If you have become totally hyped about the possibilities of virtual reality, as many gamers have been around the world, then the time has finally come to put your money down on the technology. The Oculus Rift is finally available for pre-order right here (the site is, of course, currently down). Along with the pre-orders opening up, we finally have answers to the questions that has lingered ever since the initial Kickstarter campaign ended back in 2012.
The Oculus Rift price and release date have finally been revealed as part of the pre-orders opening up. The Oculus Rift will retail for $599 and will be in gamers’ hands in March 28th, 2016. This fits with a lot of the discussion that has been going on since the final, consumer version of the device was unveiled.
Initially many suspected a slightly lower price, hovering around the $300 mark, which would fit with the cost during the very first Kickstarter. However, as more technology was added, and the specs of the Rift were raised, members of Oculus VR began preparing fans for a bit of sticker shock.
The release date of March 2016 puts it well ahead of the recently delayed HTC Vive. The Valve backed VR headset had its release date pushed back into April 2016, after the team began adding a front-facing camera to the headset itself. This “technological breakthrough” allows wearers to see their surroundings, with the possibility of bringing them into the game in interesting ways.
The big question now is, do you jump on the Oculus Rift or wait for the HTC Vive? The Vive seems to be pushing a few extra features into the device, with its included motion controllers, lighthouse tracking system, and front-facing camera. However, it isn’t even available for pre-order yet. Adding to this, Oculus has begun pushing for platform exclusives, something that many fans have not supported, but still means you’ll need and Oculus to enjoy certain games. Whether you are willing and able to wait a while seems to be the main decider of which to get at the moment.
