HTC announced the new accessories, the Vive Tracker and Deluxe Audio Strap, back at CES 2017 earlier this year but didn’t provide pricing or release date info more specific than Q2. At $100 for each accessory, the pricing falls in line with expectations.

The Vive Tracker will cost $100 and become available for order for developers on March 27th. The Deluxe Audio Strap will also be priced at $100 and will begin pre-orders on May 2nd.

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The Vive Tracker is a standalone tracking puck designed to attach to objects and accessories to turn them into VR peripherals. HTC committed to giving away 1,000 Vive Tracker units to developers to kickstart an ecosystem of peripherals and software that support the Tracker. For developers who didn’t get in on that initial batch (the company says they received 2,300 applications), the device will be available for order for $100 starting on March 27th through the official Vive website.

For general consumers however, the Vive Tracker won’t be available until later this year. That’s to give developers time to build devices and apps that work with the device, ahead of widespread availability, HTC says.

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Hands-on: HTC's New Vive Tracker Makes VR More Immersive With Specialized Accessories

HTC plans to show new experiences using the Vive Tracker this week at GDC and MWC.

vive-deluxe-audio-strap-frontThe Vive Deluxe Audio Strap, a more robust head-mount with integrated headphones, will also be priced at $100 and be available for pre-order (for everyone) on May 2nd with a launch in June.

HTC says that all new purchases of the $1,200 Vive ‘Business Edition’ headset will get a free upgrade to the Deluxe Audio Strap. The Vive Business Edition is the same as the consumer headset but features enterprise-focused ordering, warranty, and support.

SEE ALSO
Vive Consumer and Business Headsets Will Become Increasingly Differentiated VR Systems, Vive President Says

Vive Financing

In a surprising move, HTC is also announcing a new Vive financing program aimed at getting the expensive hardware into user’s hands:

  • In North America:
    • 0% Financing for 6 months for a total monthly cost of $138.00 (plus tax and shipping)
    • 0% Financing for 12 months for a total monthly cost of $66.58 (plus tax and shipping)
    • 7.99% Financing for 24 months for a total monthly cost of $40.13 (plus tax and shipping)
  • In China:
    • 0% Financing for 3 months for a total monthly cost of ¥2,296 (tax and shipping included)
    • 0% Financing for 6 months for a total monthly cost of ¥1,148 (tax and shipping included)
    • 0% Financing for 12 months for a total monthly cost of ¥574 (tax and shipping included)
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Ben Lang
Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."