Oculus connect 2017

Oculus Connect 2017: Oculus Go announced, Oculus Rift gets a price cut, and more

Oculus at its Connect conference this year announced a few of new products in the realm of virtual reality as well as a price cut for its Rift VR headset, all aimed at bringing VR to the masses. The Facebook-owned company announced Oculus Go, a more affordable standalone VR headset as well as Oculus for Business to bring VR into workplaces, among other things.

Oculus Go looks to make VR affordable

Oculus Go is the company's push to make VR more accessible. Priced at $199 (approx. Rs 13,000), the Oculus Go falls comfortably between Samsung's Gear VR and the company's own Rift headset. Notably, the budget VR headset is wireless, which means it does not depend on a mobile phone or computer, and is the company's first standalone VR product. The goal of this headset, as is the case with VR wearables in general, is to create an immersive experience where users can watch movies, play games, or hang out with friends in a virtual environment.

The headset is made up of a super lightweight material, and has a soft, breathable fabric that the company says makes it easier for users to wrap around their head. Inside the Oculus Go is a high-resolution fast-switch 2560x1440 LCD screen for improved visual clarity. The lenses also offer a wide field of view with a lot less glare.

The Oculus Go features integrated spatial audio, with speakers built right inside. There is, however, a 3.5mm headphone jack for users to connect their wired headphones for private listening. Oculus also says that the Gear VR and Oculus Go apps are binary compatible, and use similar controllers making it easier for developers to build for both products. The new headset will start shipping early next year.

Oculus's flagship Rift gets cheaper as well

Apart from the Oculus Go, the company on Day 1 of Connect also announced it was further slashing the price of the Rift bundle. The Rift Bundle, which includes Touch controllers, sensors and six free apps, is now permanently priced at $399 (approx. Rs 26,000). To recall, the Rift was launched at $599 with the Touch controllers priced at $199 separately. A few price cuts later, the Rift was down to $499, but with the latest drop, Oculus wants to make its premium VR headset more accessible