why is it so expensive, :: SteamVR General Discussions

Store Page

SteamVR

All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos Workshop News Guides Reviews

SteamVR > General Discussions > Topic Details

SkanteWarrior619 has SteamVR

Apr 24, 2016 @ 12:16am

why is it so expensive,

i would love to have the vive VR but it is $800 and i truly will never pay that much for it, i just want to know why its so expensive and if they will ever lower the price for regular people who dont have that kind of money laying around.

< >

Showing 1-15 of 23 comments

--ranXerox-- has SteamVR

Apr 24, 2016 @ 1:22am

It's only expensive to the ones who can't afford it. You need to wait until it becomes more mainstream.

Skelet0r

Apr 24, 2016 @ 1:25am

Originally posted by --ranXerox--:
It's only expensive to the ones who can't afford it. You need to wait until it becomes more mainstream.

i feel like it sould be around 400$ but you know marketing

RED-FROG

Apr 24, 2016 @ 1:35am

Im pretty sure it's not expensive.

It takes Valve and HTC a lot of money to even develop this tech. I also think the price does not allow a big profit margin. It must have been tightly calculated... just as oculus rift costs money........ without the controllers (and batteries). Without the complicated moving parts laser scanners that allow room scale, without the HMD camera and without the ton of all the other parts that Vive has.

The xbox controller super-mass-product is a gift by MS and doesnt really cost that much.....
So if there is something actually expensive Id say its the Rift, that will not have roomscale in this generation.

Just save your money like others do, that want to reach for something bigger in their life.

Last edited by RED-FROG; Apr 24, 2016 @ 1:37am

Pelzgurke

Apr 24, 2016 @ 1:37am

Well for comparison, the Oculus is about the same price. As both companies are selling on the open market i assume the prices are already competitive, meaning calculated with a rather small margin of profit.
The stuff is just brand new and expensive to develop, thus the price tag.

Wasted Potential has SteamVR

Apr 24, 2016 @ 6:43am

Because at Valve HQ, every water fountain is solid gold and their health plan includes at workplace, while you work, Dr. visits. That is the answer many want to hear isn't it.

Truth is.. yeah.. it took several years to make this thing.. nobody, in essence, got paid a thing during that time.. so.. yeah... even paying one person $8 an hour over several years, equates to probably needing to add a $1 to the final product cost to pay off the bills. Times that by how many employees and $800 actually starts to sound like a bargain.

shponglefan has SteamVR

Apr 24, 2016 @ 7:14am

Originally posted by BiLLY Mays:
i would love to have the vive VR but it is $800 and i truly will never pay that much for it, i just want to know why its so expensive

It's new, proprietary technology being produced in (relatively speaking) low volume. Once costs of components come down and economies of scale are realized, then the price will come down.

To put things in perspective, it's priced the same as an Atari 2600 was when it was released in 1977 (adjusted for inflation).

Last edited by shponglefan; Apr 24, 2016 @ 7:15am

Pathboy

Apr 24, 2016 @ 12:11pm

Expensive? It's a matter of perspective. My kid said it best about the HTC Vive: "This thing is like having all of Disney World in your house!".

I couldn't agree more.

SCheeseman has SteamVR

Apr 25, 2016 @ 12:06am

Judging by what I've seen, you'll probably get your wish granted soon. I foresee a lot of PSVR-esque Chinese HMDs that use OpenVR in the future.

AkiranBlade has SteamVR

Apr 25, 2016 @ 9:06am

Originally posted by --ranXerox--:
It's only expensive to the ones who can't afford it. You need to wait until it becomes more mainstream.

I would just like to say that I disagree. It is expensive. We're being charged more than console money for a peripheral. That is why it is 'expensive' even if you can 'afford' it.

atris_flex has SteamVR

Apr 25, 2016 @ 9:10am

Originally posted by XKingLordX:
Originally posted by --ranXerox--:
It's only expensive to the ones who can't afford it. You need to wait until it becomes more mainstream.
i feel like it sould be around 400$ but you know marketing

I have one and I feel like it's worth around 1200. So I guess it all depends on who you ask. A decent monitor will run you over $400.

#10

Pelzgurke

Apr 25, 2016 @ 9:39am

There is no one answer to "Sould I buy it now?". It is a lot of money for a first gen toy, sure. So if you are short on funds I honestly think people might save their money for further/cheaper/better versions of VR. If on the other hand you can spare the money and like fiddling around in VR and experiencing all the new and exciting stuff at hand hell yeah buy a VIVE.
In any case I suggest you try it and see what its about first hand.

#11

--ranXerox-- has SteamVR

Apr 25, 2016 @ 9:43am

buy it if you have money to burn. LIke the toyota prius, it was only released to a small crowd so it can catch on. We have vr, released to the small crowd who can afford it until it becomes more mainstream. THere is always a precursor intro to new products.

Lets say you have a new product called, "the magical flute!" are you going to build 1 million units and release it at 400 dollars? what if it flops? THis is how its done to test the potential playing field.

#12