The Virtual Reality Oculus Rift headset isn’t out yet, but it’s been in prototyping and production for quite some time. One half of the gaming industry and the videogame consumer base believes it’s set to revolutionise video games, with the other half believing it to be nothing more than a gimmick. Perhaps you wanted to get a dev unit to try for yourself. tough luck. rift VR has announced its stopped production of the Oculus Rift for now.
"Certain components used in the Oculus Rift developer kit are no longer being manufactured, meaning they are no longer available to us for production," Rift VR community manager Andres Hernandez confirmed on the Oculus sub-reddit. "As a result, we don’t have the necessary materials to produce additional kits."
"We still have some stock available, but we’re quickly running out. We are looking into alternate sources for the needed components, and we don’t yet have a timeline for when additional units will be available."
This seems like poor planning on both Rift VR and its suppliers part; when the component was set to stop production, Rift should have snatched up every last bit available, but it’s probably they only got word from their supplier far too late.
Either way, it means that those who currently have functional Oculus Rift prototype units – especially those packing the much more accurate, less likely to make you vomit Crystal Cove ones – should be pretty glad. Rift has no word on when production will resume, but they have to source new parts. hopefully, it leads to some word on when the consumer version of the Rift will become available.
Rumour has it that Sony’s busy working on its own Virtual Reality headset to rival the rift, and that could be made with the Playstation4 in mind. The same supposition suggests we’ll see more of that at this year’s GDC.
Last Updated: February 24, 2014
RinceandLeSIGH
February 24, 2014 at 11:32
This is a pity. I really enjoyed my time with the Rift.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 11:46
Yeah same man. Can’t wait to try the new HD version with a decent shooter.
Kensei Seraph
February 24, 2014 at 11:49
I actually think it would be better in a racing or flight sim game.
I just picture how to smoothly integrate it into a shooter without having to get additional accessories.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 11:50
Agreed. Hopefully Star Citizen dev’s are paying attention… OMW, I just got totally freaked out thinking about that!
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 24, 2014 at 11:52
They are supporting the Rift. All kinds of peripherals were one of the earlier stretch goals unlocked during the initial funding campaign.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 11:53
So much happiness right now
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 24, 2014 at 11:59
I don’t hold out much hope for this, but just once I’d like to beat someone in a dogfight who’s using the whole HOTAS, pedals, Rift combo & then tell them I was using a kb&m, then sit back & be lulled to sleep by screams of rage.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 12:09
Lol, Schadenfreude!
Rags
February 24, 2014 at 12:34
I don’t think using a hotas and rift is to play better as it just can’t compete with kb&m+monitor precision. But it must be an awesome experience.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 13:02
Dude, I can’t wait to give Quake a spin on this. The depth perception is mind blowing but I dunno how long you can play before you start spewing because of the speed. Will also be good to see what id Software have lined up with the next DOOM reportedly giving full support to the new platform and DOOM is obviously a lot better suited to VR than Quake.
Rags
February 24, 2014 at 13:47
Air rockets will be spectacular with VR 😛
BacchusZA
February 24, 2014 at 14:41
It depends quite a bit on what you’re doing. For the more serious flight sims for example, things like the DCS World series & Falcom BMS, a decent HOTAS & headtracking make a difference which is very hard to overstate. You *cannot* fly those aircraft effectively with a keyboard & mouse. Something like Freelancer, or the arcade type games like HAWX? Yeah, a HOTAS & headtracking are wasted there, & you’re likely better off with a kb/mouse, or at most a joypad.
Rags
February 24, 2014 at 14:44
Point taken.
JIMAN
March 14, 2014 at 11:01
No one would be mad. The game is designed to support both with no advantage given. It’s only for immersive purposes. So you’re an idiot.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 14, 2014 at 11:14
You’ve never read the controller wars on the Star Citizen forums have you? The ace pilots are very excitable.
BacchusZA
February 24, 2014 at 11:53
The Elite: Dangerous guys (Frontier Development) have integrated it, & it looks veeeeeery nice. There are a few videos on youtube if you’d like to get an idea of what it looks like.
ElimiNathan
February 24, 2014 at 11:39
Dafuq… Fail
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 24, 2014 at 11:39
Gimmick. *broken record*
Hammersteyn
February 24, 2014 at 11:40
That’s what I’ve been saying for a while now.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 11:45
“You know nothing John Snow”
Dude, I had the pleasure of trying out a dev kit last weekend and it was the most immersive experience I’ve ever had. Been around this block a few times at my age but I personally can’t wait for it.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 24, 2014 at 11:50
I’ve used it too, it’s very cool. But I don’t think a giant head set will catch on, especially when it’s only available on PC.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 11:51
Maybe in SA you are right. Can’t see or hear the burglars around you.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 11:59
Another thought though. Multiple monitor application once the software is ready. Being able to use one headset with several monitors in front of you really interests me. Cheaper alternative in terms of power and hardware resource and all that clutter gone in an instant.
Draco Lusus
February 25, 2014 at 10:08
I tried it as well, and it was great, except for the blur due to my eyes not being the correct distance apart. That and the HORRENDOUS nausea I experienced.
Gareth L (That Guy)
February 24, 2014 at 11:40
You could say that we’ve been…*puts on sunglasses*
… inoculated.
YYEEEAAHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhh…
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 11:41
HUGE LULZ!! Posted in the wrong place. Thx man!
Guest
February 24, 2014 at 11:40
HUGE LULZ!!
Gareth L (That Guy)
February 24, 2014 at 11:48
Although I wasn’t completely sold on the OR as a product, I’m still really intrigued by the Glyph: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/avegantglyph/a-mobile-personal-theater-with-built-in-premium-au
It’s far more practical and compact.
Skyblue
February 24, 2014 at 11:52
And u’ll look like that tonsil from Star Trek ;-p
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 24, 2014 at 11:56
LOL that’s exactly what I thought when I first saw it.
RinceandLeSIGH
February 24, 2014 at 11:55
Damn that is awesome.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 24, 2014 at 11:56
I like this!
BacchusZA
February 24, 2014 at 11:57
Does look nice, though it’s a different product for a different purpose, so it’s something of an apples & oranges situation 😉
Gareth L (That Guy)
February 24, 2014 at 11:59
He he, yeah it is more of a lightweight approach. I do like the fact that it’s intended to be more practical and really far easier to just put on and “wear”.
Unavengedavo
February 24, 2014 at 12:07
“a different product for a different purpose” how so? They also have head tracking for gaming purposes, the same as with the Oculus Rift. and their’s seem to be more fine tuned. Or am I missing something?
BacchusZA
February 24, 2014 at 12:15
The impression I got of that is that it’s more of a media display than a gaming display – it can do gaming in the same way that the OR can do media, but it’s not the main focus.
Wider FOV & 3D on the OR, and more precise (in the Crystal Cove at least) positional tracking, vs integrated sound & a screen very well suited for displaying movies in the Glyph.
We are talking about prototypes though, & things are going to change for both, so it’s worth holding on & forming an opinion when we know what the release specs are.
Rags
February 24, 2014 at 12:21
From what it looks like this will compete with Sony, not OR.
http://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/1x2jhw/i_just_tried_the_avegant_glyph/
JIMAN
March 14, 2014 at 11:08
lol you are missing everything.
The oculus rift is in a whole different league of peripheral.
You obviously haven’t researched the rift at all.
The Glyph is a shadow of the rifts potential, a byproduct.
Rags
February 24, 2014 at 12:08
It really looks like its going to fall off your ears. Needs overhead support.
JIMAN
March 14, 2014 at 11:06
Are you actually retarded?
Glyph over oculus?
No just no.
I don’t think you understand.
Gareth L (That Guy)
March 14, 2014 at 11:23
Responding to an 18-day old thread. I don’t think that I’m the one that’s retarded.
Geddit? XD
oOqUiS
February 24, 2014 at 12:10
I think ps4 could handle VR. If i could have the visuals of The last of us say X 4 running 1080p 60fps that is required,i’ll be a happy gamer.
Kromas
February 24, 2014 at 12:18
The PS vr cannot rival the rift as the platforms are different!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
February 24, 2014 at 12:49
It can rival in terms of tech, output, responsiveness, immersion. Not direct, head-to-head sales etc.
Kromas
February 24, 2014 at 13:00
I can agree if the Rift was an Xbone product but everyone knows the PC master race gets the best tech and gets the best out of it. 😛
Gerhard Davids
February 24, 2014 at 12:47
to be fair, something like this is not very easy to forsee.
Component suppliers don’t always keep you in the loop and will often let you know at the last minute that something like this is happening. Sourcing a new component that works at the same price or a new component that will have to be made to work at a sane price takes a lot of time as well.
Unless the component in question is already being produced at volume for someone.
HvR
February 24, 2014 at 12:53
“This seems like poor planning on both Rift VR”
Will not be so sure I’ve had this happen to me on more than one occasion, some suppliers will just obsolete a component without any prior warning. Especially during tough economic times they sometimes let whole divisions go with a month notice and sometimes they will not even honour paid for orders and only refund.
JIMAN
March 14, 2014 at 11:00
this article is pretty misinformed. He’s right, they have run out of parts, but they never planned to sell this many dev kits in the first place. It’s not a bad thing they ran out of parts, it’s more like a raging success.
He also talks like the crystal cove is the second dev kit and it is released, this isn’t the case.
Jesus, why don’t you research something for more then 5 minutes you fuccboi.