As the first quarter 2016 release date for the final, consumer version of the Oculus Rift draws ever closer, it might be tempting to want to buy a Development Kit 2 to hold you over. If that was the case, you’ve waited a bit too long, as the DK2 has finally sold out on the Oculus website. When it comes down to it, that’s definitely for the best, considering the new version will be out soon, and the DK2 isn’t even the most recent hardware revision.
The DK2 was first seen in March of 2014, and boasted a number of notable improvements over the first version of the Rift. The screen size is a bit smaller, down from seven inches to 5.7, but improves in resolution from 1,280 x 800 to full 1080p, and made the move to an OLED display with lower persistence and faster refresh rate. It also added positional tracking to existing orientation tracking software, allowing limited movement in a small area.
It’s not the newest model, either. While the DK2 is the newest version available to the public, Oculus released a subsequent model, Crescent Bay, to some manufacturers and developers. Instead of using a single OLED panel, the Crescent Bay prototype actually included two separate panels, one for each eye, an improved fit, and lighter design.
But the most important Rift, the final version, still has yet to make an appearance for pre-order. The company has said it wants to wait until it’s just right, and can ensure that all of the promises made at that point will be kept. The new version will also include an Xbox One controller so it’s ready to go right out of the box. With a release scheduled for the first quarter of 2016, we’re still hopeful we’ll get the chance to pre-order before the holidays.
For now, you’ll have to rely on second-hand versions of the Rift DK2. There’s no way to buy the Rift directly from Oculus until the final edition hits store shelves.
