Oculus could have a $200 stand-alone VR headset out next year

Oculus could be developing a new, cheaper VR headset, reports Bloomberg. The $200 device, its sources say, could be out as soon as next year. We reached out to Oculus, and so far they have nothing specific to confirm.

“We don't have a product to unveil at this time,” an Oculus spokesperson told Polygon. “However we can confirm that we're making several significant technology investments in the standalone VR category. This is in addition to our commitment to high-end VR products like Oculus Rift and mobile phone products like Gear VR.”

Bloomberg’s story said that Facebook is moving forward with plans to unveil a new Oculus device in 2018. It will be designed for “immersive gaming, watching video and social networking” unnamed sources said. The new headset, codenamed “Pacific,” would look like a smaller Rift and be lighter than the Gear VR. While features aren’t yet finalized, Bloomberg’s sources said it would be completely wireless and not require a phone or a PC.

The Oculus Rift was recently on sale. Bundled with a pair of Touch controllers and seven games, the $399 package was a tremendous value. The Rift was also featured in Amazon’s Prime Day promotion and sold out quickly.