It’s that time of year again when Facebook subsidiary Oculus holds its annual virtual reality (VR) conference, Oculus Connect 5 (OC5), talking about its plans for a VR future with new videogames and hardware for consumers and businesses alike. With Facebook’s F8 event featuring Oculus Go many expected the company to reveal details regarding standalone prototype Santa Cruz this week, and Oculus hasn’t disappointed. The new headset is officially called Oculus Quest and is due to be released Spring 2019.
Oculus Quest aims to blur the lines between Oculus Go and Oculus Rift, creating a standalone high-end device that uses motion controllers and inside-out tracking. Much in the same way as HTC’s Vive Focus device or the Lenovo Mirage Solo, users are able to walk around a physical space without bumping into anything and without the need for external sensors. While the controllers echo that of the Windows Mixed Reality devices with a big hoop for the headsets cameras to pick up.
During the keynote today, Oculus has now gone into further detail about the much anticipated project after first showcasing the headset during Oculus Connect 3 in 2016, followed by an updated version during Oculus Connect 4 which VRFocus got its hands on.
Specifications include 4 ultra-wide sensors for inside-out tracking, and integrated audio much like Oculus Go just better. The controllers are still called Oculus Touch although they do still look a little different.
The most interesting fact, Oculus Quest will retail for $399 USD when it launches next year, the same price as Oculus Rift.
Expect to hear more about the Oculus Quest as the day goes on, with VRFocus on the ground at OC5 to bring you the latest hands-on impressions from both the hardware and software on display.
via Mint VR