Samsung last week began fulfilling orders for its Oculus-power Gear VR headset, giving U.S. consumers their first taste of Oculus VR's brand of virtual reality. International preorders have opened and have been expanding.
It won't be until early next year that Oculus VR begins shipping its full-featured Oculus Rift headset, but as a Gear VR collaborator, it has been touting Samsung's mobile-driven headset.
Like Google's Project Cardboard, the US$99 Gear VR relies on the processing power of a smartphone. Specifically, it relies on the power of a late-model Samsung handset: a Galaxy Note5, a Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge or a Galaxy S6 Edge Plus.
The Gear VR is fitted with lens, and it holds the smartphone in place. Oculus VR's software formats the content for the Galaxy devices' high-resolution displays.
Over 25 VR games are expected to arrive for Gear VR before the second half of next month. Gear VR supports Oculus VR's Social alpha, an early build of a VR meeting place that will allow friends -- or strangers -- to consume content in shared digital space.
Those sick of waiting for VR that won't make them sick can check out demos of Gear VR in select AT&T and Best Buy stores.