Oculus Rift's $200 consumer version 'months' away
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The consumer version of the much anticipated Oculus Rift virtual reality headset is just months away, the company has revealed.
CEO Brendan Iribe told the audience at Web Summit 2014 in Dublin, that a consumer-version of the company's VR headset is 'close'.
He admitted the latest prototype, codenamed Crescent Bay, is 'largely finalized for a consumer product.'
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CEO Brendan Iribe told the audience at Web Summit 2014 in Dublin, that a consumer-version of the company's Rift VR headset is 'close'.
'We're all hungry for it to happen,' he told the audience.
'We're getting very close. It's months, not years away, but many months.'
He also revealed one area holding back the product was the lack of a controller.
He said keyboards, mice and gamepads aren't up to the job and neither is gesture-control.
'You want to feel it when you touch a button,' he said.
Oculus acquired Carbon Design, the designers of the Xbox 360 controller in March.
Iribe also revealed that although the technology is currently similar to ski goggles, future versions will look like sunglasses.
Iribe also revealed the company has changed significantly since it was acquired by Facebook in March.
Operating as an independent subsidiary, Oculus has grown from 75 people to over 200 employees and now operates a separate R&D division.
Asked about the threat of rival VR products, Iribe said his main concern is shoddy implementation.
In recent months dozens of firms have revealed low cost headsets using a movbile phone as the display.
'We're a little worried about bigger companies putting out products that aren't ready.
'Disorientation and motion sickness is the elephant in the room.
'We're encouraging big companies not to put out a product before it's ready.
'We want to get it right, we don't want it to be four or five years. We're eager for this to happen.'
Earlier this year the Facebook-owned firm has unveiled its Crescent Bay model of the virtual reality technology that is lighter than its predecessor, and now features 360-degree tracking.
Reports claimed the consumer version of the device will launch in 2015 and could cost as little as $200 (£122).
Iribe says it is too early to say what the 'killer app' is - but said it could even be face to face talking.
'One that resonates with us internally is that this will have a big aspect of gaming, where you feel like you're in the game or movie.
'But when we can have face to face conversations, that's a big change'If in the future you can throw in a pair on sunglasses and have the same conversation we are having, that's really transformative.'
The Crescent Bay virtual reality headset (pictured) was unveiled at the Oculus Connect conference in Hollywood at the weekend. It is lighter than its predecessor and features 360-degree tracking, but Oculus VR is yet to release the full list of specifications for the device
The 360-degree tracking means the headset will be able to more accurately monitor a wearer's head movements, which in turn will make games more immersive and true-to-life.
Elsewhere, the headset has a higher resolution, per eye, than the current second-generation development kit – DK2 - and these displays are powered by Samsung devices.
A teardown of the DK2 revealed that the headset uses Samsung Galaxy Note 3 displays, and experts claim the latest generation device will feature screens from the flagship Note 4.
By comparison, the DK2 has a resolution of 960 x 1080 per eye, and the Note 4 screens would give the latest model 1280 x 1440 resolution.
Aside from these specifications, Oculus VR is yet to release the rest of Crescent Bay's features.
'There are plenty of technical challenges left to solve for the consumer Rift, but Crescent Bay is truly the best virtual reality headset we've ever built,' said Mr Iribe.
The price of the Oculus Rift consumer model, which does not have a release date yet, was revealed by Oculus VR co-founder Nate Mitchell.
Speaking with Eurogamer, Mr Mitchell said the price could go up to $400 (£240), but that the price range was an estimate.
He also cautioned that nothing is set in stone.
'That could slide in either direction depending on scale, pre-orders, the components we end up using, [or] business negotiations,' he said.
Previously, Oculus VR said it was aiming to launch the consumer model for around $300 (£185).
Developers can currently buy protoype versions of the headset for $350 (£215).
Crescent Bay (pictured) has a higher resolution, per eye, than the current second-generation development kit – DK2 - and these displays are powered by the Samsung devices. A consumer model of the headset is expected to launch next year with price estimates ranging from $200 (£122) up to $400 (£240)
The firm also revealed earlier this month it has been working with Samsung on a mobile version of the headset, which will go on sale this year, but will not feature the advanced head tracking or high resolution display the Oculus version is expected to have.
Facebook purchased the company earlier this year when its $2bn (£1.2bn) deal to buy VR headset firm Oculus was approved.
It will first be used for immersive games, but Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg promised the headset will 'change the way we work, play and communicate' - although virtual worlds could include advertising admitted Zuckerberg.
A commercial version is rumoured to launch in 2015.
The purchase of Oculus put Facebook in a battle with Sony, which has already unveiled its own version of a VR headset, destined for the PS4 next year.
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