Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2, Its Next-Gen All-in-One VR, Ships From October 13
Preorders are already open and Quest 2 begins shipping on October 13.
The biggest announcement this week has been that Facebook will be shipping its new Oculus Quest 2 standalone VR headset from October 13 with a starting price of $299. The headset runs on Qualcomm’s XR2 chipset which has driven major upgrades in the hardware with higher resolution and a 90Hz mode.
The new “all-in-one” Oculus Quest 2 will be available for purchase from October 13. The pre-orders already began on September 16 for the 64GB headset and the Touch controllers. All of this is priced as a package for $100 less than the previous Oculus Quest that was launched in 2019. The original Quest had a baseline price of $399. This is now the price for the upgraded version of the Oculus Quest 2 headset with 256GB of storage.
You will need a Facebook account to use the new Oculus Quest 2 headset. The Quest 2 also brings to an end the era of Facebook headsets that didn’t include this requirement (for a Facebook account). The Oculus Go headset is pretty much gone and the new Quest 2 now replaces the original Quest and the PC-only Rift headset may soon be on its way out.
There are also new official accessories that will improve the Oculus Quest 2’s fitting while also extending its playtime.
Some of the popular gaming franchises such as Splinter Cell and Assassin’s Creed are also coming to Oculus. The Climb will officially have a sequel, Beat Saber will have a 5-player multiplayer mode soon while Myst will also be receiving an Oculus treatment.
The new wireless VR headset, like the previous Quest headset, delivers fresh experiences to VR enthusiasts as well as numerous opportunities for developers to leverage the platform. It is a redesigned all-in-one form factor with new Touch controllers and very high-resolution display.
Massive Improvement in Processing Power
The Quest 2 gives users a multigeneration leap in processing power from the state-of-the-art Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Platform. Thanks to the new processor, the new headset now has a higher AI capability as well as 6GB of RAM. Its new display also has 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye. This is the highest resolution yet by Oculus. This is 50% more pixels than that of the original Quest headset. Now you get better resolution and more immersion with all kinds of immersive content including multiplayer games, 360-degree videos and productivity apps among others.
Apart from the vast improvements in the processing power, the new display can now support a 90Hz refresh rate. Users will be able to easily run system applications on Quest 2 at 90Hz including Browser, Home Environment, Oculus TV, Store and Explore by opting in through the Experimental Features. Facebook has stated that it will open the 90Hz to all developers soon after launching the headset.
The Oculus Quest 2 has new Touch controllers with better ergonomics that have been inspired by the original Touch design. It features the same intuitive controls that translate gestures directly into virtual reality to offer users unparalleled hand presence in VR environments. According to Oculus, the controller tracking has also been optimized for greater efficiency with a battery life that is now four times longer than that of the original Oculus Quest’s Touch controllers.
Full Access to Quest Content
Quest 2 will also offer users access to the full Quest content library. You get your hands on some of the upcoming Quest titles such as Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Pistol Whip: 2089, Myst, Rez Infinite, Warhammer 40,000 Battle Sister and Jurassic World Aftermath.
Like the original Quest, Quest 2 will be compatible with the Oculus Link connection, giving you access to the PC VR gaming and a vast Rift library that includes titles such as Lone Echo, Asgard’s Wrath and Stormland along with upcoming titles like Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond and Lone Echo II.
Quest 2 features a slimmer profile than the original Quest. It is therefore more portable and easier to wear. It also features a built-in adjustable IPD (interpupillary distance) that has three settings for adjusting the lens position for maximum visual comfort.
The new headset also supports various optional accessories. It has been redesigned for maximum fit and comfort. Its customizable head straps and facial interface add-ons give users the flexibility to play anywhere however they want it.
There is the Elite Strap with a Battery accessory that now offers users double the playtime along with better balance and ergonomics so if you love longer play, you can comfortably enjoy longer play sessions for your favorite games and VR experiences.
There is also the Fit Pack which offers users swappable facial interfaces to give a comfortable fit for wider or narrower face shapes. Oculus hopes the new accessories will contribute towards making virtual reality more inclusive to diverse audiences.
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https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2020/09/18/facebooks-oculus-quest-2-its-next-gen-all-in-one-vr-ships-october-13/https://www.xrcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/facebooks-oculus-quest-2-its-next-gen-all-in-one-vr-ships-from-october-13-3.jpghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Oculus-Quest-2-150×90.jpgHardwareOculus QuestOculus Quest 2VR HeadsetsPreorders are already open and Quest 2 begins shipping on October 13. The biggest announcement this week has been that Facebook will be shipping its new Oculus Quest 2 standalone VR headset from October 13 with a starting price of $299. The headset runs on Qualcomm’s XR2 chipset which has…Sam OchanjiSam Ochanjisochanji@yahoo.comAdministratorVirtual Reality Times
