The HTC Vive virtual reality (VR) headset will not be launched next April, but some leaked images have provided a first look of the consumer version. HTC's website has teased some images of the headgear and controllers, leading up to the Taiwanese company's promise to unveil a big tech breakthrough at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016.
Some Reddit users reported the leaked photos of the new VR headset on the HTC website. It looks similar to the HTC Vive's development kits, although a casing hides the wires, the front looks more aerodynamic, and the camera is now located in the bottom-center.
In addition, the controllers also look smoother and more polished than the dev kit builds. Round sensor mounts have replaced the hexagonal units, and the buttons and triggers have become more user-friendly since the dev kit prototypes, according to PCGamer.
In other hot news about HTC's VR headset, at Vive Unbound developers forum, Chief Executive Officer Cher Wang reported that a few weeks ago her team and Valve made a very big "technological breakthrough," with their VR system, according to Engadget. It is such a major upgrade that the company has scrapped the original version and Q1 shipping date.
Another big question is about the price tag of HTC's new VR product. However, Wang told Engadget that in an informal survey with the company's engineers, 80 percent of them voted that a certain retail price would be affordable to them based on their take-home pay. An average base salary for HTC software engineers is about $1,560 to $1,730.
HTC has not confirmed the leaked photos of Vive or provided details about its retail price. However, CES 2016 will start on January 6, so the key details will be known in a few weeks.