Varjo Introduces $2,500 Annual Fee for Access to Advanced Headset Features

Varjo, the Finnish company known for its premium XR headsets, recently revealed that they will be implementing a new paid licensing structure starting next month. This change means that some of the software features of their XR-4 headsets, which were previously free, will now be part of a subscription model.

If you’ve followed Varjo’s journey, you’ll know that many of their headsets have historically required a subscription, a trend that dates back to their enterprise-centric XR-3 headsets launched in 2020. The latest XR-4 series, introduced in late 2023, initially broke this mold by not requiring a subscription.

However, Varjo is shifting gears with their strategy once again. All new purchases of the XR-4 and XR-4 Focal Edition headsets made after March 25th will be subject to a tiered subscription system. They’ve introduced two options: the free ‘Varjo Base’ and the paid ‘Varjo Base Pro’ subscriptions.

The Varjo Base provides essential virtual reality and tracking functionalities at no cost. On the other hand, the Varjo Base Pro, priced at $2,500 annually or $5,000 for a perpetual license, offers a suite of advanced mixed reality features. This includes tools like chroma key, 3D reconstruction, and video post-processing. It also comes with enhanced tracking capabilities, programmatic controls, and the ability to support multiple applications. Importantly, all XR-4 Secure Edition headsets purchased after the cut-off date will come equipped with a Pro license.

Considering the hefty price tags of $5,990 and $9,990 for the XR-4 and XR-4 Focal Edition respectively, these models generally cater to high-end PC VR enthusiasts and business users. As such, the new pricing structure might not seem as jarring to their target demographic. Current owners won’t experience a cost increase for advanced features, making this price adjustment more of a consideration for enterprises with the budget to match.

Here’s a concise rundown of the available tiers as offered by Varjo:

Varjo Base (free):

• Virtual Reality: Rendering capabilities.
• Mixed Reality:
  • Video pass-through with Alpha mask
  • Depth occlusion
  • Integrated microphone and speakers with DTS spatial audio
  • Autofocus cameras (Focal Edition only)

Varjo Base Pro (subscription required):

• Mixed Reality Enhancements:

  • Chroma key
  • Blend-control mask
  • Video pass-through data stream
  • Video post-process shader
  • Environment cubemap for HDR lighting
  • 3D reconstruction
  • Programmatic control for camera settings

• Enhanced Tracking Technologies:

  • Support for 3rd party tracking plugins
  • Compatibility with motion platforms
  • Eye tracking for analytics and research
  • Programmatic control for IPD adjustment

• Additional Productivity Features:

  • Varjo Workspace
  • Option to disable Varjo UIs and branding
• Compatibility with industry standards:
  • OpenVR, OpenXR, Microsoft DirectX 11 and 12, OpenGL, Vulkan

This move by Varjo highlights their commitment to offering a diverse set of tools for environments where cutting-edge XR solutions are paramount, keeping both prosumers and enterprise customers in mind.