If you'd like to know if the HTC Vive has been discontinued, we've got you covered right here.
Here's everything you need to know, including why the Vive has been discontinued, and also what HTC is up to right now, with some rather cool new headsets.
Is HTC Vive Discontinued?
In short, yes. Early 2020 saw the HTC Vive lineup of products shrunk down from a total of eleven to eight products, which removed the original HTC Vive from the list alongside the first iteration of the HTC Vive Focus.
The Vive list of products is still dominated by headsets that require a PC to work, like the various forms of the Vive Pro and Vice Cosmos, and features just one standalone headset in the Vice Focus Plus.
Why Is The HTC Vive Discontinued?
Arguably the reason for the Vive being discontinued in 2020 is simply due to age, much like why the Rift and Rift S have also been discontinued.
It originally launched in 2016 and has since been superseded several times, so it, therefore, makes sense that it has bowed out.
In addition, the rise of the Quest 2 and untethered VR headsets have to be considered as a motivating factor. By contrast, as you don't need a PC to use the Quest 2 and as it already features a brilliant games library, it makes VR gaming a lot more accessible.
By contrast, more traditional tethered gaming headsets require a powerful gaming PC in order to work, and for the original Vive, with its 1080x1200 OLED displays, the experience wasn't the best.
Nowadays, we have reports of 8K VR headsets thanks to an exciting prototype from Sony, so it definitely portrays the point that the original Vive is unfortunately behind the power curve by some margin.
What's Next For HTC?
In terms of current developments, HTC is focused on the Vive Pro 2 and also the Vive Flow, released in October 2021.
The Vive Flow is a VR headset that features no controllers and a sunglasses-like design, alongside a 100-degree FOV and 75Hz refresh rate. It also weighs just 189 grams, making it one of the lightest headsets around today.
The way it works is by connecting the headset to an Android phone wirelessly and using the phone as a touchpad. It's mainly positioned as a device for people to get into VR with, for stationary experiences such as watching a 360-degree video or sitting within a virtual environment.
With the lack of controllers, it doesn't look like VR gaming is a possibility on the Flow, which makes it a good gateway into the world of virtual reality, and if users like the experience, then they could pick up a Quest 2, and even go further with a Valve Index or HTC Vive Pro 2.
We'll be back with you soon with more VR news, guides and info, so be sure to check back in with us soon, and don't forget that the Meta Quest Pro looks to be on its way soon, too.
Read More: Is PlayStation VR Discontinued?