Varjo, the Finland-based maker of high-end XR headsets, has announced a new software licensing model that moves certain advanced mixed reality features behind a paywall for its latest XR-4 series devices. At the same time, Nvidia has acknowledged ongoing issues with Varjo’s Aero VR headsets when used with the company’s RTX 50-series graphics cards, confirming in a recent driver announcement that the headset may fail to establish connection.
Varjo’s latest XR-4 and XR-4 Focal Edition headsets debuted in late 2023 without requiring any paid subscription. However, starting March 25, all newly purchased XR-4 and XR-4 Focal Edition devices will come with a two-tier software system:
- Varjo Base (Free): Offers the core VR and tracking features.
- Varjo Base Pro (Paid): Costs $2,500 per year or $5,000 for a perpetual license. It unlocks advanced mixed reality capabilities such as chroma key, 3D reconstruction, video post-processing, expanded tracking support, programmatic controls, and multi-app functionality.
Customers who already purchased an XR-4 before March 25 will retain these advanced features without needing to subscribe. However, all new XR-4 Secure Edition models include the Pro license by default, positioning these features firmly within an enterprise-focused pricing model.
PC Gamer reported recently that Varjo Aero users have reported compatibility problems when pairing the headset with Nvidia’s RTX 50-series graphics cards. Despite past updates claiming to fix the series’ black screen and stability issues, Nvidia has confirmed it is still working to resolve the Varjo Aero problem. The price of VR devices must go up but the volumes are so low and the issues so esoteric that users face many frustrations.
