The post-Brexit Pound devaluation is prompting a spike in HTC Vive pricing, with the VR system now up to £759, or roughly $1,000.
The UK's decision to leave the European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit (short for Britain's exit), has stirred a great deal of controversy recently and it keeps making ripples.
As expected, Brexit caused some disruption in a number of fields and industries and the consequences continue to surface. After OnePlus announced in July that its OnePlus 3 would become more expensive in the UK in the Brexit aftermath, it's now HTC's turn to make a similar announcement regarding the UK price of its HTC Vive virtual reality headset.
The company notes that it regularly adjusts and monitors prices, aiming to ensure it offers the best possible value to its customers. In the UK, the adjustment happens to translate to a pricing surge.
"Due to recent currency valuation changes and the current value of the GBP we are adjusting the price of the HTC Vive in the UK to £759 + P&P," HTC explains. "The adjustment will come into effect on Monday 1st August."
While a VR-ready PC rig is already quite expensive, the new HTC Vive VR price makes it even more elitist. The high price point may somewhat limit the gadget's success, though early adopters with deep pockets may still give it a whirl.
On the bright side, the HTC Vive is readily available, as opposed to the long waiting list for the more affordable Oculus Rift. Interested customers can already order the HTC Vive and have it delivered within just three days, which may boost its appeal.
On the other hand, if the steep price of the HTC Vive does turn out to limit its success, HTC could end up swimming in even deeper waters. The company is already struggling with its smartphone business, after losing ground to rivals, and it doesn't need another sluggish product on its hands.
The success of VR gadgets is important for the VR development community as well, as it needs plenty of users to buy and try out VR experiences.
A £759 price tag may not be outrageously expensive for the impressively immersive experience the HTC Vive offers, but it remains to be seen whether UK fans will be able to afford it. Before this price hike, the HTC Vive cost £689 (about $910) plus P&P, and it was still considered quite steep.
