The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset has been years in the making, but it's finally in stores, eagerly awaiting your face.
Online retailers are now selling the finished version, complete with all the required cables, a compatible Microsoft controller and the Oculus Rift headset itself.
The deals listed on this page are for the finished retail version of the Oculus Rift. So don't worry about ending up with a dev kit version (Dk1 or Dk2) early builds. You can find a few of those around the net, especially on eBay, but be warned, many of these are the earlier versions, made available to early adopters or developers. We'd stay away from them as they're not the refined finished product available at your favourite retailers and they probably don't come with the Microsoft controller either.
How much does the Oculus Rift cost?
In the UK, the recommended price is £549 and it's $599 in the US. Don't expect many cheap Oculus Rift deals for a while as this retail version has only just launched. Feel free to bookmark this page though to keep an eye on the price as these prices are updated daily to reflect the best online Oculus Rift deals out there.
Will my PC run Oculus Rift?
That's a good question, and certainly one to ask before splurging out on the virtual reality lid for your rig. Handily, there's a neat Oculus Rift compatibility tool you can try via our very own Downloads section.
If you're starting out from scratch and want to build your own Oculus Rift ready rig, check out Techradar's article below.
Can I use the Oculus Rift on the PS4 or Xbox One?
No on both so far. Sony is preparing their own PlayStation VR for the PS4 in October, so we're not expecting Oculus Rift compatibility any time soon. As for Oculus Rift on the Xbox One, it's also a no, but with a potential 'maybe' further down the line. Oculus teamed up with Microsoft to include a PC/Oculus-compatible Xbox One controller with the retail release of the headset, so there's already a relationship to potentially build on. Microsoft's Hololens VR/Augmented reality headset has been very quiet of late and hasn't really been pushed as an Xbox One headset, leaving plenty of room for speculation that the Oculus Rift will make it's way to the Xbox One.
Can I use Oculus Rift on my phone?
Get out. Oh, you must be confusing the Oculus with the Samsung Gear VR. Samsung's headset is far cheaper and is made for mobile apps, rather than full-fat PC experiences. Well worth a look though if you have a compatible Android mobile phone. As things stand, your phone would probably melt faster than the sets-on-fire-for-fun Galaxy Note 7 if you tried convincing it to even look at an Oculus Rift.
What are the Oculus Touch controllers?
Oculus Touch is a pair of motion-controllers with buttons that will provide a more intuitive way of interacting with select games. With hand-tracking technology, it's possible that you'll be able to see a digital representation of your own arms and hands in-game, making for an even more immersive experience. No online stores are taking preorders at this time, but keep an eye on this page as we'll list any that appear as soon as they do. According to Game in the UK, expect them to cost around £190 for the pair, essentially bringing the overall cost much closer to the HTC Vive VR setup.
