Oculus Rift will retail at least $350, maybe more says founder
Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus, confirmed that the VR headset will cost as much as a new console.
Although the number $350 is discouraging to those eagerly awaiting the headset, Luckey says that the cost is not to boost price margins, but rather to provide the highest quality possible for the VR. Because the technology is new, outsourcing its components is fairly expensive. If the market grows, the price will drop on future models (much like the early days of DVDs and home computers).
Luckey explains,
"You know, I’m going to be perfectly honest with you. We’re roughly in that ballpark… but it’s going to cost more than that. And the reason for that is that we’ve added a lot of technology to this thing beyond what existed in the DK1 and DK2 days."
Comparatively, Sony's Andrew House says the PlayStation VR will run for about the same amount.
Luckey says they are focusing on the quality of the product more than anything else. Which makes sense, because if the buyers feel that they've bought a high quality, well-made product, then they'll be back for round 2.
The Oculus Rift is set to release in April of 2015.
Chelsea Senecal
An undergrad working torward a BA in professional writing in between GTAV and Destiny binges.
Source roadtovr.com
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Ouch, that's discouraging. But I'm definitely on the VR hype train. It's better than a console. It's better than anything. I really hope VR companies continue touring and letting people try it out, so the market takes off sooner than later..and the price goes down as a result.
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If I've got that amount of cash to burn it would probably go anywhere else. VR is just so low on my interests list :/
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it was low on mine too, until I tried the HTC Vive... I always thought, ah that's cool. Now I want it!
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So it's really comparable to buying a console.
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Wait, I heard $300 like a week ago... I bet next week it will be at least $400... then keep going till at least $600, and it actually retail for $650.
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I definitely don't expect it to go over $400. Even if they end up not turning a big profit on the first consumer version, it's going to be comparable to Sony and MS not turning a profit on the sale of the actual console. It's all about getting it into peoples hands and then monetizing afterwards. They know the more expensive it is, the less people will buy. They'll find the middle ground and move forward from there. They also have Facebook money behind them, so they really don't have to worry much.
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Oh I hope so!
