HTC has just announced their new VR headset at MWC 2015, built in conjunction with American video game development company Valve. The Vive will launch for consumers around the holidays this year, and a developer edition will be available this Spring. The headset boasts a 90Hz refresh rate and offers 360 degree views to its users.

Unlike most other VR headsets we’ve seen so far, the Vive isn’t powered by your smartphone. It’s made to offer the most high-end VR headset around, and will function by plugging it into your PC. This lightweight virtual reality headset supports full room-scale environments, and aims to let you get up, walk around, and interact with objects in the virtual space from every angle.

HTC explains:

Vive offers the most immersive experience of any VR package, plunging people into other worlds at a moment’s notice. HTC and Valve have introduced a Full Room Scale 360 Degree Solution with Tracked Controllers, letting you get up, walk around and explore your virtual space, inspect objects from every angle and truly interact with your surroundings. Setting a new benchmark for performance, the headset features high-quality graphics, 90-frames-per-second video and incredible audio fidelity

Controlling the headset is done by using a pair of HTC-made controllers that the company says are so versatile that the controllers will work with a wide range of VR experiences. Although, HTC didn’t exactly say what the controllers would look like, so we’ll have to wait until the Spring to get some more information on that. The headset itself is unfortunately not wireless, so you’ll need to be plugged in to experience VR with this headset.

The Vive will also offer virtual reality content from partners such as HBO, Google, Lionsgate, and a handful of others. The two companies will show off the Vive at the Game Developers Conference next week, so perhaps we’ll get some more info on this headset around that time. We’ll be sure to update you as more details emerge regarding the headset. Make sure to stay tuned to Android Authority this week, as we’re bringing you the best mobile coverage from MWC 2015.

[press]HTC AND VALVE PARTNER TO MAKE VIRTUAL REALITY DREAM COME TRUE

HTC unveils strategic partnership with Valve; announces VR developer edition available in Spring and consumer edition available by end of 2015 Barcelona, Spain, March 1, 2015 – HTC, a pioneer in innovative, smart technologies, today announced plans to bring mass-market virtual reality (VR) one step closer. Through a strategic partnership with Valve, HTC promises to transform the way in which consumers interact with technology and the world around them with the debut of HTC Vive. HTC Vive Developer Edition will be launched this Spring, with the consumer edition available by the end of 2015. Vive combines Valve’s Steam VR tracking and input technologies with HTC’s worldrenowned design and engineering talent, setting a new gold standard for an industry that has, until now, struggled to move beyond concept stage. Cher Wang, Chairwoman of HTC commented, “It’s rare that a company has an opportunity to forever transform the ways in which people interact with the world and communicate with each other, but that is exactly what we plan to do with Valve.” “We achieved this once before with our development of smartphone technology,” Peter Chou, CEO of HTC added, “And, through our partnership with Valve, we’ll now be doing this for a second time with VR technology of which consumers could only previously dream.” Mesmerizing quality, fully immersive experience Vive offers the most immersive experience of any VR package, plunging people into other worlds at a moment’s notice. HTC and Valve have introduced a Full Room Scale 360 Degree Solution with Tracked Controllers, letting you get up, walk around and explore your virtual space, inspect objects from every angle and truly interact with your surroundings. Setting a new benchmark for performance, the headset features high-quality graphics, 90-frames-per-second video and incredible audio fidelity.HTC is also introducing new wireless VR controllers that will make you feel one with your virtual environment. The new HTC VR Controllers come in a pair and are designed to be so versatile that they will work with a wide range of VR experiences. Unlike typical game controllers, the HTC VR Controllers are simple and intuitive to use, helping everyone make the most of their experience. Gaming and beyond Beta versions of the Vive Developer Edition have already generated rich entertainment content from some of the world’s top game developers including Vertigo Games, Bossa, Barry–Fireproof, Dovetail Games, Wemo Labs, Google, Steel Wool Games and Owlchemy. “Our collaboration with HTC is driven by the companies’ shared desire to produce the most compelling and complete VR experience,” said Ken Birdwell of Valve. “Delivering content creators with the Vive Developer Edition is an incredibly important milestone in our efforts to achieve that goal.” While amazing gaming experiences are a staple in the VR universe, the potential beyond gaming is limitless. HTC and Valve are committed to realizing a broader vision for VR and see a real opportunity in transforming everyday experiences. Travel, attending a game, meeting friends or even shopping will never be the same again, and the companies are working with leading content creators, including Google, HBO, Lionsgate and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan in order to make that vision a reality. “Vive creates an exciting opportunity for all developers and content creators, to help us bring virtual reality into the mainstream with an end-to-end solution that completely redefines how we entertain ourselves, communicate with each other, learn and, eventually, how we become more productive,” Cher Wang concluded. “HTC Vive is real, it’s here and it’ll be ready to go before the start of 2016.” – Ends – Notes to Editors Visit www.HTCVR.com to learn more about the HTC Vive.Later this week, Valve and HTC will be showcasing Vive to developers attending the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco, CA About HTC HTC Corporation aims to bring brilliance to life. As a global innovator in smart mobile devices and technology, HTC has produced award-winning products and industry firsts since its inception in 1997, including the critically acclaimed HTC One and HTC Desire lines of smartphones. The pursuit of brilliance is at the heart of everything we do, inspiring best-inclass design and game-changing mobile experiences for consumers around the world. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). www.htc.com About Valve Valve is an entertainment software technology company founded in 1996. In addition to creating several of the world’s most award-winning games, Valve is also a developer of leading-edge technologies including the Source game engine and Steam, the premier ogling gaming platform. www.valvesoftware.com[/press]