Oculus Rift S VR Headset Launching Spring 2019 for $399

[Arthands]

https://www.oculus.com/blog/announcing-oculus-rift-s-our-new-pc-vr-headset-launching-spring-2019/

Bye bye external sensors!

Today at GDC, we unveiled Oculus Rift S—a new VR headset that combines the convenience of built-in Oculus Insight tracking technology with the full power of your PC. Built on the Rift platform, Rift S gives gamers and tech enthusiasts access to the most immersive content that VR has to offer, and it's launching in Spring 2019 for $399 USD.

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Higher Resolution on the Best PC VR Gaming Platform


Rift S works with the Rift platform, giving you access to the top-selling and most immersive VR titles on Day 1—and even more groundbreaking games like Asgard's Wrath, Defector, andStormland on the horizon. Improved optics and display technology deliver a sharper picture with higher pixel density for an even more immersive gaming experience. Games on Rift have never looked better.



Increased Comfort and Integrated Audio


We partnered with Lenovo™ to design Rift S, drawing on their experience in the VR and AR space and feedback from the Lenovo Legion™ gaming community. Lenovo co-designed the Rift S for increased comfort, better weight distribution, and improved light blocking, as well as a simple, single-cable system for a clutter-free experience. Rift S features the same integrated audio system as Oculus Quest and Oculus Go, with a headphone jack that lets you use your own favorite headphones.



Oculus Insight for Precise Room-Scale Tracking


Like Quest, Rift S features Oculus Insight, our state-of-the-art inside-out tracking technology. Say goodbye to external sensors—Oculus Insight gets you into the game with ease. Using computer vision algorithms, Oculus Insight captures, traces, and navigates physical spaces in realtime. The Rift S headset features five sensors to maximize tracking volume in support of the existing Rift library. Oculus Touch controllers, redesigned for inside-out tracking, bring familiar hand presence and input so you can grab, point, and gesture through the best of VR.



Introducing Passthrough+


We're also enabling a true stereo-correct passthrough feature, Passthrough+. It utilizes core Oculus runtime advancements, including ASW, to produce a comfortable experience with minimal depth disparity or performance impact. It's especially helpful any time you need to step or see outside of your play space.



A Shared Platform


Because Rift and Rift S share the same core platform experience, current Rift owners will be able to take advantage of our continued software updates. They'll also enjoy access to the same games available today and coming in the future.

We can't wait to share more in the weeks ahead. Sign up for all the latest updates at oculus.com/rift-s.

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[Cactuar]

Nice that they arent completely going away from being tethered to PCs. I know many knew the S was coming, but still good nonetheless.

 

[anf]

Spring 2019? Well that's nice

 

[Arthands]

Summary:
- Improved optics & display technology
- higher pixel density
- increased comfort
- better weight distribution
- improved light blocking
- single cable system
- same integrated audio system w/headphone jack
- Oculus Insight (no more external sensors)
- Passthrough+
- shared platform with Oculus Rift

 

[uzipukki]

Might get this. Hmm.

 

[HylianSeven]

I'm curious to see comparisons to see how it does with the Rift S versus the original Rift with sensors. I'm guessing this does replace the original Rift? I'm not really seeing the Rift available much of anywhere, and where it is, it's $350 compared to the Rift S's $399.

I bought a Vive almost two weeks ago and I love it.

 

[Deleted member 420]

No word on the resolution?

 

[Greatest Ever]

Awesome, sticking with my original Rift until I manage to finish more of my library.

Oh no, most Oculus games are only on Oculus launcher... ResetEra's gonna have a fit.

 

[EchoSmoker]

There it is. USB bandwidth management was stopping me from getting a Rift, but with no more sensors that's no longer a problem so I'm probably getting this.

 

[KoolAid]

Awesome, sticking with my original Rift until I manage to finish more of my library.

Oh no, most Oculus games are only on Oculus launcher... ResetEra's gonna have a fit.

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Those are directly funded by Oculus, basically making them first party. They're not money hats unlike Epic.

 

[Moss]

Same FOV as the original Rift?

 

[MrBob]

These updates look pretty neat. Can't wait to see tracking benchmarks.

 

[Windu]

5 cameras for inside out tracking? nice. step up your game Microsoft Partners. You are being left behind.

 

[JD3Nine]

Curious how the tracking is compared to the Rift with a couple sensors. That's what I have and in my space, it works great. Obviously, the Lighthouses / Vive are better for room scale, but you can get pretty good coverage with the Oculus sensors. As long as you have enough USB 3 ports and don't mind the wires.

 

[I KILL PXLS]

No word on the resolution?

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2560×1440. Original Rift was 2160×1200. Same FoV.

 

[Deleted member 3196]

I'm going through a bit of a no spending period at the moment, as there's a bit of uncertainty around my job, but the second I know where I stand (and if it's good news) I'm getting in on this.

I love my PSVR, and I want to take the next step and have VR on my PC too. This might be the device I get!

 

[Greatest Ever]

Does this actually have a lower refresh rate? Damn.

 

[Deleted member 6582]

Inside out tracking and price are good. They still don't support buns and ponytails (how many women you got working at Oculus?). I'm not upgrading because the PC VR lineup is still trash.

 

[pj-]

Summary:
- Improved optics & display technology
- higher pixel density
- increased comfort
- better weight distribution
- improved light blocking
- single cable system
- same integrated audio system w/headphone jack
- Oculus Insight (no more external sensors)
- Passthrough+
- shared platform with Oculus Rift

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- LCD instead of OLED
- 80hz instead of 90hz

 

[Arthands]

New trailers for some Oculus S titles

 

[Waffle]

Pretty disappointing for me. Rift's FOV really needed at least a small bump and also the refresh rate going from 90-80hz seems weird.

 

[nikasun :D]

I kinda wanna buy one for the office, as there is enough space behind me to play, but I barely have time to play anything at all besides Apex here and there.

 

[Michael]

No OLED, mediocre resolution boost, no FOV increase mentioned, 80Hz. Color me not very impressed.

 

[pj-]

2560×1440. Original Rift was 2160×1200. Same FoV.

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Since there's only one screen and therefore no physical IPD (meaning there will be unused screen area to accommodate for IPD adjustments), isn't the effective resolution basically the same?

Going from pentile to RGB and better lenses probably account for almost all of the increased visual fidelity

 

[samthebreadman]

Waiting on that Quest preorder, but this is nice. External sensors be dammed.

 

[Wollan]

Releasing a tethered-only VR headset seems wrong at this point. Should have included onboard processing for the camera feeds which would have enabled wireless game-feed streaming.

 

[MrBob]

Oh no it's an lcd screen? Might have to pass now.

 

[Greatest Ever]

Oculus still has the best VR controllers out there. The moment they lose that, it's going to be hard pushing their headset.

 

[Mullet2000]

The reduction to 80hz from 90hz is kind of odd. Hmmm.

Getting away from the sensors is great though. Easily the most annoying thing about the current headset.

 

[VAD]

Can't wait for the comparison vs OG Rift

 

[Kaako]

Not impressed by them specs, LCD & same FoV at lower framerates.

 

[Domcorleone]

Hmm tempting but I think im going to wait and see what Vive does first. I definetly realized I need a wireless solution though. Its a pain to us VR with cables which is why I dont touch my PSVR or Vive anymore

 

[DOT_mjo]

Amazing to see the price continue to fall. At this rate most people will be able to find some affordable entry point into the VR world.

 

[B4mv]

No external sensors? So my fishtanks won't make this unusable like my PSVR?
may be in..

 

[I KILL PXLS]

Since there's only one screen and therefore no physical IPD (meaning there will be unused screen area to accommodate for IPD adjustments), isn't the effective resolution basically the same?

Going from pentile to RGB and better lenses probably account for almost all of the increased visual fidelity

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Just going to quote UploadVr on this:

The original Rift used dual PenTile OLED panels for a total resolution of 2160×1200. Rift S replaces this with a single LCD panel with a resolution of 2560×1440- the same panel used in the Oculus Go standalone. That's roughly 40% more pixels, and each pixel now has three subpixels instead of just two.

This provides a higher detail image with reduced "screen door effect". However, you don't get the deep blacks of OLED since LCD displays use a backlight. The refresh rate is down to 80Hz compared to the 90 Hz of the original.

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[mario_O]

2560×1440. Original Rift was 2160×1200. Same FoV.

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so 1280 x 1440 per eye. (1.843.200 pixels)

vs

original rift 1080 x 1200 per eye (1.296.000 pixels)

not too bad. thats a 30% increase.

 

[CloseTalker]

This is a different thing than the Quest? Is this one still wired?

 

[JigglesBunny]

Might need to upgrade purely for the inside out tracking. I've been using two sensors for a year or so now with no ability to add a third and the inability to do proper room scale has been incredibly disappointing to say the least.

$400 is a fantastic price as well. Paired with the Quest, I'll be set with my HMDs for a while.

 

[Rosur]

The lack of sensors on this for room scale makes it quite interesting.

 

[whatsarobot]

I hope a PSVR S is coming soon with Touch controller equivalents. The controller sync/camera set up is the number one deterrent I have from plugging in for a quick session.

 

[samred]

I went hands-on and put the Oculus Rift S through the paces: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019...s-rift-s-more-pixels-zero-cameras-better-fit/

My first Oculus Rift S demo, which took place within the upcoming Insomniac Games VR adventure Stormland, let me test this [upward facing sensor] with a handy real-time shadow system. I could stand against any light source, turn around, and see my robo-body's shadow and its arm motions while looking straight ahead. This confirmed that above-the-head hand motions were neatly and accurately mapped. However, priming my hand in that medieval bow-and-arrow way did falter.
As a guy who likes rudimentary VR combat (V-archery?), I was a bit bummed. But something more notable did not emerge after my 20 minutes within Stormland: fatigue.

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[I KILL PXLS]

This is a different thing than the Quest? Is this one still wired?

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This is tethered to the PC.

 

[smuf]

Requiring no external sensors is huge for me. Now make it wireless!

 

[mrglcs]

Man, I haven't used VR since I briefly tried PSVR for a month back in 2016. I'm really interested in getting back into it since I recently upgraded my CPU.

So uh, stupid question, but are Oculus headsets compatible with Steam?

 

[Chrno]

wireless and I would have been in. the wait continues.

 

[Odesu]

Worth noting that it also has some drawbacks compared to the previous version:


That being said, the design is entirely new, but not all of the changes are ones VR fans will be happy about.

The Rift S will be replacing the Rift in the Oculus product lineup.

Here's what's different:

• Small resolution increase from (1080 X 1200) to (1280 X 1440), improved lenses
• Frame rate is dropping from 90hz to 80hz
• Switched from OLED to the LCD panels used on Oculus Go
• 5 onboard cameras for inside-out camera tracking
• Ships with updated Oculus Touch controllers, same as what ships with Quest
• Loses the on-ear headphones for cheaper-sounding near-ear speakers similar to Oculus Go
• Ditches the flexible strap for a rigid "halo" design like the PlayStation VR headset
• FoV is "slightly larger" on the Rift S compared to the Rift, Oculus tells us
• No manual adjustment of distance between your eyes (IPD)
• PC spec requirements are largely the same, though you may need a faster CPU we are told
• More expensive than the last generation at $399 versus $349

https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/20/t...NvbS8&guce_referrer_cs=FnE_zIKVg-uMJ75qu_PycA


The lack of sensors is obviously a huge bonus but the switch from OLED to LCD and the lower-quality speakers especially don't make this as obvious an upgrade as I first thought.

 

[Rosol]

I was hoping for some cost savings due to the sensors being built in, sort of disappointing to see $400 - I mean they even went with a single LED instead of 2 OLED with less refresh. I want it but, not sure if I should upgrade my rift till a sale. That being said the regular rift optics are pretty bad, and god rays are quite annoying.

Edit: I can't help but think the price consideration has to do with them wanting to push Quest now, and the realization that they can't subsidize as much with rift users buying Steam VR software half the time instead of through their own store.

 

[Gobias-Ind]

New trailers for some Oculus S titles

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Dang, this all looks pretty cool. It's a shame Vacation Simulator doesn't seem to be making the Quest. Asgard's Wrath is understandable, but I'd think a Job Simulator follow-up would be right at home on Quest.

 

[I KILL PXLS]

Man, I haven't used VR since I briefly tried PSVR for a month back in 2016. I'm really interested in getting back into it since I recently upgraded my CPU.

So uh, stupid question, but are Oculus headsets compatible with Steam?

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Steam VR games are compatible 99% of the time.

 

[ProLogY]

5 cameras for inside out tracking? nice. step up your game Microsoft Partners. You are being left behind.

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See this is funny.. because Lenovo, which is a Microsoft Partner for MR, designed this headset for Oculus.

So they did step up! For the competition