The discontinuation of the Oculus Rift S marks the end of an era
Facebook has confirmed that the Oculus Rift S virtual reality headset associated with PC will not be reproduced from now on, marking the end of an era.
Consumer virtual reality systems came in two types, the first being completely powered by a smartphone, where the glasses act as a holder for the phone and the lens, and the second was heavier-weight glasses linked to a personal computer.
The likes of Google Cardboard have silently vanished, and it appears that the time has come for the end of the PC headphones with the Oculus Rift S disappearing from major retail sources.
Although you may still be able to get glasses in some online stores, the confirmation marks the end of Facebook's line of personal computers from headphones to virtual reality that reached consumers five years ago.
The Oculus Rift S is manufactured by Lenovo and started reaching users in 2019 for $ 399, along with the original standalone Oculus Quest sunglasses.
The Oculus Rift S replaces the original Oculus Rift that reached consumers in 2016.
Facebook has added a USB-powered PC mode to the Oculus Quest and has focused its efforts on adding new features to the system while the Rift S.
Facebook began selling the newer, lighter, and more powerful Oculus Quest 2 glasses in late 2020 for $ 299, and in less than six months, its sales exceeded Facebook's sales of the combined virtual reality glasses.
A Facebook representative said, “The Rift S is still currently available for sale in some channels around the world, but as we announced last year, we plan to stop selling the Rift S in 2021, and with channels running out of stock, it won't be renewed going forward.”
Facebook executives believe Oculus Quest 2 is well on its way to becoming the first mainstream virtual reality headset, and the company continues to hire at an exceptional rate.
Nearly 20 percent of Facebook employees work in fields related to VR and AR technologies, and future Quest goggles are likely to incorporate face-tracking technology.