HTC Vive release: VR headset to be exhibited at CES 2016

HTC has announced plans for key partnerships that will make the launch of the company's upcoming VR headset the HTC Vive bigger in range. Included on the list is a giant internet cafe operator and possibly a car manufacturer.

According to China Post, HTC CEO Cher Wang announced that the builder of the upcoming VR headset HTC Vive is partnering with Chinese Internet cafe operator, Hangzhou Shunwang Technology Co, to gain access to 100 million Internet cafe users in China. Wang further mentions a possible partnership with German automaker Audi to provide a virtual reality driving simulator for potential clients to the company.

The partnerships were announced in a conference in Beijing held by the Taiwan-based smartphone manufacturer HTC to promote the HTC Vive. Hosted by HTC CEO Cher Wang, the conference was entitled "HTC Vive Unbound." In the conference, the CEO referred to the HTC Vive as the fulfilment of of another dream.

The upcoming HTC Vive is a collaboration between the Taiwan device creator and the world's largest game distributor, Valve.

In other news, HTV Vive has confirmed through a tweet that the upcoming virtual reality headset will be available for trial at CES 2016. Further in a reply to one follower, HTC Vive also said that there will be multiple partners who will showcase the HTC Vive.

The HTC Vive already has some content to launch with as the Vive's official website says that the headset will be launching with "Job Simulator," "The Gallery: Call of the Starseed" and "The Blu: Encounter." Company names like Lionsgate, Google, Wevr, Steel Wool Games and Clouded Games have also appeared on lists of partner companies that will help develop content for the HTC Vive headset.

The HTC Vive is set to compete with other existing and upcoming virtual reality devices such as the PlayStation VR by Sony, which will be launching next year, and the Samsung VR, which was launched earlier this month.