![[Rewritten Title] “Keep Driving: The Turn-Based RPG Featuring Quirky Battles and Puzzles Gets Official Release Date”](https://www.gamrbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Rewritten-Title-Keep-Driving-The-Turn-Based-RPG-Featuring-Quirky-Battles-360x180.jpg "[Rewritten Title] “Keep Driving: The Turn-Based RPG Featuring Quirky Battles and Puzzles Gets Official Release Date”")
Somnium Space, the innovative tech company based in Czechia, has announced a price increase for their advanced PC VR headset, the Somnium VR1. This decision, as stated by the company, aims to uphold its promise of meeting top-notch quality standards.
Last month, Somnium Space shared their plans to simplify the range of configurations available for the VR1. It was also revealed that starting January 16th, 2025, prices on the three remaining SKUs would go up, though specifics weren’t initially disclosed.
Recently, they unveiled the new pricing details (excluding local taxes), showcasing a significant €500 – €700 price boost compared to the old rates:
| Edition | Features | Previous Price (EUR excl. taxes) | USD | New Price (EUR excl. taxes) | USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visionary Edition | VR, eye-tracking | €2,499 | ~$2,600 | €2,999 | ~$3,090 |
| Titan Edition | VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking | €2,899 | ~$3,020 | €3,399 | ~$3,500 |
| Ultimate Edition | VR, eye-tracking, hand-tracking, MR passthrough | €3,499 | ~$3,659 | €4,299 | ~$4,425 |
In their blog, Somnium Space attributes the rise in pricing to climbing production costs:
"These changes mirror the intricate production processes and reaffirm our steadfast dedication to offering the very best PCVR experience. Our commitment to supreme quality involves high-caliber materials, detailed designs, and strict quality controls, all of which contribute to extra production expenses. Some pricey components must be scrapped to meet our standards, ensuring each VR1 headset is, without compromise, a true masterpiece designed to exceed your highest expectations."
The company originally had seven consumer models on the market but has since retired the Classic, Striker, Specter, and Translucent Editions, likely to trim production expenses.
Before these changes, the Classic Edition served as the entry-level model for Somnium Space. It was a more basic PC VR headset without eye-tracking priced at €1,900 (approximately $1,980 USD), and as with other models, the price excluded local taxes.
In another update, Somnium Space announced a revised delivery timeline for new Somnium VR1 orders, aiming for a shipping period between March and April 2025. They’re striving to shorten the delivery time to just two weeks from order to dispatch by mid-2025, with supported regions including most of Europe, the UK, and the US.
Interested in more details about the Somnium VR1? Be sure to check out our comprehensive hands-on review from their annual Somnium Connect event last July.
Somnium VR1 Specifications:
- Display: QLED Mini-Led Fast LCD – 2,880 × 2,880 per eye
- Field of View: 130° horizontal, 105° vertical (can render up to 140° horizontally, but actual FOV may slightly vary based on face and eye structure)
- Refresh Rate: 72 Hz, 90 Hz (upgradable to 120 and 144 Hz experimentally)
- Local Dimming Zones: 576 per eye
- Eye Tracking: 120 Hz, uses an open-sourced algorithm adaptable for various applications
- Connectivity: USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio jack
- IPD Range: 57 to 76 mm
Overall, this shift in pricing underscores Somnium Space’s push towards ensuring quality while navigating the complex world of VR technology production.
