Just once you thought it was protected to make the leap on a VR headset in time for Half-Life: Alyx, HTC have simply gone and introduced three new Vive Cosmos headsets to boost your digital window buying. Dubbed the Vive Cosmos Elite, Vive Cosmos XR and Vive Cosmos Play, all three headsets could have the identical 2880×1700 decision show and general design as the unique Cosmos, however their degree of monitoring functionality will differ relying on which headset you go for – presumably to make them extra aggressive towards the Cosmos’ cheaper, lower-end Oculus and dearer, higher-end Index rivals. Here’s the whole lot you’ll want to know.
That doesn’t imply that present Vive Cosmos homeowners now have a defunct headset, nevertheless. Thanks to the Cosmos’ modular face plate design, present headset homeowners will merely be capable to purchase the suitable face plate to vary their headset’s monitoring capabilities ought to they really feel so inclined. The new headset bundles, however, are for individuals who don’t have a Cosmos in any respect and need to leap straight in with a specific headset.
Behold, the Vive Cosmos Play.
At the underside finish of the dimensions, we’ve obtained the Vive Cosmos Play (pictured above). This is meant to be the bottom entry-point to the Cosmos household, and could have 4 cameras for inside-out monitoring. HTC describe it as being “ideal for entry-level VR adventures and applications such as Viveport Video, Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs, The Curious Tale Of The Stolen Pets and A Fisherman’s Tale”, they usually additionally say it is going to be a less complicated and extra inexpensive manner for companies and museums to include VR into their public experiences.
There’s no phrase on pricing simply but, however contemplating the common Vive Cosmos has six cameras for inside-out monitoring and prices £699 / $699, I reckon the Cosmos Play headset will most likely are available someplace across the £499 / $499 mark. Hopefully we received’t have to attend lengthy to seek out out, although, as HTC say that “additional details” on the Vive Cosmos Play can be made accessible within the coming months.
Behold, the Vive Cosmos XR.
Next up is the Vive Cosmos XR (pictured above). This one comes with high-quality XR passthrough cameras that may flip the headset into one thing a bit like Microsoft’s Hololens, permitting it to mix the true world with digital objects and overlays. Quite how it will find yourself being utilized to games is at the moment unknown, however with HTC set to point out it off to builders at GDC subsequent month, this might be the beginning of a brand new augmented reality-style growth.
It is perhaps a while earlier than the XR’s potential involves fruition, although, because it’s first going to be made accessible as a developer package solely. It will finally be that can be purchased as a standalone headset and a separate face plate, however we’ll most likely have to attend till GDC earlier than we get an thought of when that can be. Again, there’s no phrase on pricing simply but, however we’ll most likely be capable to get a tough thought of how a lot it can price when the developer package turns into accessible someday between April and June later this 12 months.
Behold, the Vive Cosmos Elite.
Finally, there’s the Vive Cosmos Elite (pictured above). Launching someday earlier than the top of March for £899 / $899, this seems to be to be HTC’s Valve Index rival, as this one can be utilized with a pair of exterior Lighthouse base station trackers to be used with SteamVR purposes. Designed “to meet the needs of the most demanding VR entertainment enthusiasts”, in response to HTC, the Vive Cosmos Elite has been constructed for precision VR gaming experiences, equivalent to Superhot VR, Pistol Whip, Audica and multiplayer VR games equivalent to Battlewake.
It’s costly, certain, nevertheless it does include a great deal of extras within the field, together with two SteamVR base stations, two Vive controllers and two totally different face plates – the unique inside-out monitoring one which comes with the common Vive Cosmos headset, and its particular exterior monitoring face plate (which can be appropriate with the unique Vive and Vive Pro controllers, present Vive peripherals such because the Vive Tracker and Wireless Adapter, in addition to base station variations 1.Zero and a pair of.0, by the best way).
The exterior monitoring face plate can even be accessible as a standalone accent for £199 / $199, primarily for present Vive Cosmos and Cosmos Play homeowners who need to improve, and is because of launch someday between April and June.
The present Vive Cosmos, in the meantime, will proceed to occupy the center floor between the Vive Cosmos Play and Cosmos Elite for the aforementioned value of £699 / $699, however HTC can even be introducing a standalone six-camera Cosmos face plate for £199 / $199 in the identical April-June interval as the whole lot else for potential Cosmos Play upgraders.
I’ll be testing a few of the new headsets sooner or later to see how they stack as much as the unique Cosmos and the remainder of their VR headset competitors, however for sure, if you happen to’re occupied with shopping for a brand new VR headset within the coming month, it’s possible you’ll need to wait a bit to see the way it all shakes out.
