Behold: The Oculus Quest

Each week, we spotlight a cool innovation recommended by some of the industry's top tech writers. This week's pick is the first stand-alone VR gaming device.

The Oculus Quest "is the first true virtual reality game console," said Nick Statt at The Verge. Unlike the Oculus Rift, this $400 stand-alone VR headset doesn't need to be plugged into a high-powered gaming PC to operate. Instead, it uses four built-in wide-angle sensors and two handheld controllers to track a player's real-world movements and translate them to in-game actions.

Because it doesn't have a backup PC, the headset — set to launch in 2019 — won't be able to match the Rift's stunning graphics. But its lack of wires and its ease of use could make the Quest the device that finally gets the masses to jump into VR, so long as Facebook-owned Oculus can also get top game developers on board.

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