What is HTC Vive?

15 November 2016: The HTC Vive is a virtual reality headset resulting from a partnership between telecommunications giant HTC, and video game publisher, developer and distributor Valve Software (Steam, Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal, Left 4 Dead). The former has provided the hardware technology and manufacturing, while the latter has provided the operating system and software distribution channel. The HTC Vive is the main rival of the Facebook-owned Oculus Rift headset, but also competes for market share with PlayStation VR. Despite a number of other virtual reality headsets releasing or (in the case of the Samsung Gear VR) already released in 2016, these three products have the largest brand awareness.

Virtual Reality ALSO READ: HTC Vive hands-on

How much will the HTC Vive cost in Australia?

The HTC Vive is available for preorder now and will set you back $1,399 from JB HIFI and $1,398 from Harvey Norman,

When is the HTC Vive Australian release date?

Preorders of the HTC Vive from JB HIFI and Harvey Norman's online stores started 7 November 2016. The official release date is yet to be announced, but it's expected to mid-November.

What is included in the HTC Vive bundle?

Importantly, and unlike the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive ships with its two purpose built, motion-based controllers. (The Oculus Rift ships with an Xbox One controller, with the virtual reality focused controllers available late in 2016). In addition, it ships with the “room scale sensors” required to give the device one of its defining features - the ability to map your room and to read your movements through it.

Early adopters, and all those who pre-order the HTC Vive, will receive two free games in their bundle as well; Job Simulator (by Owlchemy Labs) and Fantastic Contraption (by Northway Games).

How Does the HTC Vive compare to the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR Headsets?

As you might hope from its price, the HTC Vive is the premium option of the big three. Offering a faster experience, a good field-of-view and sharper visuals, it’s also quite comfortable to wear and comes with two excellent controllers. Two main features on the headset itself help it stand out, too. The forward-facing camera gives the headset the ability to let you jump from the virtual world to the real one without taking the headset off, or indeed merge the two worlds together for an experience more akin to augmented reality.

The HTC Vive also offers more depth in its play space. By using sensors placed throughout your room, it can map your location – taking into account objects like couches and coffee tables – and read your movements within that space. This effectively allows you to walk around without breaking out of the game experience or indeed to enhance gameplay – the PlayStation VR and the Oculus Rift require you to remain in the same location and cannot calculate where you are in relation to other objects in the room.

Just announced, the HTC Vive has an inbuilt phone service, literally called HTC Phone Service, which allows you to sync your mobile to the headset via Bluetooth. You will then be able to receive and answer phone calls, text messages and calendar requests from within the virtual world, so you don’t have to take off the headset.

Recommended PC Specs for the HTC Vive For a smooth virtual reality experience using the HTC Vive, the creator recommends the following minimum PC specifications: note that some upgrade costs to your PC may be required to get the best experience, which will in-turn increase your launch costs. GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 equivalent or better CPU: Intel i5-4590, AMD FX 8350 equivalent or better RAM: 4GB Video Output: HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2 or newer Ports: 1x USB 2.0 OS: Windows 7 SP1 or later

What games are coming to the HTC Vive virtual reality headset?

There are already over 100 games planned for the HTC Vive, including Valve's lauded Half-Life series, Alien: Isolation and The Talos Principle.

Where to try HTC Vive in Australia

JB HIFI and Harvey Norman stores across Australia are offering customers a chance to experience HTC Vive for free. Here's a full list of stores where you can get some hands-on time with HTC Vive.

Location State Store Albury NSW Harvey Norman Aspley QLD Harvey Norman Melbourne QV VIC Harvey Norman North Ryde NSW Harvey Norman Auburn NSW Harvey Norman Balgowlah NSW Harvey Norman Ballina NSW Harvey Norman Bendigo VIC Harvey Norman Blacktown NSW Harvey Norman Bondi Junction NSW Harvey Norman Broadway Sydney NSW Harvey Norman Browns Plains QLD Harvey Norman Bundall QLD Harvey Norman Cairns QLD Harvey Norman Campbelltown NSW Harvey Norman Cannington WA Harvey Norman Caringbah NSW Harvey Norman Castle Hill NSW Harvey Norman Chadstone VIC Harvey Norman City West Perth WA Harvey Norman Darwin NT Harvey Norman Everton Park QLD Harvey Norman Fountain Gate VIC Harvey Norman Fyshwick ACT Harvey Norman Gepps Cross SA Harvey Norman Gladstone QLD Harvey Norman Gosford NSW Harvey Norman Alexandria NSW Harvey Norman City Cross SA Harvey Norman Bundall QLD Domayne Kotara NSW Harvey Norman Hobart City TAS Harvey Norman Hoppers Crossing Harvey Norman Joondalup WA Harvey Norman Kalgoorlie WA Harvey Norman Knox Towerpoint Harvey Norman Launceston TAS Harvey Norman Liverpool NSW Harvey Norman Mackay QLD Harvey Norman Maitland NSW Harvey Norman Maribyrnong VIC Harvey Norman Marion SA Harvey Norman Maroochydore QLD Harvey Norman Moore Park NSW Harvey Norman Mt Barker SA Harvey Norman Mt Gravatt QLD Harvey Norman Munno Para SA Harvey Norman Newcastle NSW Harvey Norman Nowra NSW Harvey Norman Nunawading VIC Harvey Norman Osborne Park WA Harvey Norman Oxley QLD Harvey Norman Penrith NSW Harvey Norman Preston VIC Harvey Norman Rothwell QLD Harvey Norman Springvale VIC Harvey Norman Toowoomba QLD Harvey Norman Townsville QLD Harvey Norman Wagga Wagga NSW Harvey Norman Watergardens VIC Harvey Norman Fortitude Valley QLD Harvey Norman Warrawong NSW Harvey Norman Warrawong NSW Domayne Rundle Mall Plaza SA JB Hi-Fi Bankstown NSW JB Hi-Fi Home Bondi NSW JB Hi-Fi Booragoon WA JB Hi-Fi Bourke St, Melbourne VIC JB Hi-Fi Brighton VIC JB Hi-Fi Home Brisbane Central QLD JB Hi-Fi Broadway Sydney NSW JB Hi-Fi Cairns Central QLD JB Hi-Fi Canberra City ACT JB Hi-Fi Carindale QLD JB Hi-Fi Carousel WA JB Hi-Fi Castle Hill NSW JB Hi-Fi Home Castle Towers NSW JB Hi-Fi Chadstone VIC JB Hi-Fi Chermside QLD JB Hi-Fi Doncaster Westfield VIC JB Hi-Fi Elizabeth St Melbourne VIC JB Hi-Fi Perth Enex Shopping Centre WA JB Hi-Fi Erina Fair NSW JB Hi-Fi Home Helensvale QLD JB Hi-Fi Hobart Collins St TAS JB Hi-Fi Hornsby NSW JB Hi-Fi Indooroopilly QLD JB Hi-Fi Ipswich QLD JB Hi-Fi Nox Shopping Centre VIC JB Hi-Fi Lakeside Joondalup WA JB Hi-Fi Macarthur Square NSW JB Hi-Fi Macquarie North Ryde NSW JB Hi-Fi Malaga WA JB Hi-Fi Marion SA JB Hi-Fi Midland Central WA JB Hi-Fi Home Moore Park NSW JB Hi-Fi Home Myaree WA JB Hi-Fi Home Newcastle NSW JB Hi-Fi Home Osborne Park WA JB Hi-Fi Home Penrith NSW JB Hi-Fi Home Prahran VIC JB Hi-Fi Robina NSW JB Hi-Fi Home Southland Westfield VIC JB Hi-Fi Strand Arcade Sydney NSW JB Hi-Fi Sydney City George St NSW JB Hi-Fi Top Ryde NSW JB Hi-Fi Townsville QLD JB Hi-Fi Home Warringah Mall NSW NSW JB Hi-Fi Waurn Ponds VIC JB Hi-Fi Chatswood Westfield NSW JB Hi-Fi Parramatta Westfield NSW JB Hi-Fi Sydney Westfield NSW JB Hi-Fi Home World Square Sydney NSW JB Hi-Fi

Complete list of HTC Vive specifications