Valve’s Vive VR headset will only receive a limited 2015 launch

The Vive VR headset will be the first major VR competitor to reach shelves – but only in limited quantities.

The Vive, developed by HTC, was scheduled to launch this Christmas ahead of Project Morpheus, which is set for release during for the first half of 2016, and Oculus Rift, which is due in the first quarter of 2016.

But Valve has today announced that although the 2015 plan remains, there will only be a limited supply available, with the rest of the stock set to hit shelves in the first quarter of 2016.

Later this year, HTC will offer the first commercial Vive units via a limited quantity of community and developersystems, with larger quantities shipping in calendar Q1 2016,” the firm said in a release to promote Vive’s appearance at PAX.

The beginning of 2016 will be an intriguing one for VR, as it attempts to overcome social stigma to prove itself as the future of the video games industry.