Oculus Rift VR headset will cost ‘at least $300’

It’s just a few short months away now, and slowly we’re getting a better idea of what the Oculus Rift will cost at launch.

However, it doesn’t look as if consumers are going to get the chance to pre-order the device, at least not directly from Oculus itself.

"There isn’t a big reason to take your money too far ahead of the device,” VP of Product Nate Mitchell told PC Gamer. "What I think about all day long is user experience, right?

So if I’m going to promise you something and you’re going to hand me a significant amount of money or whatever it is – we all know it’s going to be at least $300 – if you’re going to hand me $300 today, I am not going to be excited to tell you: ‘OK, in nine, 10, 12, 11 months, whatever it is, you’re going to get something in return’. The longer you wait, the more you’re like, ‘This is obnoxious’."

Mitchell went on to express admiration for Apple’s reveal-to-retail model.

"They announce it, one week later you can pre-order it, the next week it ships. That is like the ideal user experience," he added.

The company said a little over a year ago that the Oculus Rift would cost between $200-$400. If it were to arrive at $300 (and the use of the term ‘at least’ suggests a higher price should quite possibly be expected), in direct terms that translates to 200. However, US-to-UK price conversions might point to a 300 RRP.

Sony recently hinted that its headset, the PlayStation VR, could arrive at anything between 200-400.

Oculus Rift is due out in Q1 2016.