HTC Vive release date: Delay in launch due to 'big breakthrough'

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Fans were disappointed to learn that HTC had to delay the release of the consumer version of the Vive. Supposed to come out before the year ends, HTC recently released a statement, saying that the Vive consumer edition will come out April next year.

HTC had to set back the release date to make some adjustments to the final product. The adjustments made were reportedly due to a "big breakthrough" that HTC hopes to showcase soon.

According to EnGadget, HTC delayed the release of the Vive since they had to improve on their earlier designs. Speaking at the Vive Unbound developer's event in Beijing, HTC CEO Cher Wang said that early this month, HTC and the Vive team discovered "a very, very big technological breakthrough" for the VR headset and had to go back to the drawing board for an improved version. Wang added, "We shouldn't make our users swap their systems later just so we could meet the December shipping date."

However, Wang and HTC are silent about what this breakthrough is all about and how it improved the upcoming Vive virtual reality headgear. Fans and observers will have to find out for themselves when HTC showcases the Vive early next year, at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

Meanwhile, aside from what the new feature will be all about, HTC is also keeping under wraps how much the Vive will cost. According to Tech Radar, while a definitive price range is yet to be available, fans should expect the Vive to come out with a relatively high price tag. The industry follower stated that the Vive is not just any other VR headset as the headgear is only a part of an entire VR experience system, with the Vive shipping out together with controllers with tracking features for hand movements.