Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced Oculus is working on a standalone version of the Rift headset that would not need to be connected to a PC or a smartphone.
The wireless Rift would be somewhat equidistant between the current high-end model and solutions like the Samsung Gear VR, also created by Oculus.
However, it would be self-powered and would not rely on a smartphone for the display and the processor, enabling Oculus to bump the experience closer to the Rift.
It will also use an as-yet undefined feature called inside-out tracking which we’re sure to hear more about in due course.
Related: Oculus Rift review
Speaking at the Oculus Connect event, Zuckerberg said: “
“A standalone product that you can take with you into the world. We are working on this now. It’s still early.”
Zuckerberg offered no potential timeframe for when the wireless Oculus Rift might make a consumer debut. Right now the project doesn’t even have a name.
If the firm is able to offer a headset that doesn’t require a high-end PC to do the heavy lifting, that would certainly open a door to more potential Rift customers unimpressed by what they’ve experienced in mobile VR.
Best HTC Vive games
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.