As if all the signing events and panels aren't enough, SDCC 2015 attendees have one more thing they can't afford to miss. Thanks to HTC and Valve, they will be able to experience virtual reality before the HTC Vive VR release date.
This year's San Diego Comic-Con is the first stop of the HTC Vive truck, a tour meant to showcase the VR headset in different cities across the country. It won't be just another public demo for the virtual reality device though. As tech website Gizmodo confirmed on Twitter, also included in the demo is the headset's wireless controllers.
Testing the HTC Vive, now with truly wireless controllers. #sdcc2015 pic.twitter.com/zAjp1zhmyM
— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) July 9, 2015
"At past showings, the devices were tethered to the user as they played," VR Focus noted adding, "It's a big step for the [head-mounted display] as a whole, as its input rival, Oculus Touch for the Oculus Rift HMD, was revealed to already be wireless at its announcement at Oculus VR's pre-E3 event last month."
As per Android Authority, the Vive will be in San Diego from July 9 to 12, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. but only until 6 p.m. on Sunday, with the bus itself said to be at 530 Island Ave. Planned stops include Seattle and Louisville, according to UploadVR.
The HTC Vive VR release date is set for later this year but others are also expected to hit the market in the coming months. Apart from the aforementioned Oculus Rift, consumers can also expect Sony's Project Morpheus, Samsung's GearVR and the eye-tracking FOVE VR, among others.
One thing that helps set it apart is Valve's Lighthouse technology.
"The HTC Vive is the first HMD to work with Valve's SteamVR system, which provides Room Scale user-tracking in an area of up to 15 feet by 15 feet with the help of a Lighthouse base station," VR Focus said.
Developer kits equipped with the technology continue to be shipped to developers and movie studios.
Pricing and other details remain under wraps. The consumer version HTC Vive VR release date is reportedly set for holiday 2015.
