Valve offering free Vive VR dev kits

Developers could potentially get their hands on a free dev kit for Valve’s Vive VR headset.

Unveiled earlier this month, the device is the Steam firm’s first foray into virtual reality and has been built in collaboration with mobile giant HTC.

Valve spokesperson Doug Lombardi told Ars Technica that “more info [on the device] and ‘sign up’ forms will be available to all interested developers, big or small, via a new site coming soon”. Valve hopes to launch the site this week.

Lombardi was unclear on how the developers will be chosen or how many will dev kits will be in the initial batch expected to be shipped this spring. Studios that already have access to the hardware include Owlchemy Labs, Bossa Studios, Fireproof Games and Clouded Games.

If chosen, developers that register their interest will receive a developer kit that “will be free, at least initially”, according to Lombardi. It’s a 

Valve’s SteamVR landing page says the Vive VR dev kit “comes with a headset, two controllers and two base stations – everything you need to dive in and start creating new interactive VR experiences.”