Oculus VR unveils new prototype, ‘sprinting toward’ consumer version
Virtual reality headset maker Oculus VR unveiled a new prototype Saturday that brings the company closer to releasing its first device to consumers.
Lighter and more believable than predecessors over the last two years, Oculus Crescent Bay “is not the consumer version” but “sprinting toward” it, said Brendan Iribe, Oculus’ chief executive. Crescent Bay includes 360-degree motion tracking, integrated headphones and improved ergonomics.
“This allows for sustained presence, and makes you truly believe you’re in a virtual world comfortably,” Iribe said.
He made the announcement at Oculus Connect, the 2-year-old Irvine company’s first conference for developers who make games and apps for Oculus devices. Oculus has attracted more than 130,000 developers and shipped about 100,000 prototypes to them across more than 130 countries, Iribe said. The latest development kit costs $350.
The conference, being held at the ritzy Loews Hollywood Hotel, reflected the glamour of Oculus’ parent company, Facebook.
The social network’s $2-billion acquisition of Oculus in March allowed the small company to “supercharge recruiting,” Iribe said. Oculus has added 100 engineers during the past six months, doubling its staff, Iribe said.
Oculus recently unveiled the Gear VR headset in partnership with Samsung Electronics. The gadget needs a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone attached to it to serve as the display and the computer. It’s expected to cost $199.
Crescent Bay is part of a separate product line of headsets, known as the Rift, that have a built-in computer and display. But Rift is expected to cost twice as much when it eventually comes onto the consumer market. Crescent Bay devices handmade in recent days at Oculus’ headquarters were being made available to developers at the conference to try out. “They’re delicate,” Iribe said, noting he broke one Thursday night. It’s named after the Orange County beach near Oculus’ office.
Gamemakers and filmmakers have been top development partners for Oculus, which has said it wants to transform the ways people consumer and interact with entertainment content.
“With virtual reality, when you put on the headset, and it’s good enough, suddenly the back of your brain thinks you’re there,” Iribe said. “We went from convincing ourselves we’re there [when watching on a TV] to convincing ourselves we’re not there.”
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