Oculus today gave the world the first look at its Rift consumer virtual reality headset which will ship with a wireless Xbox One controller. It also comes with a small, table-top camera on a stand that watches a constellation of LED markers on the Rift to track your head movement.
The partnership with Microsoft will also see the Rift work “natively” with Windows 10, plus play Xbox One games in the headset.
Oculus VR's new consumer Rift VR headset will be on display at the E3 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo running between June 16-18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. People attending the E3 Expo will be able to try out Oculus Rift.
Oculus also made the announcement in its blog:
Step into the Rift
Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to the Oculus Rift!
The Rift delivers on the promise of consumer virtual reality and next-generation VR gaming.
The consumer Rift virtual reality headset up close (Click Image To Enlarge)
Custom Display and Tracking System
The Rift uses custom display and optics technology designed specifically for VR featuring two AMOLED displays with low-persistence. The technology enables incredible visual clarity as you explore virtual worlds with the Rift.
The consumer Rift virtual reality headset is tracked by a Infra-Red LED constellation tracking system for precise, low latency 360-degree orientation and position tracking (Click Image To Enlarge)
The headset is tracked by our IR LED constellation tracking system for precise, low latency 360-degree orientation and position tracking.
Integrated VR Audio
Audio is a critical component to achieving and amplifying presence.
The consumer Rift features an integrated VR audio system with adjustable headphones (Click Image To Enlarge)
The Rift features an integrated VR audio system designed to convince your ears that you’re truly there. The integrated headphones are also removable in case you want to use your own.
It also incorporates a high quality internal microphone for social experiences.
Ergonomics and Design
We’re incredibly excited for you to try the Rift’s new design — we’ve been refining it over the last few years.
The consumer Rift virtual reality headset has an advanced ergonomic design improves the headset’s overall balance and stability. This strap architecture offloads the overall weight, allowing the Rift to rest comfortably (Click Image To Enlarge)
The Rift has an advanced ergonomic design improves the headset’s overall balance and stability. This strap architecture offloads the overall weight, allowing the Rift to rest comfortably.
It’s as easy to put as slipping on a baseball cap. Once you’re in, simply adjust the straps to fit you.
The consumer Rift virtual reality headset includes a mechanism that allows you to adjust the distance between the lenses for the most comfortable visual experience (Click Image To Enlarge)
Further, we’ve included a mechanism that allows you to adjust the distance between the lenses for the most comfortable visual experience. You can also remove the facial interface to replace the soft foam, and we’ve improved the form factor to better accommodate glasses.
Wireless Xbox One Controller included with every Rift
We’ve been working closely with developers to understand what they need from the Rift since the earliest days at Oculus.
Developers wanted an input device that was robust and versatile enough to enable next-generation games and experiences in this first generation of VR. As a result of that collaboration, we’ve decided to incorporate one of the best gamepads available, a wireless Xbox One controller, with every Rift.
The consumer Rift virtual reality headset incorporates one of the best gamepads available, a wireless Xbox One controller, with every Rift (Click Image To Enlarge)
The Xbox controller is a key part of the broader VR input puzzle. For example, it’s the absolute best way to play games like Lucky’s Tale, EVE: Valkyrie, and Edge of Nowhere.
…but what about new genres and categories of games that require a different set of inputs?
Introducing Oculus Touch
We see VR input evolving and coming in different forms depending on the experience you want to have in virtual reality.
While the Xbox controller is great for many games and genres, we want an input device that lets you to reach out and interact with objects in VR naturally.
We’re excited to introduce Oculus Touch!
The Oculus Touch prototype is a pair of tracked controllers called 'Half Moon" that deliver hand presence – the sensation of feeling as though your virtual hands are actually your own (Click Image To Enlarge)
Oculus Touch is a pair of tracked controllers that deliver hand presence – the sensation of feeling as though your virtual hands are actually your own. Touch will let people take their virtual reality experiences further than ever before by unlocking new interactions.
Today, we’re showing off a feature prototype for Oculus Touch at E3 called ‘Half Moon’. There are two controllers, one for each hand. They’re mirror images of each other, like your own hands.
Each Half Moon controller has a traditional analog thumbstick, two buttons, and an analog trigger. There’s also an input mechanism that we call the ‘hand trigger’. Imagine using this trigger to pick up a virtual gun, then using your index finger to fire it.
Each Oculus Touch VR sensor is held in each hand and delivers the sensation of feeling as though your virtual hands are actually your own (Click Image To Enlarge)
They’re wireless so that you can move and interact with the virtual world freely, and they use the same IR LED constellation tracking system we use in the Rift for precise, low-latency, 6-DOF tracking.
The Half Moon prototype includes haptics that developers can use to deliver feedback when interacting with objects in the virtual world.
Finally, Half Moon can detect a set of finger poses using a matrix of sensors mounted throughout the device, which allows the controller to recognize a set of communicative hand poses like pointing, waving, and giving a thumbs-up.
Close-up view of the Oculus Touch showing touch controls located on top for the thumb and belowthe ring for the index finger (Click Image To Enlarge)
Oculus Touch will ship to gamers, developers, and enthusiasts in the first half of 2016, and will be available for pre-order around the same time as the Rift.
Gaming in the Rift
At today’s event, we showcased a few of the upcoming made-for-VR games for the Rift including EVE: Valkyrie from CCP Games, Chronos from Gunfire Games and Edge of Nowhere from Insomniac Games.
All of these games will be playable on the Rift at E3, along with new VR demos including:
- Damaged Core by High Voltage
- VR Sports: Challenge by Sanzaru
- Esper from Coatsink
- AirMech by Carbon
- Lucky’s Tale from Playful
We’ll have more details on all of these games next week at E3. If you’re at the show, come by the booth and experience them for yourself on the consumer Rift. You can also schedule a demo for the Rift using our Oculus Live app.
Stay tuned for more made-for-VR game announcements as we head toward the launch!
$10,000,000 to accelerate Independent Developers
We know that virtual reality is going to inspire a new generation of game developers, driven by emerging independent teams and individuals.
In order to bring these innovative, one-of-kind independent games to the Rift, we announced today that we will be investing more than $10,000,000 in accelerating and supporting them.
Not only will these folks bring more and better games for launch and beyond, but we’re looking forward to their inventiveness and creativity in VR.
The Future of VR Gaming
Virtual reality is going to transform gaming forever. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.
Gamer using the consumer Oculus Rift headset and Oculus Touch sensors to play an Xbox game (Click Image To Enlarge)
COMMENTARY: It's been just a little over a year since I informed my blog fans about Facebook's acquisition of Oculus VR back on March 25, 2014 and the inside story about how Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg met with the founders of Oculus and convinced them to join Facebook on June 27, 2014. At that time, I thought it would take two or three years before Oculus VR would have a commercially viable product that would be ready for consumer marketplace. The problem was developing VR games for Rift. Well, the miracle has happened. Not only do they have a consumer version of the Rift headset but also Oculus Touch a pair of hand sensors to play around in the virtual world, a partnership with Microsoft that will include an XBox controller and half a dozen VR games available for Oculus customers.
The projected price for the Oculus Rift headset and Touch sensors will be $1,500.00. This puts it out of the range of most gamers, but early adopters will have no problem coming up with the doe. I haven't read any reviews of the new consumer Oculus Rift headset, but as soon as these these are available, will be bring to you here on my blog.
Courtesy of Oculus VR's blog announcement of June 11, 2015
Follow Me: 
Twitter: turk5555 
Facebook: 797743955 
LinkedIn: turk5555
Comments