Oculus’ prototype Santa Cruz headset feels like a wireless Oculus Rift
https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/12/16463844/oculus-santa-cruz-standalone-headset-prototype-hands-on
Next year, developers will start playing with Oculus’ next-generation VR headset: a wireless system codenamed Santa Cruz. Facebook VR chief Hugo Barra stresses that Santa Cruz is a prototype, not a commercial product. But he tells The Verge it’s “very representative” of where the company is going, and “realizable” as a consumer headset. So in a few years, Oculus hopes to offer something that delivers a lot of high-end Rift features, but without any of the complicated setup, or the need for a separate PC.
At this year’s Oculus Connect show, the company hustled reporters through a quick Santa Cruz demonstration, looking to show that the technology works. As always, these demos were highly controlled, tailored to highlight Santa Cruz’s strengths and avoid showing its flaws. But as far as I can tell, Santa Cruz does work. It’s the most promising VR headset I’ve tried this year, even if it’s way too early to get excited about a consumer release.