Update: Shortly after this was posted, it looks like pre-orders may be temporarily sold out with just a waiting list at this time.
Original: Starting today you can pre-order a Valve Index VR headset. Headsets will reportedly start shipping on June 28th.
The headset was formally unveiled yesterday with all of its specs detailed and the embargo lifted on our hands-on demo visit to Valve’s headquarters from last week. You can read more about the technical details here and read about our impressions of the headset and its new controllers (formerly known as Knuckles) in this piece here.
Getting a pre-order lined up today should be easy assuming servers cooperate with you on Valve and Steam’s end, but how much you’re willing to pay for a ticket to the next wave of hardware is another story.
If you don’t have an HTC Vive right now then you’ll need to buy the full Valve Index bundle which includes the headset, two Index controllers, and two second-generation base stations for tracking, all for $999. It’s not cheap.
But if you already have an HTC Vive with Vive wands then you don’t technically need the new controllers and the Index will work just fine with the original first-generation base stations. In that case, you can buy just the headset for a beefy upgrade in visual fidelity and performance inside VR for just $499.
Then if you have an HTC Vive or at least a pair of base stations lying around you could buy the Valve Index headset and two new Index controllers in a separate smaller bundle for just $749, saving yourself $250.
No matter which price arrangement you go with, Index is a premium high-end consumer device. This isn’t marketed as an entry-level affordable option. If you have a gaming PC and want to get a more affordable headset you can either wait on the HP Reverb for a $599 full kit or pre-order an Oculus Rift S full kit for $399.
Pre-order your Valve Index via Steam starting today. Let us know if you plan on getting an Index in the comments down below!
