A mysterious handheld device showed up in an FCC test report recently that may just be the 3DoF controller coming alongside Oculus Go, the company’s upcoming $200 standalone VR headset.

While the report doesn’t explicitly state any relationship with Go, instead masked behind the vague term “Virtual Reality System,” a closer look reveals it to be a handheld, battery-operated, Bluetooth 4.1 controller. The device operates on a 1.5 V DC current at 190 mA—the exact same power requirements as Oculus Touch. The maximum power output in comparison to Oculus Touch is drastically reduced however, sipping 0.9 mW instead of Touch’s 2.89 mW max power output. For reference, Samsung Gear VR’s 3DoF controller’s max power output is 1.0 mW.

The company hasn’t publicly released the full spec sheet on Go or its controller yet, so the relationship at this point is solely based on conjecture. With an “early 2018” launch date though, Go is the best candidate for a controller of this caliber.

Image courtesy Oculus

The filing doesn’t share any images of the controller, just a diagram showing where the label will go and where the battery compartment will be. To maintain confidentiality, the FCC typically agrees to release internal and external images at a later date, usually specified by the company filing for FCC testing. In this case, actual images of the controller are set to release in June 2018.

Usually one of the last things to happen before launch of a wireless device in the United States is the stamp of approval from the FCC. The Oculus Go headset hasn’t appeared just yet in FCC filings, although developers already have them in hand.

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We hope to hear more heading into CES this year, so check back with us next week for all things virtual.

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Scott Hayden
Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 3,500 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • Firestorm185

    sounds interesting! Can’t wait to get my hands on one.

  • Sponge Bob

    same useless crap as GearVR or Daydream controllers

    doesn’t need same bandwidth and/or reach as Touch – thus reduced power reqs

    nothing to talk about

    • Suitch

      The Daydream controller isn’t bad at all! I am extremely impressed with it. (Own a Vive, Rift, and Daydream)

    • Caven

      The power difference is likely due to not needing lots of IR emitters–not because of bandwidth or reach. In both cases, the controllers transmit to the headset, and the data sent from the controllers is low bandwidth, since only a few controls inputs and IMU data need to be sent from the controller.

  • Adrian Meredith

    Don’t understand the point of this 200 for only 3 dof is wasted

    • Doctor Bambi

      Most of us here have been fortunate enough to have full 6DOF VR in our homes, but I bet Oculus Go will be perfectly fine for anyone who’s new to the tech and looking for a modest entry point.

  • Ted Joseph

    I have a Rift, but I have been looking for a cheaper Oculus for using while on the road. I have the daydream, but not overly happy with the comfort, immersion etc. Hoping this fills the gap.

    • impurekind

      Why would this be any better than Daydream? It’s not really doing anything that Daydream isn’t already doing too.

  • Lucidfeuer

    No head-tracking in 2017/2018 is infuriating. This headset if it can be bought in bulk is only as good as limited mobile showcases goes, nothing more.

    • Sponge Bob

      inside-out headset tracking is bulky and expensive

      me thinks that a market winning combination will be 3DoF standalone headset PLUS 6 DoF controller
      This can be had now for under 300$

      You do not need to walk in VR all the time, most future productivity apps will be seating experience (I actually prefer lying down experience for myself)
      thus no need for 6DoF headset tracking but a great need for fully functional 6DoF controller- just one controller

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      • Lucidfeuer

        What are we talking about. You’re playing the “but if corporation don’t implement it, it must be too difficult to even bother or actually research and implement solutions) devil’s advocate.

        But you know like me that there’s nothing easier to achieve in VR than head-tracking. I’m not even talking about full-blown positional tracking even if implementing the first one mostly implies the second will work. Could be with an external IR/led tracker, with internal camera and Vslam/tracking software, could be with a Tango like IR module or any number of smarter solutions…

        • Sponge Bob

          “…with internal camera and Vslam/tracking software”

          for standalone ?

          and cheap enough to sell to consumers?

          forget about it

          plus vslam is not even close to vive tracking precision wise
          so why bother indeed ?

  • Sponge Bob

    just try to draw something in 3D using GearVR controller

    Need precise positional tracking for that, dude. Period.

    • RFC_VR

      You raise a good point, and I’m well aware of the differences, with my ample time spent in Tiltbrush and other applications on my Vive’s.

      My comment was related to my surprise at how effective the Daydream controller can be, especially with “new” View (new controller) and current software update, compared to the old View and launch software(buggy/tracking drift).

      • Sponge Bob

        software can only be as good as your hardware
        IMUs just can’t do precise (sub-mm) positional tracking of SLOW hand motion which is necessary for any type of drawing app
        And even ideal IMUs don’t know their position once the power is turned on
        Nothing can replace precise positional tracking

  • Veron

    The usual ignorant clowns posting here, whining about this product.

    High end PC VR is a slow, struggling market. None of the two big players (Oculus and HTC) have managed to sell a million units. Most Top selling high end VR games that these clowns insists are ‘true VR’ only manage to sell slightly over 100000 units.

    Meanwhile, entry to mid range VR solutions are selling millions of units, doing more to sell VR to people than the likes of the Vive.

    Headsets like the Oculus Go are extremely important. A $200 entry point to pretty decent VR experiences, a potential means to boost VR use for education in schools, the porn industry, real estate etc is a very big deal indeed.
    But basement dwelling nerds with a limited understanding of the big picture are here, whining about ‘High end VR or bust’.

    Pathetic.