The final version of the Oculus Rift (Oculus VR) has finally been revealed. The virtual reality device is about to hit the shelves - and in your face.
A whole economy, the virtual reality economy, is behind Oculus Rift. Digi-Capital estimates that virtual reality will earn a market share of $150 billion by 2020. The possibilities they're so big that Facebook bought Oculus last year for $2 billion.
Oculus today introduced the consumer device and said it has a very low latency interaction state and a wide field of vision with built-in sound system and advanced ergonimics. It's designed to make you feel immersed in a virtual world, "said Brendan Iribe, chief executive of Oculus.
He also announced that the device will come with an Xbox One controller as well adapter.
The final version of the Oculus Rift will include an Xbox One controller and a wireless adapter. Brendan Iribe of Oculus told the media at a press conference in San Francisco that the company thought the idea was very good cooperations with Microsoft, at least initially, until it develops its own gamepad.
This of course can be considered a huge win for Microsoft, which already had quite a bit of success with the Xbox 360 controller, and is looking ahead to a VR platform in the Windows.
Oculus will develop its own games and virtual reality applications. The company is reportedly starting to fund independent game creators via game jams and big prizes.
The company announced that it is working on its own auditors, designed to introduce a new way of browsing the world around us.
The name for the Oculus Rift controller is Halfmoon and includes two buttons and analog levers.
Players can give commands via a thumbstick, two programmable keys, a proportional trigger and a trigger in hand.
It seems that Halfmoon can be used at the same time as a traditional controller.
The new Special Auditor is not known to be released on the same date as Oculus Rift (2016 in the first quarter) or if players still have to wait for a few months.
Oculus announced that it is working with Insomniac Games to develop a new title that will use all the unique elements of virtual reality. The game will probably be released at the same time as the device.
A response is of course expected from rival companies lurking: Valve and HTC with Open Source Virtual Reality group Razer. Sony with Project Morpheus and Microsoft with the new HoloLens project.
