Brendan Iribe has given an interview to Bloomberg and again juggles with the release date of the commercial version of the Rift, which will get on the nerves of more than one. On this occasion, he says that it will take more than a few months and less than a few years, which is still in line with what we are used to.
It’s really funny how at Oculus they play with words, and incidentally also with the nerves of those of us who are anxiously awaiting the definitive release of the Rift. In recent months, different variants of “months and not years” have been repeated, “if we don’t have it ready before the end of 2015 it will be an indication that we haven’t done things right” or simply “I can’t say it”, as Palmer repeated to us again and again in our talk at Gamescom.
Iribe’s last words can give rise to various interpretations. We think that in 2015 they may have the hardware fully prepared for mass production, and if there is any impediment it could be the software. The CV1 has to be a fully plug & play device, plug and play, without having to go around switching between direct mode or extended mode, or having to move the window to another screen and pressing alt-enter or even getting to put the Rift as the main screen. The calibration screen should also be improved, which is essential to achieve a correct FOV and a perfect chromatic aberration correction, although Palmer has already commented on occasion that they have something more advanced in mind.
Finally, and probably most important of all, Oculus needs games and experiences that accompany the launch of the Rift, although we are convinced that this facet will be totally surpassed, both by indie developments and by some heavyweights of the industry. Anyway, the long wait continues until Oculus finally decides to give concrete data.
