In the world of consumer-oriented virtual-reality, there is no sexier attraction than the Oculus Rift head-mounted display.
With four early developer-version iterations of its hardware already revealed, a process akin to a morphine drip for the VR early adopters out there, suspense has been building for the presumed public launch of its first consumer version in early 2016.
Now, thanks to a leak, a few sneak peeks of the consumer model have emerged on re/code and elsewhere in the blogosphere, just in time for Thursday s big press conference . That s when Oculus, which Facebook snapped up last year for $2 billion in cash and stock, is expected to talk more about what it s got up its sleeves. And thanks to a post by the folks over at VR Focus, we re learning that the timing of the leak has certainly ramped up the hype:
Oculus VR is currently preparing to host a pre-E3 press conference at 10:00 PDT on 11th June 2015 in which it s set to further discuss the consumer version of the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD). The company recently set up a that is counting down to the big event, but the new design appears to have backfired somewhat. Images, reportedly buried in the new website, are now popping up online and showcasing the consumer Oculus Rift itself along with some extra peripherals.
Various reports show images of the device equipped with an overhead strap and headphones that had been included in an earlier version revealed last fall. VR Focus says the Oculus VR branding appears on the front along with what appears to be a built-in camera facing the direction in which the user is looking. Many had suspected that the device might include such a camera, but this seems to be the first time that it s actually been confirmed.
Another image shows what looks like a remote-like controller, says the post, adding that there s also another wired object to one side of the original image. It s not at all clear what service this device could perform though it s important to note that the Oculus Rift itself isn t seen with a wire. Could this mean something surprising is in store for Thursday s show?
You can read more about Oculus on its site, where the company s countdown clock to Thursday s event is in full-anticipation mode.
Clearly, the company has something big to say, at least according to the hint it dropped on its corporate blog:
On June 11, we re holding a special press event in San Francisco. We ll be talking about the future of virtual reality, gaming, the Rift, and more.
Virtual reality has come a long way since Oculus started in 2012. That progress is a direct result of you – the community of developers, creators, and believers who have been on this journey with us since the start.
As we take another step toward true consumer virtual reality and next-generation VR gaming, we re excited to share an evolution of the Oculus logo with you today.
Credit: SiliconBeat
