Oculus Founder Compares “Fancy Wine” Rift to “Muddy Water” Google Cardboard

Oculus Inc. founder Palmer Luckey is being bullish in the run-up to the imminent consumer release of the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, making a devilish comparion between his company’s much-anticipated tech and Google’s own VR offering, the smartphone-using Cardboard.

On Christmas Eve, Luckey tweeted, “Reminder of something I have talked about before: VR will become something everyone wants before it becomes something everyone can afford.” In the ensuing conversation with a couple of his followers, Luckey was asked how the high-end and expensive Rift can compete against the $20 Google Cardboard. Luckey then scoffed at the notion, asserting that his “fancy wine” Rift cannot be compared to the “muddy water” cardboard, “because the Rift is actually good.”

Reminder of something I have talked about before: VR will become something everyone wants before it becomes something everyone can afford.

— Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) December 24, 2015

@WesleyYue Yes, because the Rift is actually good. Kind of like how fancy wine competes with muddy water.

— Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) December 24, 2015

Luckey also confirmed over the last few days that the Rift is on target for a first-quarter release in 2016, with pre-orders being made available at the start of the new year. “Thrilled to share some news,” he tweeted. “Manufacturing continues to go well, and we are still on-target for an awesome Rift launch in Q1!” He added, “Preorders are coming soon after new year. Enjoy a stress-free holiday, we won’t launch preorders without warning!”

@PalmerLuckey Preorders are coming soon after new year. Enjoy a stress-free holiday, we won't launch preorders without warning!

— Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) December 22, 2015

Further information regarding the consumer release of Oculus Rift is expected at CES 2016, which runs from the 6th to the 9th of January.