Founded in 2012, Oculus quickly became the name in virtual reality, being bought out by Facebook in 2014 for a grand total of $2 billion.
But it wasn’t until Tuesday that their flagship product, the Oculus Rift, finally shipped out to the pre-order consumer audience. Until then, the Rift was only handed out for demos or to companies that partnered with Oculus.
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At the moment, the Rift is none other than a next-level gaming system, as the initial package comes with a slew of games and an XBOX One controller. The XBOX One controller is included to tide consumers over until Oculus releases their Touch controllers, which offer a more immersive experience compared to the typical gaming controller.
Latched onto the headset is a pair of 3D audio headphones, made to act like surround sound headphones, so sound appears to come from different corners of the virtual reality experience. The Oculus Rift also needs a compatible Windows PC in order to operate.
Initial reviewers have not been completely sold on the release package. While it is some of the best virtual reality hardware on the market, the price tag on this first generation product is a bit steep, at $599. And that price does not include a PC necessary to run the system. It is definitely not for the casual consumer.
For someone looking for an enveloping virtual reality product, the Samsung Gear VR (also developed by Oculus) works with a Samsung smart phone to craft a similar feel as the Rift for one-sixth of the price—$99.
As for direct competitors, Sony has their $399 PlayStation VR, which hooks up to a PlayStation 4. There is also the HTC Vive, which many say is better than the rift, but comes at a higher price—$799.
This is an exciting time for the future of virtual reality in sports, and a competitive market can only be good for sports fans.
Already, Oculus has worked with companies like STRIVR, in the realm of helping athletes grow their skill set and experience. The consumer release of the rift could see virtual reality software becoming more commonplace for teams lower on the totem pole than the big-money earning professional and college teams.
Earlier this month, it was rumored that Oculus could be showcasing some NBA and NHL games, so fans could gain access to a seat against the glass or courtside from the comforts of their own home.
Back in September, the Jets held a demo with Oculus, where fans were allowed to virtually watch a game at EverBank field.
As broadcast corporations become more interested in the world of virtual reality, such as Sky Sports who just announced a virtual reality production wing, these demos could become an everyday occurrence.
While the Oculus Rift is primarily intended for gaming right now, having high-end virtual reality hardware in households is the first step for those hoping for virtual reality to make a heavy impact on the sports world.
It is the beginning of potentially being able to never miss a game in your favorite team’s stadium, and tuning in via high quality virtual reality even if you are thousands of miles away.