Oculus will not tell me when the long-awaited consumer version of its Rift headset, beloved by PC gamers and dedicated virtual reality enthusiasts, might be released. “I know it’s coming,” says company CEO and co-founder Brendan Iribe when I finally ask the question. We’re really excited about Gear VR right now.” He’s talking about Oculus’ new attempt to attract casual virtual reality users that the Rift might put off: a partnership with Samsung that turns a Galaxy Note 4 into the screen for a headset fitted with a trackpad, a few volume buttons, and the first-generation Rift’s tracking sensor. The Gear VR was made possible in no small part by legendary game developer John Carmack, who left his company id last year to work on the project.
