Oops! Amazon reveals Facebook's $199 Oculus Go headset hours before firm set to unveil it at critical F8 developer conference
- Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg revealed that the Oculus Go is available now
- Just hours before the announcement, an Amazon listing for the standalone headset appeared on the website showing it would be released on December 31
- Facebook has billed the Oculus Go as its first standalone, mass-market headset
Facebook dropped a new virtual reality headset at its F8 developers conference, which kicked off on Tuesday.
As part of his keynote speech, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg announced that the brand new Oculus Go would go on sale starting today.
But just hours before the big reveal, the brand new Oculus Go appeared on Amazon's website.
The webpage, which went live at midnight, gives users the option to pre-order one of Facebook's first standalone VR headsets.
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Facebook dropped a new virtual reality headset at its F8 developers conference, which kicked off today. But just hours before the big reveal, an Amazon listing showed off the device
However, as of Tuesday morning, the $199 Oculus Go appeared to have already sold out as the Amazon listed it as currently unavailable.
The product page also states that Amazon doesn't know 'when or if this item will be back in stock'.
On Tuesday, Facebook made the Oculus Go available for purchase on the Oculus website, with the ability to ship to up to 23 different countries.
It's launching with thousands of apps and Facebook says it has the 'highest quality lenses' the firm has ever built.
'Oculus Go will change the way you watch, play, and hang out with friends while offering you new perspectives,' Facebook said in a blog post announcing the Oculus Go's availability.
'By combining the best lenses of any Oculus headset to date with built-in spatial audio and an optimized software stack, Oculus Go provides a compelling all-in-one immersive experience where content shines'.
Facebook launched the Oculus Go (pictured) with thousands of apps on Tuesday. Facebook says it has the 'highest quality lenses' the firm has ever built
Facebook is expected to drop a new VR headset when its F8 developers conference kicks off today. But just hours before the big reveal, the new Oculus Go appeared on Amazon's website
Meanwhile, the Oculus Go has already been spotted in the wild.
A savvy Reddit user spotted dozens of boxed Oculus Go headsets at a Best Buy in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Behind a glass case, the user saw both 32gb and 64gb versions of the device.
Several users noted that the 64gb would likely cost more than the $199 32gb version.
Oculus Go uses internal cameras, sensors and software to track movements that are translated into corresponding motion in virtual worlds rendered in headsets
Unlike other VR headsets, Facebook says the Oculus Go is a 'true standalone' wearable, in that it doesn't require any help from a PC or smartphone
Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg first revealed the Oculus Go at the Oculus Connect conference in San Jose last October.
Zuckerberg has billed the device as an attempt to make VR adopted by the masses, with the goal of getting one billion people using the technology, which transports people into simulated environments.
Unlike other VR headsets, Facebook says the Oculus Go is a 'true standalone' wearable, in that it doesn't require any help from a PC or smartphone.
It's also wireless and features a 'fast switch' LCD screen with a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor.
Mark Zuckerberg revealed the Oculus Go at the firm's 2017 Connect conference in San Jose
'Oculus Go is the easiest way to jump into virtual reality,' the Amazon listing states.
'For the first time, Oculus brings you a truly standalone VR headset-with no additional hardware, computers, or devices required. Oculus Go is portable, comfortable, and easy to use'
'Just put it on, switch it on, and watch a movie on a 30-foot screen, grab a front row seat at a sold out concert, play games right at the center of the action, or hang out with friends like never before,' the listing continued.
The Oculus Go is also designed with a lightweight, breathable fabric so that it can be worn for hours at a time.
The new Go headset runs the same games and apps as Facebook's Gear VR system.
Oculus Go uses internal cameras, sensors and software to track movements that are translated into corresponding motion in virtual worlds rendered in headsets.
Facebook has invested heavily in virtual reality hardware, expecting that the technology could one day move from a niche interest to a widely used platform for gaming, communication and business applications.
In 2014, Facebook paid $3 billion to acquire Oculus and retain its employees.
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