The HTC Vive is probably our favourite premium VR headset on the market right now. It’s held that title for quite a while too. We were excited when HTC teased their latest headset at CES 2019 in January and even more enthused when they unveiled further details about the HTC Vive Cosmos. We look at everything we know so far about the device, including specs, tech, and expected release date.
What is the HTC Vive Cosmos?
We can expect the Vive Cosmos to have significantly improved graphics and gameplay experience.
The HTC Vive Cosmos is the latest premium VR system for PCs. It brings a whole host of new technology that improves on its predecessors, the HTC Vive and Vive Pro. The device is set to work with home PCs, although HTC claims that it will also ‘work with more than your PC’. What this means, exactly, we’re not yet sure. However, it certainly sounds like there will be other options for connectivity.
We can expect the Vive Cosmos to have significantly improved graphics and gameplay experience. Again though, HTC remains tight-lipped on the exact specifications. From what we’ve seen, the headset looks very similar to the Vive Pro, with a dark blue design and multiple cameras.
What Features Does the HTC Vive Cosmos Have?
Although HTC isn’t giving too many details about their new headset, there are a few things we’ve managed to glean from their presentation and subsequent press release:
- A new display. This promises to be higher resolution than any HTC screens we’ve seen so far and claims to reduce the screen door effect that often plagues VR headsets.
- A new tracking system. Although we really liked the HTC Vive’s original tracking system, it can be a bit cumbersome. The new device promises ‘wide and accurate tracking’, as well as gesture control and 6DoF for headset and controllers.
- New controllers. The Vive’s controllers are second only to those of the Oculus Rift. However, the newly designed Vive Cosmos controllers look exciting.
- Modular customisation. As VR tech develops, the Vive Cosmos promises to adapt to accommodate that change with scope for additional modules and customisation.
- Phone connectivity. HTC’s promo video shows a graphic of a smartphone next to the headset, so we’re assuming that the two will somehow interconnect.
We can’t wait to find out more exact details about the headset. As it stands, we’ve only seen the briefest of insight into what is the next generation of premium VR.
When Will the HTC Vive Cosmos Be Released?
There’s no word on exactly when the headset will hit shelves; HTC doesn’t want to commit to a deadline just yet. However, we’re expecting to see the HTC Vive Cosmos VR headset sometime in 2019. Once we know for sure, we’ll keep you updated.
How Much Will the HTC Vive Cosmos Cost?
As with the release date, there are no exact details on how much the VR device will cost. As a reference point, the original Vive is currently around £499/$499, with the Pro bundle as much as £1119/$1399 and the standalone Vive Focus costing £499/$599. We expect it to fit somewhere around this bracket.
