The Facebook-owned virtual reality technology firm Oculus began shipping its latest VR headgear today. Some people are calling the Oculus Quest the 'iPod of VR.'
Pre-orders for the PC-free Oculus Quest and the higher end Oculus Rift S opened up three weeks ago.
The official Oculus blog post announcing the launch describes the new hardware as an “all-in-one, fully immersive 6DOF VR” experience.
“We’re bringing the magic of presence to more people than ever before — and we’re doing it with the freedom of fully untethered movement.”
From the Oculus launch post:
Today marks an important moment for the VR community, as both Oculus Quest and Rift S begin shipping now! With all-in-one, fully immersive 6DOF VR, we’re bringing the magic of presence to more people than ever before—and we’re doing it with the freedom of fully untethered movement. Our commitment to PC-powered VR gaming continues, with incredible titles like Asgard’s Wrath, Defector, and Stormland on the horizon. Combined, the addition of Quest and Rift S to our hardware portfolio will help developers usher in the next level of VR gaming. We’ve been blown away by the community’s response since we opened pre-orders for Quest and Rift S at F8, and we’re excited for your patience and dedication to pay off in a big way.
Didn’t place a pre-order? Buy the VR headset that works best for you today at oculus.com/quest or oculus.com/rift-s.
From Natasha Lomas at TechCrunch:
The Oculus blog contains no detail on pre-order sales for the headsets — beyond a few fine-sounding words.
Meanwhile, Facebook has, for months, been running native ads for Oculus via its eponymous and omnipresent social network — although there’s no explicit mention of the Oculus brand unless you click through to “learn more.”
Instead, it’s pushing the generic notion of “all-in-one VR,” shrinking the Oculus brand stamp on the headset to an indecipherable micro-scribble.
It’s Game Time: #OculusQuest + #RiftS Now Available! // https://t.co/pgAj1acBgE pic.twitter.com/UoRyHawQAx
— Oculus (@oculus) May 21, 2019
Today we ship Oculus Quest and Rift S. Proud of my team but also excited for this moment and what it means for the industry. I believe we’re about to reset how people think about VR and its future. pic.twitter.com/f9Gyp98Mbk
— Boz (@boztank) May 21, 2019
Got my #OculusQuest demo on this morning (yes Beat Saber is addictive) and cycled away with a review unit strapped into my child’s seat. Baby Quest’s first ride. pic.twitter.com/nvA53gMMxh
— Joan E. Solsman (@joan_e) May 21, 2019
‘Phantom: Covert Ops’ Brings VR Stealth to Oculus Quest and Rift https://t.co/0FgiQyF9ot
— Variety (@Variety) May 21, 2019
[PHOTO: Oculus]