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Oculus Go VR Headset Is Available For Purchase
VR is a compelling technology, but most of the big sets tether you to a computer. Oculus is hoping to set players free with Oculus Go – an all-in-one VR headset that isn't powered by a PC or phone.
Oculus announced the mobile headset last fall, but starting today, if you’ve got $199, you can snag an Oculus Go VR Headset that contains 32 GB of storage (the 64 GB model is $249). While this headset doesn't need to connect to a phone or PC for power, you will need to connect to a free iOS or Android mobile app during setup.
The Oculus Go headset is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chip paired with Oculus’ automatic Dynamic Throttling feature that theoretically offers a smoother frame rate. Meanwhile, the Go’s new display panel features 538 pixels-per-inch for a resolution of 2560 x 1440. Obviously, battery life will vary based on use, but a built-in lithium ion battery should provide about two hours of playtime for games or up to 2.5 hours for streaming media and video.
Go users will have access to a variety of content, which includes (text from Oculus):
- Over 1,000 Games and Experiences to explore including titles such as Anshar Online, They Suspect Nothing and Space Explorers (NASA), amongst others.
- An update to Oculus Rooms with a fully redesigned and customizable environment, more life-like avatars and the ability to watch full-length movies from among the hundreds of top titles in the Oculus Store. We're also bringing Hasbro games to Rooms: Boggle joins the platform this month, with Monopoly + Trivial Pursuit brand experiences coming later.
- Oculus TV is a brand-new way to experience your favorite serialized content. A custom-built 3D environment with a massive screen and virtual seating area, Oculus TV also serves as a convenient hub to launch your favorite individual VR entertainment apps, like Netflix, Hulu, and SHOWTIME.
- Oculus Venues, where you can watch live concerts, sports, comedy shows, and other events with your closest friends and an audience of thousands of people around the world (available beginning May 30).
Our Take
This is interesting. Game Informer has been bullish on VR, and while the technology hasn't exploded nearly as quicky as we thought, we're still excited about the possibilities. This newest headset looks like a step in the right direction. Stay tuned for more impressions once we get our hands on a review unit.
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