmed that you'll be able to order one overseas, but shipping and tax costs may be quite nasty. Presumably this is something that will be available everywhere in short order, but nothing's been confirmed yet.
Initial pre-orders will come with a battery that lasts around an hour and a half, though a bigger battery will be available in the future and will fit in the user's pocket. Not quite as wireless, but certainly better than the standard wired headset. It should also be very handy for trade shows where multiple VR rigs are set up in close proximity.
Although we have some concerns about latency still, this is a very exciting development for the VR scene.
Source: UploadVR"
