HTC Vive demos hit retail as VR headset rolls out to 24 countries

The HTC Vive virtual reality headset is now shipping in 24 countries, with delivery in about two or three business days. It’s also available for a demo (and purchase) in select retail locations such as Microsoft Stores, GameStop, and Micro Center locations.

HTC is working with the Bellevue, Washington.-based game publisher Valve to make the Vive, which can create a “room scale” VR experience. HTC will fulfill preorders through retailers beginning this week.

Beginning in June, Vive demos will be available at 100 retail locations throughout North America. In addition to current retail demo locations, Microsoft Stores will expand from 29 to 51 locations, GameStop will increase demo locations from 10 to 40, and Micro Center will add five more locations for a total of 10. The demonstrations are open to the general public to experience room-scale virtual reality first-hand — as 1 in 10 Westerners are considering buying VR — with the variety of content available on Steam, Valve’s digital store and the biggest distribution platform for PC games in the world. The full list of participating locations is available at the Vive site.

“Since beginning preorders at the end of February and shipping in early April, we’ve seen incredible interest in Vive,” said Dan O’Brien, vice president of VR at HTC, in a statement. “Working with our retail partners has only enhanced that momentum because more people are able to try the only truly immersive virtual reality offering on the market today.”

Vive sells for $800 and runs on a high-end PC. It comes with an adjustable headset, two wireless controllers with HD haptic feedback and 360-degree motion tracking. More than 200 VR offerings now available on Steam. The Vive competes with the Oculus Rift VR headset, which has been in short supply since its launch on March 28. Sony will launch its PlayStation VR headset in October for the PlayStation 4.