HTC confirms release date for Vive Tracker and Deluxe Audio Strap

Consumer version set to land later this year
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After announcing the Tracker and Deluxe Audio Strap for its Vive VR headset last month, HTC has now revealed more details about the additions.

The more intriguing of the pair, the Vive Tracker, will be available for developers to order on 27 March for , with the peripheral tracker allowing you to bring real world objects into the virtual realm.

While this is good news for developers, it's not known when exactly consumers will be able to pick up the Tracker, besides HTC's hint that it would be available later in the year. Whether the price remains the same is also up in the air.

Read next: How to set up your HTC Vive

Meanwhile, the Deluxe Audio Strap is set for pre-orders on 2 May for the same price, with deliveries set to drop to consumers in June. It's essentially a pair of integrated headphones akin to the Oculus Rift's, which is a healthy upgrade on having to plug in your own when strapping on the headset.

HTC also noted that the strap will be integrated into the Business Edition of the Vive for no extra cost.

HTC confirms release date for Vive Tracker and Deluxe Audio Strap

We were impressed with the 10cm-wide Tracker when we tried it out at CES 2017, though the potential success of this attachment will largely sit on the shoulders of developers getting a first look. Thankfully, there are already encouraging applications in the works.

For example, company Noitom was showing off a pair of gloves which use a tracker each to give you full use of your hands and fingers in VR, allowing you to pick things up, throw them about, and even draw with your fingers.

HTC confirms release date for Vive Tracker and Deluxe Audio Strap


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Conor Allison

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Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.

Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides. 

He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror. 


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