MSI VR One Gaming Backpack Launches With Core i7, GeForce GTX 1060, Eye-Popping $2000 Price Tag

by Brandon Hill — Thursday, November 10, 2016, 11:55 AM EDT

MSI definitely got our attention with the unveil of its VR One gaming backpack. Traditional PC-based VR systems like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive require you to be tethered to your desktop or laptop, which limits your ability to freely interact with a virtual environment. The MSI VR One bucks that trend by essentially strapping a fully functional, high-end gaming rig to your back, allowing you to freely roam while gaming.

Up until this point, we were privy to the specifications of the VR One, but we had no clue how much it would cost. Now, the numbers are in and they’re staggering. The MSI One is available for pre-order today via Newegg for $1,999. According to the online retailer, shipments will commence on November 30^th.

We have to mention that the $1,999 price tag doesn’t include the cost of an accompanying HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. Those VR headsets will cost you an additional $799 and $599 respectively. So what do you get for plunking down two grand on the gaming backpack? For starters, you’ll find a quad-core Intel Core i7-6820HK processor, 16GB of DDR4-2400 RAM, a 256GB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. If you’re willing to pay an additional $300, you can upgrade to a 512GB SSD and a GTX 1070.

Regardless of which version you choose, the VR One includes four USB 3.0 ports, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI 2.0 connectivity. The device itself is powered by two 90 WHr batteries that will give you up to 90 minutes of untethered VR freedom. The batteries are also hot swappable if you want to purchase a few extra and continue your adventures in VR.

The MSI VR One is definitely an intriguing device, and we’d be interested in seeing how many gamers are willing to strap the 7.9-pound machine to their back for extended gaming sessions (hello back sweat!).

Tags: MSI, VR One, geforce gtx 1070

Brandon Hill

Brandon received his first PC, an IBM Aptiva 310, in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since. He cut his teeth on computer building/repair working at a mom and pop computer shop as a plucky teen in the mid 90s and went on to join AnandTech as the Senior News Editor in 1999. Brandon would later help to form DailyTech where he served as Editor-in-Chief from 2008 until 2014. Brandon is a tech geek at heart, and family members always know where to turn when they need free tech support. When he isn’t writing about the tech hardware or studying up on the latest in mobile gadgets, you’ll find him browsing forums that cater to his long-running passion: automobiles.

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