HTC turns to financing to boost VR uptake in Europe
It begins in the UK for £35 a month
HTC is in the process of rolling out a VR financing option across Europe.
It's the latest effort from the manufacturer to boost VR uptake, with the price of HTC Vive clearly one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the hardware. The headset and controllers currently cost $799 (£759).
The 9.9% financing option kicks off in the UK, with consumers being asked to spend £34.84 over a two year period. By the end of the term, gamers will have spent £836.19 for the device.
HTC already offers finance options in China and the US. In China, the firm charges 0% interest, whereas in the US a 24-month plan has a finance rate of 7.99% (with 0% offers available for six and 12 month periods). VR headsets are also available from UK retailers that offer their own 'spread-the-cost' options, such as Littlewoods and Currys
Each Vive headset comes with a month's subscription to Viveport, and two additional 'experiences' and It will be rolled out to additional European countries 'soon'.
HTC has been proactive in trying to generate increased revenue from VR and get it into the hands of as many consumers as possible. Its Viveport concept, which sees arcade-like experiences appear in local cinemas and retailers, is another one of its endeavours.
Of course, this offer is only for the HTC Vive device itself, and doesn't include the cost of the PC hardware needed to run it.