Earlier this week, Valve’s Index VR set was still sold out nearly totally across the globe only a month away from their very own upcoming VR-only Half-Life: Alyx. No official phrase had come from Valve on the trigger for the quick inventory or any estimate on when extra models could be out there. Previously we have been solely in a position to speculate on the trigger for the hangup. Valve have now confirmed that the continuing coronavirus well being disaster has put a spanner in manufacturing of the Index headsets.
Valve mentioned yesterday in a press release to Road To VR:
“With Half-Life: Alyx coming March 23rd, we are working hard to meet demand for the Valve Index and want to reassure everyone that Index systems will be available for purchase prior to the game’s launch. However, the global coronavirus health crisis has impacted our production schedules so we will have far fewer units for sale during the coming months compared to the volumes we originally planned. Our entire team is working hard right now to maximize availability.”
The World Health Organization cites the primary reported case of COVID-19 showing in Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019. Coronavirus is now a worldwide concern, with circumstances reported in 27 international locations, although based on today’s latest figures from WHO, 98% of confirmed circumstances are in China. Restrictions meant to comprise additional unfold of the virus in China have prevented many people from returning to work, together with manufacturing unit employees.
You don’t really need Valve’s personal Index VR set to play Half-Life: Alyx, as a result of it can run on Vive, Rift, and different PC VR headsets. That mentioned, Valve usually are not the primary to have manufacturing of VR units affected by coronavirus. Earlier this month, Facebook halted new orders for his or her Oculus Quest VR set, citing related manufacturing delays associated to coronavirus.
When they initially introduced the HL2 prequel, Valve mentioned it might be difficult to imagine Half-Life: Alyx without VR. It will launch on March 23rd, leaving little time to get newly-made VR units out the door. If you don’t already personal a PC goggles, you could simply must think about enjoying Alyx for some time after it’s been launched.
Valve have reiterated that prospects ought to enroll on their website to obtain a again in inventory notification when Index units change into out there once more.
