Oculus VR has released the list of recommended computer specs for use with the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset that will debut next year.
The specs certainly are steep, however, they're not as steep as some were expecting. Unfortunately, it seems as though the company is pausing development for OS X and Linux.
"The goal is for all Rift games and applications to deliver a great experience on this configuration by default. We believe this 'it just works' experience will be fundamental to VR's success, given that an underperforming system will fail to deliver comfortable presence," said the company in a statement.
The specs that the Oculus Rift will require on PC include an Nvidia GTX 970, AMD 290 or better graphics processor, an Intel i5-4590 or better processor, 8 GB of RAM or more, Windows 7 SP1 or newer, at least 2 USB 3.0 ports and HDMI 1.3 video output supporting a 297 MHz clock via a direct output architecture.
The company also noted that these specs would remain the same over the lifetime of the Oculus Rift.
"As the equivalent-performance hardware becomes less expensive, more users will have systems capable of the full Rift experience. Developers, in turn, can rely on Rift users having these modern machines, allowing them to optimize their game for a known target, simplifying development," continued the company.
With these specs, Oculus promises that any games or software that it creates internally will run without a hitch, however, that doesn't mean that third-party games will run flawlessly. Of course, developers will be able to develop their games to these specs.
As mentioned, the company is putting a pause on its development for OS X and Linux. This decision is not all that surprising considering the fact that the Rift is mainly intended for gaming and the vast majority of serious computer gamers use a Windows-based computer. It is likely, however, that Oculus will continue its development for other operating systems soon after the release of the device in 2016 so as not to alienate potential customers. Despite this, the company reports that it does "not have a timeline" for development for other operating systems.
It makes sense that the GPU required would need to be rather advanced considering the fact that the Oculus Rift is essentially running two 2160 by 1200 displays at 90 Hz at the same time. While a drop in frame-rate might be bearable in PC gaming, with the Oculus Rift, it could cause serious frustration and even some motion sickness.
