Oculus is working on a new, tetherless VR headset

Oculus and Facebook are ready to bridge the gap between powerful tethered VR systems like the Oculus Rift and mobile headsets like Samsung Gear VR.

The prototype of the product, shown off by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg at Oculus's Connect Developer Conference, is the firm's first stab at doing just that.

The product, only referred to on-stage as the "standalone headset", won't be ready this year, but development is well under way.

"We're making progress on computer vision software that's going to enable this entirely new category of product," Zuckerberg said.

Following Zuckerberg's comments, he showed a short video of a tester using the prototype. The video was no more than 30 seconds, and showed someone using a shoddy-looking headset to explore virtual reality sans wire.

The idea itself is an admirable one, and something a vast majority of virtual reality enthusiasts have been clamoring for. Being able to bring devices like the Oculus Rift with you wherever you go with lugging around your desktop would enable more connected experiences and perhaps give VR the nudge it needs to finally hit the mainstream.

Zuckerberg said that he'll share more details on the headset in due time but, for now, potential fans of powerful, tetherless VR will just have to hold on tight.

• Here are 5 things Oculus can do to win back fans at Connect 2016

October 07, 2016 at 12:48AM
Nick Pino