It’s that time of year again; Oculus Connect 6 is almost upon us.
This year finds Oculus in an interesting place, having recently launched not one but two VR headsets in Rift S and Quest. With hardware hype out of the way, it’s time to get down to the business of making better software for it. That’s what a lot of this year’s sessions are about.
Facebook says the keynotes will be aired live on its Oculus page as well as in VR via Bigscreen and Venues. Facebook typically releases the videos of individual sessions later on YouTube. So, whether you’re attending in person or catching up online, here are six sessions to look out for. You can see the full list here. All times listed are Pacific.
The Keynotes
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, September 25 + 26
There are two keynotes at this year’s Connect, one on the morning of the 25th and one on the morning of 26th. As per usual, the first day’s speech will be the one to really look out for. You can expect a raft of updates on all things Oculus. On the second day, Oculus technical guide John Carmack will be expected to give a typically exhaustive speech that’s never one to miss.
From Lightspeed to Lightsabers: The Making of Vader Immortal
Breakout 220B | 12:30 PM – 01:15 PM, September 25
Vader Immortal remains one of the most polished and all-round best experiences of the year. In this session, developer ILMxLAB will join publisher Oculus Studios in discussing how it hit such a high bar. Expect tips and tricks on storytelling, visuals and combat as well as a look at how Quest shaped development. Of course, Vader Immortal Episode II is on the way for the end of the year, so hopefully we’ll find out more on that during OC6 too.
Carmack App Review
Breakout 220B | 03:30 PM – 05:00 PM, September 25
Always a staple event in the Oculus Connect schedule; John Carmack will sit down with developers and walk through their app submissions, offering painfully to-the-point criticism and tips and tricks. This is the first App Review since the launch of Quest, so this year’s edition should be especially interesting.
Facebook’s Future in Social VR
Breakout 220B | 12:30 PM – 01:15 PM. September 26
Now this should be an interesting one. Facebook, a social networking company, is arguably tailing in the social VR scene right now. Spaces has been all but forgotten and its overall social strategy in VR has been unclear, to say the least. Learning about its future plans for this area on Quest, Rift and beyond will make this one of the most important sessions of Oculus Connect 6.
Using Vulkan for Mobile VR
Tech Talk – Demo Hall | 12:30 PM – 01:15 PM, September 26
With the introduction of Oculus Quest, getting the most out of mobile VR has become more important than ever. This session, led by Facebook software engineers, will take developers over the best practices using the Vulkan API. If you’re looking to be best on Quest, this is an important session for sure.
SUPERHOT VR on Quest: From 100W to 4W in 12 Months
Breakout 220B | 02:30 PM – 03:15 PM, September 26
A rare showing from the Superhot team will see the team discussing its excellent port to Quest. The game absolutely sings on the standalone headset, so this is a great opportunity to learn from a team that’s been through the wars.
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What sessions are you looking forward to at OC6 this year? We’ll be on the ground to bring you all the latest, so stay tuned.
