HTC has recently introduced its first virtual reality headset in Taipei during its HTC Vive tour early this week.
The Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer presented to gamers at a Taipel tech mall its VR headset, their answer to Sony’s PlayStation VR and Oculus VR’s Oculus Rift.
HTC partnered with U.S. video game developer, Valve, to develop the VR headset, with the aim of reviving its faltering sales with the new virtual reality product.
HTC has suffered losses during the fiscal year in the face of the stiff competition in the crowded smartphone market, which is currently dominated by Apple and Samsung, as well as other rising Chinese electronics brands covering the Asian market.
The Vive had earlier been showcased in the U.S and Europe after HTC announced its VR headset product at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain this March.
During the HTC Vive tour stopover in Taipei, users queued up to test the VR headset in 10-minute trials where they played games that included shooting zombies, and explored the interiors of a sunken ship, Today Online reported.
According to users who tried the HTC Vive, the feeling of being inside the scene and the sense of distance made them consider actually buying the VR headset if it were within their budget.
While there has been no information released about the headset’s price, HTC has announced the Vive will become available on retailer shelves by April 2016, Ubergizmo said.
HTC and Valve will also be opening the Vive for preorders starting February, VR Focus wrote.
The VR’s official release had initially been scheduled before the end of the year, but the roll out was delayed for undisclosed reasons.
HTC and Valve tour will be bringing the headset to Beijing this Dec. 18, Friday, to present at a developer conference, followed by the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in January.
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