HTC Launches Vive Pro 2.0 VR Kit For Businesses

HTC has launched an upgraded virtual reality kit for businesses that is built around its recently released Vive Pro headset and brand new next-generation base stations. The new Vive Pro 2.0 Kit cost $1,399, which is $200 more than the previous generation Vive Pro Kit, and comes with the Vive Pro HMD VR headset, SteamVr tracking 2.0, a pair of base stations, and two motion controllers.

"Enterprise VR is transforming the way businesses operate and interact with their employees and customers. We are bringing the market a premium VR experience with a high-resolution display, integrated audio and the best components available today in a headset," said Daniel O’Brien, GM U.S., Vive. "Vive Pro offers an immediate upgrade for businesses that want to utilize the most innovative technology to optimize their business and streamline their processes."

The Vive Pro works with previous generation base stations, though the new ones provide a larger 32 ft by 32 ft tracking area. There is a caveat, however—businesses will need to purchase two more base stations (fir a total of four) if they need a tracking space that large. Out of the box, the two upgraded base stations cover an area that is roughly 19 ft by 19 ft.

HTC released the Vive Pro earlier this month at $799 for the headset itself, while dropping the price of its previous generation Vive package to $499. The new Vive Pro ups the ante with a bump in resolution to 2880x1600 via dual OLED displays, up from 2160x1200 on the original Vive, resulting is less of a so-called screen door effect. It's also reportedly more comfortable to wear, and features integrated high-performance headphones with a built-in amplifier with noise cancelling capabilities.

One of the main barriers to wider VR adoption has been the high cost of entry. That has started to change more recently, with both the Oculus Rift and original HTC Vive coming down in price. The Vive Pro goes in the opposite direction, and the business kit in particular is expensive at $1,399. HTC told Fortune that its reasoning is it wants to grow its enterprise businesses, which it hopes to account for 30 percent of its VR revenue by 2020.

The flip side to that is video games will still account for the wide majority of its VR revenue, at least for the foreseeable future. Even so, it's a tough pill for gamers to swallow that if they want the latest hardware, including upgraded base stations, they'll have to buy an enterprise kit that is $900 more than what the original Vive package now sells for.