I have to admit, I am a little surprised. The Valve Index limited pre-orders that went live on May 1st have already completely sold out.
Looking at the store page in the UK for the full kit, it's now only showing that you can reserve it with a new expected shipping date of August 31st. However, the Controllers and Base Stations are still showing up as in stock. Oddly the full bundle has a different expected shipping date to the Headset/Controller bundle and Headset by itself with those now expected by July 31st.
It seems for those who are really interested in VR, price is no issue. However, we've no idea how many Valve were keeping in reserve for the initial batch. In the press release Valve originally sent, all they said was that it was "limited". I can imagine them having quite a lot though of course, so it's still a very healthy sign for Valve's newer platform.
Going by the Steam Hardware Survey, the amount of people with a VR set on Steam is currently below 1% of Steam users so perhaps we will see a nice up-tick by the end of the year? For those who keep writing-off VR as a ridiculous niche, do keep in mind the VR market share on Steam is now higher than Linux.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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20 comments
Surprising, and awesome! 
I would love to know how many units we're talking about. Knowing Valve, they'll say "100%" and expect us to be satisfied with that 'number'.
I would love to know how many units we're talking about. Knowing Valve, they'll say "100%" and expect us to be satisfied with that 'number'.
1 Likes, Who?
Arehandoro May 3, 2019
It would be great to try it somewhere before deciding whether spending that money is really worth it. Any possibility to see it at some expo near London?
0 Likes
TBH, that is some kind of "none-information".
If we do not have an idea, how much was in stock, it does not say anything...
That is like, "I think my PC will cost 1000"
If we do not have an idea, how much was in stock, it does not say anything...
That is like, "I think my PC will cost 1000"
4 Likes, Who?
I decided that my own reasoning was actually very convincing. So I reserved myself a full set. I'd actually be fine if the delivery date would be pushed back a little further since I don't think the middle of summer is the best time to spend with such a device on your head. :D
7 Likes, Who?
nattydread May 3, 2019
Given the way this will be linux compatible and given that AAA games would be developed for it I wonder if this will launch native AAA linux games into the mainstream?
I hope so!
I hope so!
0 Likes
TBH, that is some kind of "none-information".Regardless of the details there: An expensive new bit of hardware that supports Linux from day one selling out, is actually very good to know. It shows Valve are obviously onto something, people have been waiting for a seriously good VR HMD even if it's pricey.
If we do not have an idea, how much was in stock, it does not say anything...
That is like, "I think my PC will cost 1000"
8 Likes, Who?
Well this isn't surprising. I expected the same kind of response that we initially got from the HTC Vive release. It's a little more expensive, but not a lot - Also everything seems improved. The pricing is a lot better then the stupid HTC Vive Pro. I'm still mad on HTC for making the price so high on that one, it never made sense, especially not after the initial release of the HTC Vive and it's pricing.
I'm a bit worried about that they went with LCD over OLED, but maybe that makes sense - we will see. Also not sure about the "off ear" headphones. I'm a bit worried that the audio will be mushy if you are in a room with friends with loud speakers.
Anyways, I'm excited! Now if I could get hold of a unit...
I'm a bit worried about that they went with LCD over OLED, but maybe that makes sense - we will see. Also not sure about the "off ear" headphones. I'm a bit worried that the audio will be mushy if you are in a room with friends with loud speakers.
Anyways, I'm excited! Now if I could get hold of a unit...
0 Likes
I got my order in a few minutes after the site opened :)
Full unboxing & testing live stream will be done once it arrives.
EDIT: Vive launch was a bit rocky for me on Linux, but now that it has matured, let's see how this launch will go.
Last edited by beniwtv on 3 May 2019 at 10:07 am UTC
Full unboxing & testing live stream will be done once it arrives.
EDIT: Vive launch was a bit rocky for me on Linux, but now that it has matured, let's see how this launch will go.
Last edited by beniwtv on 3 May 2019 at 10:07 am UTC
12 Likes, Who?
Sil_el_mot May 3, 2019
I also got my order immediately, in expectation that they will be sold out soon.
5 Likes, Who?
Now if only the test app worked on Linux...
https://store.steampowered.com/app/323910/
By the way, is valve index wireless? or does it at least have some accessory to make it wireless?
Not yet.
Last edited by kuhpunkt on 3 May 2019 at 11:11 am UTC
0 Likes
I would love to know how many units we're talking about.More than two, but less than four.
4 Likes, Who?
Not surprising at all. People want quality products that offer the best possible experience.
1 Likes, Who?
Compare and contrast this with what Epic is doing. Well, they bought a developer. Some say Valve is not doing anything, not responding to Epic. It sure looks like they are doing quite a lot. I would argue that hardware development is more difficult than software development.
I look forward to fellow Linux users' first impressions with this. If there is enough content available, I might pick one up myself.
I look forward to fellow Linux users' first impressions with this. If there is enough content available, I might pick one up myself.
3 Likes, Who?
I would love to know how many units we're talking about.More than two, but less than four.
Five is right out!
3 Likes, Who?
I was saying this elsewhere: The niche for expensive things in general has gotten bigger, so it's not surprising if expensive kit like this sells pretty well. With more income polarization, there are more rich people (and more poor people, and fewer middle class). This goes with the whole deal where you see lots of low-end stores like Wal-Mart and dollar stores, lots of high-end boutiques and luxury brands, and fewer and fewer mid-range stores like your "Sears" type department store.
People won't buy something expensive if they don't feel like they're getting something for the money, but if it's sexy and implies some bragging rights (both of which apply to premium VR kit), there's a lot of people who can afford to shell out sizable bucks for hardware.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 3 May 2019 at 4:46 pm UTC
People won't buy something expensive if they don't feel like they're getting something for the money, but if it's sexy and implies some bragging rights (both of which apply to premium VR kit), there's a lot of people who can afford to shell out sizable bucks for hardware.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 3 May 2019 at 4:46 pm UTC
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Has anyone tried Proton for VR titles?
0 Likes
Has anyone tried Proton for VR titles?
Yes, and quite successfully too!
2 Likes, Who?
Sil_el_mot May 3, 2019
Has anyone tried Proton for VR titles?
Yeah, most of games are running without a flaw for me
Beat Saber, Pavlov, Moss, Arizona Sunshine, Gorn, Budget Cuts, Zero Caliber, Superhot, RecRoom and Contractors all work for me (or worked last time i played them)
Last edited by Sil_el_mot on 3 May 2019 at 8:52 pm UTC
4 Likes, Who?
I've had a pretty good experience with SteamVR + Proton as well. The following games work flawlessly for me:
- Along Together
- Arcade Saga
- Audio Shield
- BOXVR
- Eleven: Table Tennis VR
- Fruit Ninja VR
- The Gallery Ep1: Call of the Starseed
- The Gallery Ep2: Heart of the Emberstone
- Holopoint
- Knockout League
- Rainbow Reactor
- Race the Sun
I've also lately been able to get Subnautica VR to work. I didn't list it under flawless, because I can't use the in-game menus to change settings while in VR mode, and it stutters a bit but that is likely because I had it on highest settings for non-VR mode. I'll probably try it again sometime after lowering the settings in non-VR mode. Still, even with the stutter I was able to swim about on Creative mode for about an hour. Great experience.
I'm running a i7 4790 (non-K), 8gb DDR3-1600 CL9, GTX 1060-6Gb, Mint 19 (Ubuntu 18.04). By 2019 standards, I would not call any of this high-end hardware.
Sometimes I need to turn the settings down a wee bit compared to my Windows machine. Also I've found (up to now) that you need to be "gentle" with it. Using the SteamVR Home to start and stop games doesn't work for me. I need to start games from the desktop.
But other than those relatively small nits, I have a pretty good experience.
Note its easy to have issues that are SteamVR-related, but ascribe them to the platform (Linux). For example, the change from SteamVR 1.3.22 -> 1.3.23 caused some performance issues in BoxVR, and the Gallery games sometimes don't start the first time (previously had no issues). But a little websearch indicated that there are (some) folks on Windows also having performance issues / stuttering after 1.3.23 (loud complaints about being allowed to revert SteamVR to previous versions) so not every issue is a platform-related one.
With that said, I'm saving my money, and I'll probably buy the Valve Index +Index Controllers. Possibly a new video card, if there is anything compelling toward the end of the year.
jonbitzen
Last edited by jonbitzen on 5 May 2019 at 2:15 pm UTC
- Along Together
- Arcade Saga
- Audio Shield
- BOXVR
- Eleven: Table Tennis VR
- Fruit Ninja VR
- The Gallery Ep1: Call of the Starseed
- The Gallery Ep2: Heart of the Emberstone
- Holopoint
- Knockout League
- Rainbow Reactor
- Race the Sun
I've also lately been able to get Subnautica VR to work. I didn't list it under flawless, because I can't use the in-game menus to change settings while in VR mode, and it stutters a bit but that is likely because I had it on highest settings for non-VR mode. I'll probably try it again sometime after lowering the settings in non-VR mode. Still, even with the stutter I was able to swim about on Creative mode for about an hour. Great experience.
I'm running a i7 4790 (non-K), 8gb DDR3-1600 CL9, GTX 1060-6Gb, Mint 19 (Ubuntu 18.04). By 2019 standards, I would not call any of this high-end hardware.
Sometimes I need to turn the settings down a wee bit compared to my Windows machine. Also I've found (up to now) that you need to be "gentle" with it. Using the SteamVR Home to start and stop games doesn't work for me. I need to start games from the desktop.
But other than those relatively small nits, I have a pretty good experience.
Note its easy to have issues that are SteamVR-related, but ascribe them to the platform (Linux). For example, the change from SteamVR 1.3.22 -> 1.3.23 caused some performance issues in BoxVR, and the Gallery games sometimes don't start the first time (previously had no issues). But a little websearch indicated that there are (some) folks on Windows also having performance issues / stuttering after 1.3.23 (loud complaints about being allowed to revert SteamVR to previous versions) so not every issue is a platform-related one.
With that said, I'm saving my money, and I'll probably buy the Valve Index +Index Controllers. Possibly a new video card, if there is anything compelling toward the end of the year.
jonbitzen
Last edited by jonbitzen on 5 May 2019 at 2:15 pm UTC
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