Oculus Link Makes The Quest A PC-Based Rift, Adding More Value To The VR Headset

Oculus Connect 6 is underway and during the keynote speech, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a new feature for its virtual reality ecosystem called Oculus Link. In short, Oculus Link allows your standalone Quest headset to run Rift games via a USB-C connection. Some content is currently exclusive to the Rift since it’s more powerful by virtue of being a PC-based VR platform, but such won’t be the case later this year.

Oculus Link will launch as a software update in November 2019, which means it comes at no extra cost for Quest owners. All you’ll need is a VR-capable PC and the proper USB-C cable when the update rolls out. Zuckerberg said, “This is going to work with most USB-C cables out there,” but Oculus will offer its own dedicated cable that’ll “maximize the throughput” and charge the headset simultaneously. He also said that their new cable will be longer and more flexible, which is intended to help make room-scale experiences possible.

Another big update coming to Quest is full hand tracking, which is coming as a free update in early 2020. It will not require any additional hardware either. You can check out the trailer below.

With Oculus Link, it appears that the Quest is only increasing its value proposition. The standalone Oculus Quest headset has been a transformative VR platform as it brings full gaming experiences without any tethers, and its built-in sensors and tracking system has worked well for its games. You can read more about it in my Oculus Quest review from when the headset first launched.

Another major announcement during Oculus Connect 6 was the return of the FPS series Medal Of Honor. It’s coming out of developer Respawn Entertainment (Titanfall, Apex Legends) and publisher EA, and it’s called Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond. The game will incorporate mini-documentaries into its projected 10-12 hour campaign.