We’re incredibly excited to welcome over 1,500 industry leaders and developers to Connect 2 in Hollywood, CA! Registration has officially opened and we have an awesome few days ahead.

Tomorrow starting at 10 am PDT, we’ll be livestreaming the keynotes on our official Twitch channel.

And Gear VR owners can view the keynotes in a whole new way – inside virtual reality. You can get a 360 stream of the keynotes via NextVR’s app. Stay tuned for an updated NextVR app before 10 am tomorrow. Just launch Oculus Home, select the Oculus Connect 2 icon, and enjoy front row seats at the Dolby Theater.

The Dolby Theater in HollywoodThe Dolby Theater in HollywoodThe Dolby Theater in Hollywood

The Dolby Theater in Hollywood

Over the next three days, we’re going to have 30 talks focused on all things virtual reality. Developer sessions kick off today at 1 pm, and you can learn more about each session with the Oculus Connect 2 app for iOS and Android. The app also lets you sign up for Rift and Touch demos to experience Henry, Toybox, and more!

Try the latest and greatest mobile VR games, apps, and experiences at the Samsung Gear VR Cafe located in the Dolby Ballroom. You don’t have to sign up in advance – just head over and join the fun.

Palmer greeting the Connect 2 Community

Please join us for a welcome reception tonight starting at 6:30 in the Dolby Ballroom. Welcome to Connect 2!

— The Oculus team

Today we’re excited to share more details about ‘Henry’, the second VR experience from Oculus Story Studio.  

‘Henry’ is a comedy directed by Ramiro Lopez Dau, formerly of Pixar, about a cuddly hedgehog who loves hugs. Unfortunately, his prickly spikes often scare his friends away. Then, on his birthday, he makes a special wish that changes everything. 

 Short sneak peek into the making of ‘Henry’

"Empathy for a character is one of the most important fields for us to explore in virtual reality. And with Henry, we wanted to create a character that had special bond with the audience. The first time I saw Henry in VR - saw him turn towards me and look right at me - it was incredible. I knew then that we were at the beginning of something special. These characters in VR can feel truly alive, and Henry is a first glimpse of that magic." - Ramiro Lopez Dau 

With ‘Henry’, we wanted to bring the audience closer to a film character than ever before. Led by former Pixar VFX supervisor Inigo Quilez, ‘Henry’ introduces advanced visual effects that bring the character to life, allowing him to respond to your movements and make eye contact with you inside the virtual world. 

 

The story of ‘Henry’ is narrated by special guest, Elijah Wood! 

We introduced ‘Henry’ to the film community in Hollywood, and we’re looking forward to sharing the experience with everyone when the Rift ships in Q1 2016. 

 

 You can learn more about VR filmmaking on the Oculus Story Studio website. 

-- The Oculus Team

Oculus Connect 2 registration is now open! This year, Connect will bring together more than 1,500 of the top developers, engineers, and creators working on virtual reality September 23-25 in Hollywood, CA.

Visit the Oculus Connect 2 website to register and submit your application. You’ll be notified via email in August if your application is accepted and you’ll then be able to complete your registration and pay the registration fee. We’ve also added a new indie and student pricing tier at $95 USD.

Call for Oculus Connect 2 Submissions

This year at Connect 2 we’re doubling the number of talks, and we’re looking for more great presentations from developers who want to share their work and experience with the community.

We’re especially interested in receiving submissions that fall within the following Connect tracks:

VR Engineering – These talks will cover technical details of developing for PC and mobile platforms, including best practices for optimizing performance, minimizing latency, and mastering advanced rendering techniques. Game and App Design – These talks will focus on design and development principles for creating new VR games, apps, and experiences that are innovative, immersive, and fun. Cinematic VR – These talks will share lessons around combining elements of traditional film, games, theatre, and performance art to create unique VR experiences that place the audience inside the story and virtual world. More details on how to submit your talk are available on the Oculus Connect 2 website.

Invited speakers will receive a complimentary event pass and hotel accommodations. The submission deadline is 11:59pm PST on August 3, and you’ll be notified via email in August on whether your talk has been accepted.

We look forward to seeing you there!

— The Oculus team

Step into the Rift

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to the Oculus Rift.

The Rift delivers on the promise of consumer virtual reality and next-generation VR gaming.

Custom display and tracking system  

The Rift uses custom display and optics technology designed specifically for VR featuring two AMOLED displays with low-persistence. The technology enables incredible visual clarity as you explore virtual worlds with the Rift.

Integrated VR audio  

Audio is a critical component to achieving and amplifying presence.

The Rift features an integrated VR audio system designed to convince your ears that you’re truly there. The integrated headphones are also removable in case you want to use your own.

It also incorporates a high quality internal microphone for social experiences.

Ergonomics and Design

We’re incredibly excited for you to try the Rift’s new design -- we’ve been refining it over the last few years.

The Rift has an advanced ergonomic design improves the headset’s overall balance and stability. This strap architecture offloads the overall weight, allowing the Rift to rest comfortably.

It’s as easy to put as slipping on a baseball cap. Once you’re in, simply adjust the straps to fit you.

Further, we’ve included a mechanism that allows you to adjust the distance between the lenses for the most comfortable visual experience. You can also remove the facial interface to replace the soft foam, and we’ve improved the form factor to better accommodate glasses.

Wireless Xbox One Controller included with every Rift

We’ve been working closely with developers to understand what they need from the Rift since the earliest days at Oculus.

Developers wanted an input device that was robust and versatile enough to enable next-generation games and experiences in this first generation of VR. As a result of that collaboration, we’ve decided to incorporate one of the best gamepads available, a wireless Xbox One controller, with every Rift.

 The Xbox controller is a key part of the broader VR input puzzle. For example, it’s the absolute best way to play games like Lucky’s Tale, EVE: Valkyrie, and Edge of Nowhere.

...but what about new genres and categories of games that require a different set of inputs?

Introducing Oculus Touch

We see VR input evolving and coming in different forms depending on the experience you want to have in virtual reality.

While the Xbox controller is great for many games and genres, we want an input device that lets you to reach out and interact with objects in VR naturally. We’re excited to introduce Oculus Touch.

Oculus Touch is a pair of tracked controllers that deliver hand presence - the sensation of feeling as though your virtual hands are actually your own. Touch will let people take their virtual reality experiences further than ever before by unlocking new interactions.

Today, we’re showing off a feature prototype for Oculus Touch at E3 called ‘Half Moon’. There are two controllers, one for each hand. They’re mirror images of each other, like your own hands.

Each Half Moon controller has a traditional analog thumbstick, two buttons, and an analog trigger. There’s also an input mechanism that we call the ‘hand trigger’. Imagine using this trigger to pick up a virtual gun, then using your index finger to fire it.

They’re wireless so that you can move and interact with the virtual world freely, and they use the same IR LED constellation tracking system we use in the Rift for precise, low-latency, 6-DOF tracking.

The Half Moon prototype includes haptics that developers can use to deliver feedback when interacting with objects in the virtual world.  

Finally, Half Moon can detect a set of finger poses using a matrix of sensors mounted throughout the device, which allows the controller to recognize a set of communicative hand poses like pointing, waving, and giving a thumbs-up.

Oculus Touch will ship to gamers, developers, and enthusiasts in the first half of 2016, and will be available for pre-order around the same time as the Rift.

Gaming in the Rift

At today’s event, we showcased a few of the upcoming made-for-VR games for the Rift including EVE: Valkyrie from CCP Games, Chronos from Gunfire Games and Edge of Nowhere from Insomniac Games.

All of these games will be playable on the Rift at E3, along with new VR demos including:

• Damaged Core by High Voltage 
• VR Sports: Challenge by Sanzaru 
• Esper from Coatsink 
• AirMech by Carbon 
• Lucky’s Tale from Playful 

We’ll have more details on all of these games next week at E3. If you’re at the show, come by the booth and experience them for yourself on the consumer Rift. You can also schedule a demo for the Rift using our Oculus Live app. 

Stay tuned for more made-for-VR game announcements as we head toward the launch! 

$10,000,000 to accelerate Independent Developers 

We know that virtual reality is going to inspire a new generation of game developers, driven by emerging independent teams and individuals. 

In order to bring these innovative, one-of-kind independent games to the Rift, we announced today that we will be investing more than $10,000,000 in accelerating and supporting them.

Anna Sweet, Head of Developer Strategy, speaking at the June 11th special event.

Not only will these folks bring more and better games for launch and beyond, but we’re looking forward to their inventiveness and creativity in VR.

The Future of VR Gaming  

Virtual reality is going to transform gaming forever. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.

If you missed the event this morning, you can watch the recording of the livestream twitch.tv/oculus.

We’re looking forward seeing you in the Rift!

-- The Oculus team

More than 1000 developers from around the world participated in the Mobile VR Jam 2015, competing for over $1,000,000 in prizes. After four weeks of tireless development, the judges have selected the top submissions from over 300 innovative projects. 

We’re thrilled to introduce the 27 winners of the Mobile VR Jam 2015. Congratulations!

Make sure to check out each project’s submission page for a short video by clicking on its screenshot. You can also download and check out the game/experience on your Gear VR Innovator Edition by clicking its ‘Build’ link.

Platinum Game: $200,000

SteamCrew VR  

Submission and Build

In SteamCrew VR, you and a friend cooperate to pilot a steampunk submarine through dangerous waters. Find someone in your community with a second Gear VR to join up on the same wifi network, and be ready to holler “guns aimed”, “slow down, that’s a rock!”, and of course, “FIRE TORPEDO”! It’s a hilariously good time that highlights just how great VR can be when immersed in a new world with friends.

Platinum App or Experience: $100,000 and Community’s Choice App or Experience: $10,000

The Night Cafe
An Immersive Tribute to Vincent van Gogh

Submission and Build

Walk into a world that only van Gogh could have inspired. Exploring this space took our breath away (quite literally), and it truly defines what it means to enter a new incredible place that wouldn’t be possible without VR. Find a quiet moment to visit the Night Cafe, and be sure to stay for the surprise at the end.

Gold Games: $100,000

DRIFT

 Submission and Build  

DRIFT is the first bullet simulator we’ve played. From your perspective as a bullet, time is dilated - it becomes “bullet time”. Use your head to guide your path around obstacles, slowing time further in the toughest spots. Test your reflexes until you find your target -- that green man is never quite where you expect him to be!

Daydream Blue  

Submission and Build 

In Daydream Blue, you’ll go camping with your pet robot at a lake, where you’re constantly rewarded for curiosity. Skip rocks to make music at night, lay down (literally) on a raft by day to enjoy the clouds, or enjoy a simple game of fetch with your little robot buddy whose enthralled “beep-boo!” is hard to resist. 

Gold Apps or Experiences: $50,000 

Colosse 

A Story in Virtual Reality 

 Submission and Build 

Colosse demonstrates the power of storytelling in VR. In this preview version, you meet one of the Great Spirits known as the Colosse. To balance immersion with story engagement, this short uses gaze to ensure events happen at times that make sense for you. Seamless and beautiful, we can’t wait to see where this goes next. 

Along the Trail 

 Submission and Build

Along the Trail is a beautiful blend of storytelling and data visualization, all based on information you’ve shared through social media. This peaceful environment facilitates reflection and reliving memories, which can be especially powerful for those coping with loss or painful life experiences. 

Silver Games: $50,000 

Scorched Battalion 

 Submission and Build 

Scorched Battalion is the perfect blend of tabletop warfare, first-person tank battles, and well-played humor. 

Neuralgia VR 

 Submission and Build 

Combine the minds of two people to collect clues and solve puzzles in this asymmetrical co-op game. 

Panopticon 

 Submission and Build 

In Panopticon, it’s your job as the jailer to scan the cells and watch for illicit activities. Use your voice or a whistle to put a stop to it. 

Bazaar 

 Submission and Build 

Solve puzzles, match objects to gain clues in the stars, and guide your carpet through a vibrant city. 

Silver Apps or Experiences: $30,000 

Soundscape VR 

 Submission and Build 

Create music in a jam session with up to two other people by using an online matchmaking system. 

Speech Center 

 Submission and Build 

Improve your speaking skills as Speech Center coaches you through a hostile audience and scanning attention around the room. 

Bronze Games: $10,000 

Atop the Wizard’s Tower 

 Submission and Build 

Control the elements to keep back the hordes of enemies roaming across your land from your seat atop the Wizard’s Tower. 

Maiden Chaos VR 

 Submission and Build 

In this top-down shooter, you take control of AKI, a half-robotic female operative, as she storms a droid-filled military compound. 

Audio Arena 

 Submission and Build 

Enemies are spawned on the beat of the music, and hitting power ups will thin the crowd. Increase your score by bursting these on the beat. 

PhaseShift 

 Submission and Build 

PhaseShift is a 2.5D Cinematic platformer action/adventure featuring unique stylized 3D retro pixel art. 

Captain Clark Adventures 

 Submission and Build 

Captain Clark Adventures is a “look-and-tap” adventure game in VR, where you solve puzzles to escape the pirates that captured you. 

Technolust: Thought Crimes 

 Submission and Build 

Take the role of a security professional charged with maintaining order in the dystopian cyberpunk universe of Technolust. 

Polo 

 Submission, Build (VR/mouse), and Build (Phone/cat) 

In Polo, you play a mouse in VR while a friend on the same wifi network plays the cat hunting you using a top-down interface on a phone. 

Wendy

 Submission and Build 

Begin your training as a witch with your first lesson in “potion-making for outcasts”. Wendy is a light-hearted game with magic, puzzles, and a great cat. 

Blind Swordsman 

 Submission and Build 

With hearing as your only sense remaining, attempt to take out the assassins circling you before they get to close. Headphones are required for this game! 

Double Destruction 

 Submission, Build (VR), and Build (phone) 

Smash your way to victory, while a friend on a separate phone helps light your path and protect you from ghosts. 

Bronze Apps or Experiences: $10,000 

DMZ: Memories of No Man’s Land 

 Submission and Build 

DMZ is an interactive documentary experience where you explore the Korean Demilitarized Zone through the memories of a soldier. 

NeoS: The Universe 

 Submission and Build 

NeoS makes abstract concepts of scale, from atoms to galaxies, come to life as you swipe through orders of magnitude. 

House of Languages 

 Submission and Build 

In House of Languages, you’ll learn new language vocabulary in a fun and engaging environment. 

Tana Pura 

 Submission and Build 

Tana Pura is a symphony as captivating for your eyes as it is for your ears.

Community’s Choice Game: $10,000 

The Bouncinator 

 Submission and Build 

You are a Bouncinator Robot, and your directive is simple: keep the party safe and swinging using a combination of x-ray specs, scrutiny, and a flame thrower. 

Everyone that submitted a final build will be receiving an special edition Mobile VR Jam 2015 t-shirt that’s exclusive to jam participants. We’ll be reaching out to each of the teams for sizes and shipping details. 

Congratulations again to all the winners, and thank you for the incredible work! 

 -- The Oculus team              

Introducing ‘Henry’ from Oculus Story Studio

We're excited to announce Oculus Story Studio's second VR experience, ‘Henry’, a heartwarming comedy about a loveable hedgehog, coming later this year. ‘Henry’ is directed by Ramiro Lopez Dau, whose work includes animation on films such as Pixar’s Brave and Monsters University.

We invite you to meet Henry today by visiting the official Henry microsite or the oculus.com homepage, where Henry has taken over! We’ve also created a short teaser for the film to introduce you to Henry and his story: 

Henry the hedgehog is an original character created for virtual reality by Story Studio’s new consulting production designer Kendal Cronkhite, who designed the look of the Dreamworks Madagascar films, and Bernhard Haux, previously one of Pixar's top character artists.

Story Studio’s mission is to inspire and educate virtual reality creators and filmmakers everywhere. As part of this mission, all Rift owners will be able to experience ‘Henry’ for free when the Rift ships in Q1 2016.  

To learn more about ‘Henry’ and Oculus Story Studio, you can sign up for the Story Studio newsletter at oculus.com/storystudio. When you sign up for the newsletter, you’ll have the opportunity to win a trip to attend the ‘Henry’ premiere event July 28 in Hollywood, CA!

So visit oculus.com today and come laugh with virtual reality’s newest character, Henry! We can’t wait for you to meet him.

-- The Oculus team