Update May 1st: Pre-orders are now up.
Valve have pushed out the details of their new in-house VR kit, the Valve Index along with the Controllers and 2.0 Base Stations.
The actual Headset has dual 1440x1600 RGB LCDs and it runs at 120Hz with "full back-compatibility to 90Hz". Additionally, there's an experimental 144Hz mode as well. The displays have a "reduced illumination period of 0.330ms to 0.530ms (framerate dependent)" which Valve claim is a "5x improvement" over first-gen PC VR HMDs which all sounds mighty impressive to me.
The 2.0 Base Station sounds equally as impressive, with you able to have four of them all connected up to create a 10m x 10m play-area. Their Base Stations are compatible with both the Valve Index and HTC Vive Pro. Linking into that, the Valve Index is also compatible with the HTC Vive Controllers, HTC Vive Pro Controllers and the HTC Vive Base Stations, or HTC Vive Pro Base Stations so you don't need to buy every part of Valve kit.
We already knew that the Valve Index would have full Linux support, as Valve previously confirmed this to us directly and with the pages up it's clear this still holds true. Although, their VR-test application is Windows-only. The Pre-orders will start tomorrow, available in a "limited-quantity launch" for the USA and the EA with shipping targetting by July 1st.
No games were announce by Valve at this point, however they are teasing a "flagship" VR game later this year that will be playable on "any SteamVR compatible system". Perhaps they're waiting to properly announce it when shipping begins? Who knows but I will let you know when I know. I would absolutely love to see what Valve could do with it with their own games.
For those really interested in early details, Tom’s Hardware did get to test it and they have some bits up on it. While I wasn't able to get any kind of hands-on yet, I am hoping to see a review unit this time (unlike with the HTC Vive) so we can see how it does on Linux, a quick chat with Valve earlier sounded positive on that front.
They also have a store page up now on Steam and it's time to keep those expectations in check. Brace yourself for the price, as it for me shows the entire kit will go for £919 which is an absolutely eye-watering sum. You can pay less if you already have other kit like the Vive or Vive Pro but it's still pretty expensive. Here's a breakdown of pricing for you across the various combinations possible:
- Full Kit: £919/$999/€1079
- Headset + Controllers: £689/$749/€799
- Headset: £459/$499/€539
- Controllers: £259/$279/€299
- Base Station (one): £139/$149/€159
- Face Gasket (2-pack): £36.99/$39.99
- VirtualLink USB-C Adapter: £36.99/$39.99
Going by the specifications though, this really is top-end stuff we're looking at so the price isn't exactly surprising but it will still likely limit the audience. For Linux gamers, the lack of VR content could be the real barrier although this is likely another reason why Steam Play exists.
There's tons of details to go over, so do check out all the info here.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
This will ordered the same day I read a full confirmation in regards to Linux support. 1st class citizen at last.
Last edited by Shmerl on 30 April 2019 at 5:40 pm UTC
I don't see VR becoming mainstream any time soon; even the cheap alternatives are expensive, and have been so for years now. But does this hardware look cool.
the entire kit will go for £919
Yeah, no thanks. I still remain unconvinced that this VR hype is anything more than a passing fad, I'm certainly not willing to splash that sort of cash on dedicated hardware to play VR games.
Sil_el_mot Apr 30, 2019
i will sell my vive pro and buy this one.
from steam itself i imagine way better linux support , the specs are better and they have the better controllers. deal!
To this day, the only VR I've ever actually used is Google Cardboard. And it's been more or less abandoned. Which is a pity, because although it was little more than a tech demo, it wouldn't take much to make it viable in some situations. I know there are solutions that kind of work on Windows, but if I could stream PC games to my phone in its little viewer I'd be more than happy, even with the poor quality.
System Requirements: Windows 10, SteamOS, Linux
Error: Incorrect platform.
Yeah... Linux support. :)
Considering how long people have been fascinated with the stuff I don't think you can call it a passing fad. It's been decades now.the entire kit will go for £919
Yeah, no thanks. I still remain unconvinced that this VR hype is anything more than a passing fad, I'm certainly not willing to splash that sort of cash on dedicated hardware to play VR games.
But I do have this feeling that eventually, when they finally get it working just how they like it, and the price comes down, and there are no more excuses . . . it will turn out to be not particularly great for most purposes. A solid and quite cool niche, but a niche nevertheless, not a takeover.
CanadianBlueBeer Apr 30, 2019
Are you ready? Download our app to test your PC.It installed for me, but doesn't do anything. Then I read on an app page:
System Requirements: Windows 10, SteamOS, Linux
Error: Incorrect platform.
Yeah... Linux support. :)
Note that while Valve Index supports Linux and SteamOS, this application currently does not.:(
Does anybody know how many square meters is required? Does it differ for different VR devices? Or is rather game dependent?
I don't know much about VR, but seeing a Linux support I am considering to start saving.
Too expensive for me.
It's a pity, they can't subsidize the hardware. :/
My threshold for a full kit would be ~600 Euro.
the entire kit will go for £919
Yeah, no thanks. I still remain unconvinced that this VR hype is anything more than a passing fad, I'm certainly not willing to splash that sort of cash on dedicated hardware to play VR games.
Beat Saber won't go away.
Store says 1.1 kEuro (full kit).
Too expensive for me.
It's a pity, they can't subsidize the hardware. :/
My threshold for a full kit would be ~600 Euro.
Epyc store certainly sabotaged money income. I do not know if they would subsidize it if there is no epyc store but it would be more likely.
That will likely cost as much as a car here in Brazil... Even then, if it supports Linux I might actually buy it.
My brother bought his old beetle 10 years ago by R$2500 which is US$640.
For the full price you can buy a beetle and even get new seats or a new engine here
Store says 1.1 kEuro (full kit).
Too expensive for me.
It's a pity, they can't subsidize the hardware. :/
My threshold for a full kit would be ~600 Euro.
Epyc store certainly sabotaged money income. I do not know if they would subsidize it if there is no epyc store but it would be more likely.
Don't think this has anything to do with Epic's store.
If you can't/don't lock the software to your store,
subsidizing is not reasonable.
As Valve is using (afaik) open APIs and you can use Index without Steam lock-in, subsidizing would be at least dangerous for Valve - if not stupid. Think of subsidizing expensive hardware that some people use but without using your store that should amortize the subsidizing.
Not sure SONY did it with their VR, but in that case subsidizing would make sense.
Not available in my country. :(
Neither is the Steam controller, far as I can tell. Valve doesn't seem to be interested in selling hardware to Canadians at all.
1000€? Seriously? What are they thinking?
Good spec or not this is way over priced for the product to make it to the end of the year. Yet again an other Valve project that will follow the way of the Dodo.
The full pack should have been at 500€ MAXIMUM to be interesting. And at that price it would still have been really expensive. And a good price would have been 300€.
I hope for 1000€ all the Valve VR games and some other will come for free with it.
All these years and manpower wasted for nothing what a shame.
The full pack should have been at 500€ MAXIMUM to be interesting. And at that price it would still have been really expensive. And a good price would have been 300€.
I agree! And my house should have cost no more than €10000, because that would have been a good price!
Store says 1.1 kEuro (full kit).
Too expensive for me.
It's a pity, they can't subsidize the hardware. :/
My threshold for a full kit would be ~600 Euro.
Epyc store certainly sabotaged money income. I do not know if they would subsidize it if there is no epyc store but it would be more likely.
Don't think this has anything to do with Epic's store.
If you can't/don't lock the software to your store,
subsidizing is not reasonable.
As Valve is using (afaik) open APIs and you can use Index without Steam lock-in, subsidizing would be at least dangerous for Valve - if not stupid. Think of subsidizing expensive hardware that some people use but without using your store that should amortize the subsidizing.
Not sure SONY did it with their VR, but in that case subsidizing would make sense.
Store says 1.1 kEuro (full kit).
Too expensive for me.
It's a pity, they can't subsidize the hardware. :/
My threshold for a full kit would be ~600 Euro.
Epyc store certainly sabotaged money income. I do not know if they would subsidize it if there is no epyc store but it would be more likely.
Don't think this has anything to do with Epic's store.
If you can't/don't lock the software to your store,
subsidizing is not reasonable.
As Valve is using (afaik) open APIs and you can use Index without Steam lock-in, subsidizing would be at least dangerous for Valve - if not stupid. Think of subsidizing expensive hardware that some people use but without using your store that should amortize the subsidizing.
Not sure SONY did it with their VR, but in that case subsidizing would make sense.
I dont think so. You dont need lock in if they controll majority of market. Withou Epic store, who can use it? gog? Before Epic, Steam have enaught strong position for that. Its not like PS used as part of supercomputer when sony subsidied it, and there can by limitation like subsidied only for steam acounts which buyed games for more then xx€ or somethink.
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