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Valve have now officially teased their own VR headset with Valve Index

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While details are extremely light, we now know Valve's VR headset is called the Valve Index and more details are coming soon.

A new page popped up on Steam and what's there is a single image giving us a teaser of the Valve Index VR headset:

This was actually leaked back in November last year which I reported on and the leaked images certainly match up to Valve's teaser of the Index above. So all we really know right now is the name and either more information or an actual release will be in May. Still, it's quite exciting!

Hopefully the Linux experience will be good, although considering all the work Valve has put in and contracted people to work on various parts of Linux by the time it releases we might see reasonable out of the box support.

The one thing I am still concerned about is price, as the HTC Vive, the only currently official SteamVR headset, is still around £500 and likely out of reach for many people (myself included). Hopefully the Valve Index will see a lower price for more to jump in and experience it.

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kuhpunkt Mar 30, 2019
This also means that the Knuckles will be out soon, just like at least one game from Valve. Sooooo excited :D
MayeulC Mar 30, 2019
Arstechnica has an interesting image with enhanced contrast: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/03/valve-index-is-the-game-makers-brand-new-vr-headset-slated-for-may-2019/

A couple dots are barely visible on it, but it hints at it being compatible with the lighthouse tracking system :)
Of course, there's no telling whether it also includes inside-out tracking... But those lenses might be able to provide great AR experiences :)
Disharmonic Mar 30, 2019
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QuoteThe one thing I am still concerned about is price, as the HTC Vive, the only currently official SteamVR headset, is still around £500 and likely out of reach for many people (myself included).
I have a feeling the price is being set by HTC, that have decided to mostly target the "Proffesional" markets with them and it's one of the reasons Valve are making this headset. SteamVR won't be able to compete with Occulus if it's headsets cost 2x. So I expect these will be priced better than the HTC stuff.

Quoting: MayeulCArstechnica has an interesting image with enhanced contrast: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/03/valve-index-is-the-game-makers-brand-new-vr-headset-slated-for-may-2019/

A couple dots are barely visible on it, but it hints at it being compatible with the lighthouse tracking system :)
Of course, there's no telling whether it also includes inside-out tracking... But those lenses might be able to provide great AR experiences :)
Yeah i read that, though it seems the Ars author is unaware that Lighthouse tracking is Valve tech


Last edited by Disharmonic on 30 March 2019 at 11:16 am UTC
a0kami Mar 30, 2019
So are they still partnering with HTC ?
Will they keep distributing all those headsets ?
(Vive, Vive Pro, Vive Cosmos, Vive Focus AND Index ?)
Liam Dawe Mar 30, 2019
Quoting: aokamiSo are they still partnering with HTC ?
Will they keep distributing all those headsets ?
(Vive, Vive Pro, Vive Cosmos, Vive Focus AND Index ?)
Well, the Vive/Pro was the only SteamVR headset anyway.

We've no idea if HTC will continue doing it, we know basically nothing at this point. If the Index costs less and is at least as good as the Vive, is there any need?
kuhpunkt Mar 30, 2019
Quoting: aokamiSo are they still partnering with HTC ?
Will they keep distributing all those headsets ?
(Vive, Vive Pro, Vive Cosmos, Vive Focus AND Index ?)

HTC is completely out. They are doing their own thing (Vive Pro Eye and Viveport).

Valve produces those HMDs in-house.
Solitary Mar 30, 2019
Well, hopefully it's gonna be cheap, with Steam they can make money later with people buying VR games. VR needs to be more common to flourish, so it wouldnt make sense to keep it expensive hobby. Price of admission will go down with every VR generation.
a0kami Mar 30, 2019
Quoting: SolitaryWell, hopefully it's gonna be cheap, with Steam they can make money later with people buying VR games. VR needs to be more common to flourish, so it wouldnt make sense to keep it expensive hobby. Price of admission will go down with every VR generation.

They are still facing a lot of publishers switching to Epic store. So money might not be so great lately. :(
(Hence so much effort to get both Linux and VR on tracks so they become leader of a new huge market.) IMHO
Mezron Mar 30, 2019
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I wish them luck but I still have not seen any value to this form of gaming. Maybe because the only genres I play have zero use for VR.
kuhpunkt Mar 30, 2019
Quoting: RafiLinuxI wish them luck but I still have not seen any value to this form of gaming. Maybe because the only genres I play have zero use for VR.

Never played something like Beat Saber or Superhot VR?
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