Oculus will launch an updated version of its Virtual Reality headset in 2019. The information comes from the TechCrunch website, that it claims to have obtained from sources “close to the company”. It wouldn’t be a real “Rift 2”, but a version so-called Rift 1.5. According to the source, Oculus would say goodbye to the “Caspar” project and the brand new and supposed “Rift S (or the so-called Rift 1.5)” project will be presented instead, which will have higher resolution and more accurate tracking. Also, there will be no more need for sensors like the Oculus Quest.
Besides better displays, the most important change would be the use of sensors integrated directly into the helmet. This “interlocking” positioning system would be the same as that of the Oculus Quest and would replace the constellation system (consisting of two or three external cameras) of the current Rift. It would be much more convenient to use, however, there would be more limitations for tracking controllers.
“Rift 2”, “Rift S” or “Rift 1.5”, what really is the name if next-generation VR headset?
TechCrunch suggests that the device could “possibly” be marketed under the name “Rift S”. According to this source, this future helmet would be an alternative to the “Caspar” project on which Brendan Iribe was working before he left Facebook. It’s been more than 2 weeks since Brendan Iribe, co-founder of Oculus has left his position on Facebook to experience “new adventures”. A rather difficult break that will have led to many questions from followers and VR enthusiasts.
This information is obviously not official and nothing is confirmed. Despite this, it can be assumed that the high costs, the need for high computing power and the lack of maturity of some key technologies (e.g. foveal rendering) dictated the decision to postpone the release of a real “next-gen” headset until 2020 or later.