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It seems the final consumer version of the much-hyped PC-powered Oculus Rift virtual reality headset may not launch into retail this year.
David Wehner, CFO of Oculus owner Facebook, said in an earnings call (as reported by Gamasutra): "We have not announced any specific plans for shipment volumes in 2015 related to Oculus.
"Oculus is very much in the development stage, so it’s very early to be talking about large shipment volumes."
Facebook bought Oculus in a $2 billion deal this time last year. While a developer version of the headset has been available for a number of years already, there were rumblings that a mass-prouced more affordable version may arrive as early as this year.
Wehner’s comments may put that idea to rest – could the Oculus Rift launch in 2016 or can we expect a bigger announcement at video games trade show E3 this summer? Time will tell.
However, the potential for Oculus is huge. As well as allowing the user to play PC games in full 3D, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said: "After games, we’re going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences. Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face – just by putting on goggles in your home."
PCR tried out Oculus Rift last year – check out that article to find out what we thought of the device from a trade point of view, and what kind of margins retailers can expect from selling the device.
There are rival devices, too, including the PS4-compatible Sony Morpheus headset, the Samsung Gear VR and the HTC Vive.
