There's no doubt that one of the main aspects holding back the popularity of virtual reality hardware in the mainstream is the expensive price tags placed on the medium's gear, as well as the requirements of needing a relatively potent PC on top of the headsets and controllers. Now, though, it seems as if Oculus Rift is intent on lowering the barrier of entry somewhat by permanently dropping the price of its headset and controller bundle to $400.

Today, during its Oculus Connect event, the company has officially announced that the new $400 price drop for the Oculus Rift is in effect today, with fans being able to purchase it for the aforementioned cost through the Oculus Store right now. Those who do so will not only receive the headset itself and two Touch controllers, but also the seven free games Lucky's Tale, Medium, Toybox, Quill, Dead and Buried, Dragon Front, and Robo Recall.

For those unaware, this decision by Oculus to drop the cost of the Rift follows a price cut for the bundle that occurred earlier this year, with the $400 tag representing a $100 difference from the previous reduction in price. The platform's current cost now further distances it from the price of the HTC Vive, which received a discount to $600 back in August. Plus, it also puts the Rift in the same price zone as the least expensive PlayStation VR bundle.

Should $400 still prove to be too pricey for those looking to jump into the virtual reality realm, Oculus also announced a pair of new VR headsets, including a standalone headset that's primed to cost $200, and won't require a PC to operate. So, taking all of this into consideration, it will be interesting to see if the permanent price cut for the Rift and the two new pieces of hardware will eventually allow Oculus to command the market share for VR wares.

The Oculus Rift is available now.

Source: Oculus