2016 is the first year of VR, and HTC Vive is undoubtedly the best product on the VR market. According to reports, since the HTC Vive was released, it has sold more than 100,000 units in July and exceeded 140,000 units in September, due to its relatively mature performance and excellent virtual experience. This means that for the VR-related industries, it means that the VR market leading by HTC Vive is gaining momentum and is about to erupt.
According to sources, Valve, the HTC Vive technology provider, said that it will further improve the HTC Vive user experience and introduce a wireless version of the HTC Vive device. And the new VR helmets will be smaller and lighter in weight, some of the components will be upgraded, and the hardware requirements for gaming computers will be higher. The wireless version of the HTC Vive prototype is expected to be completed this fall and officially launched in 2017.
In addition to the optimization of technical performance, how to bring VR into the consumer market is really the focus of all VR industry professionals in 2016. Everyone knows that virtual reality is very hot, but it takes time for market awareness and the cultivation of spending habits. The high price of HTC Vive made many consumers discouraged, so it is well known that as early as the beginning of the year, HTC and the Internet platform operator Shunnet Technology Co., Ltd. has become a cooperation, in the most air way - to create HTC & Shun VR Internet cafes are HTC’s direct-to-consumer experience shop.
The cooperation plan at the beginning of the flagship store recruitment activities and the official announcement of dozens of selected Internet cafes were once a concern, but after a period of market testing has calmed down, it seems with the VR market has not yet fully broke out related. At present, ordinary consumers have low awareness of VR, limited VR experience content, and lack of game stickiness. This is undoubtedly the source of pressure for experiential stores to survive for a long time.
In addition, HTC has also chosen the self-built VR experience hall to explore the offline survival promotion in addition to the VR experience zone. According to reports, the world’s first VR experience building built by HTC has been selected in the Taipei base camp. As the brand's first attempt, the location, scale, experience projects and products of the experience store have been carefully considered. And a lot of input. HTC has already sent a person to the well-known somatosensory technology company Xiamen XFMO Technology (X-MOTION) for the upcoming Taipei experience
The museum purchased a number of magic speed simulation racing equipment, and it seems that it intends to use VR racing as one of the core experience items of the experience hall.
With the strong winds of VR, VR+ somatosensory racing has also been hot this year. The combination of X-MOTION's SOULFEELING magic racing simulator and VR head set is also the only high-end VR somatosensory racing project launched in recent years in China. The biggest shortcoming in the current VR content market is content shortage and lack of game stickiness. VR Racing is based on a large number of existing mature racing game software. The racing experience stimulates racing experience and can amplify the experience of virtual reality. The advantages of racing games that can attract repeated experiences are just enough to make up for the shortcomings of existing VR content. HTC probably also took this into consideration. According to relevant sources, HTC seems to be interested in signing a strategic cooperation agreement with the Magic Speed ​​Racing Simulator, making VR Racing the core experience project for all of the world's self-operated experience stores.
Some people say that VR represents a new world in the future. The combination of virtual and reality created by Vive will bring unlimited possibilities to consumers and businesses, and will create unlimited opportunities for VR-related practitioners. However, the way to the future is always difficult. How to explore the offline experience shop and let VR face the consumer's adaptation is the hurdle that HTC and all VR practitioners are eager to overcome. Now look forward to HTC’s Taipei Experience Store. Surprise open it.