Behold, the consumer version of the Vive virtual reality system (pictures)

HTC and Valve unveil the polished version of its virtual reality system, which will ship in early April.

Roger Cheng

Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.

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Roger Cheng

Feb. 21, 2016 7:26 a.m. PT

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Smaller, quieter base stations for the Vive

The final version of the system will include new base stations that are quieter and smaller than in previous versions. The base stations just need a power source, and can wirelessly connect, eliminating the need for a wire attached to the PC.

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Touch sensor and trigger

The wireless controller includes a touch sensor on the top for navigation, as well as a trigger to "grip" things in the virtual reality world or fire a virtual gun.

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A VR system and a phone

The Vive system comes with a front-facing camera to detect what's in front of you, as well as a microphone to let you make and receive calls.

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Vive gets a better fit

Changes include a more polished finish and changes to the strap for better comfort.

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Wireless controllers included

Unlike the Oculus Rift, the Vive will come with two wireless controllers. HTC and Valve say they're critical to the consumer experience and for developers building consistent games.

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The polished HTC Vive

After years of development and preproduction units, HTC and Valve finally unveiled the consumer version of their Vive virtual reality system. The whole shebang will cost $799 (£689).