New virtual reality headset Oculus Rift will set you back $599

UPDATE: According to reports, Oculus Rift pre-orders have already sold out

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After months of speculation, the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset is officially available for pre-order – but it will set you back US$599.

The company, which was bought by Facebook in 2014 for $2 billion, says the headsets will come with two video games, “Lucky’s Tale” by Playful and CCP’s “EVE: Valkyrie.”

“When you put on Oculus, you’ll feel like you instantly teleported into adventures like deep-sea diving, piloting a starfighter or playing in a band on stage. More than 100 virtual reality games and other experiences are coming this year,” said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

“Long term, I believe virtual reality has the potential to change the way we live, work and communicate in many ways. Today is an important step towards that future.”

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But the Rift will require a fairly powerful computer. Oculus has set up a certification program so consumers can look for a sticker on PCs that support the Rift. Asus, Dell and Alienware will have certified models that cost less than $1,000. You can also run a diagnostic on the company’s website to see if your computer is compatible before pre-ordering it.

Those who pre-order the headset should receive it by the end of March.

But people aren’t very excited about the price tag.