Room-Scale VR is Possible with Oculus Rift
One of the highlighted differences between the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets at launch seems to be the Vive’s main feature of “room-scale” VR capabilities. With the use of the Vive’s included Lighthouse sensors, a user’s entire body movement can be tracked over a 15-by-15 foot space in virtual reality. However, Oculus is clear to point out that it also has the technical capability of offering a full room-scale VR experience.
According to an interview with Polygon, Oculus’ head of worldwide studios Jason Rubin revealed that it is possible for users to enjoy a room-scale experience with the Oculus Rift, and the company plans to eventually showcase its own version of this feature at a later date.
“Some people will really want room-scale,” said Rubin. “It’s definitely cool. We have the tech ability to provide room-scale. Our tech doesn’t preclude that. At some point, we’ll demo that.”
By comparison, room-scale VR on the Oculus Rift would utilize a smaller space than the Vive at around 5-by-11 feet. Oculus believes the demand for room-scale VR support by most consumers will be somewhat limited, considering how it requires the user to have a relatively large and open area of space in their homes to play.
“We don’t believe that the consumer has the space in general,” added Rubin. “Has the commercial viable space of the 15-by-15 foot square.”
The consumer version of the Oculus Rift is set to launch on March 28th. Stay tuned for more information on the Oculus Rift, as it develops.