Oculus has got into a pretty steady pattern of releasing new software updates for its Rift VR headset each and every month, and June’s edition is rolling out now.
Rift 1.16 adds a handful of appreciated features to the platform, though there’s little in the way of truly significant news. Highlighting the update is added support for mixed reality capture. We’ve seen this plenty over the past year; developers using green screen to record players in real-time appearing in the virtual environment they’re standing in.
Developers will need to update their apps to support this new feature, and have to use an extra Touch controller as a trackable object to record footage, but it’s a good first step. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more mixed reality trailers for games like Lone Echo and more soon.
Elsewhere, 1.16 updates your updates; you’ll know get more information when your apps download new patches, including changelogs. If you encounter issues with software, you can report this in-app too.
One change you should immediately notice is a new look for Oculus Home. Upon booting up your Rift with 1.16 installed you’ll find yourself in a city environment, which can be switched back to the old living room area too. More environments will be coming to the platform in the near future.
Friends, meanwhile, can now optionally display whether they’re running on Rift or Gear. Four languages are now available in Rift setup, and better labelling of 360 degree tracking support apps is now available. There’s one small bug fix too, addressing an issue with window scaling.
Nothing major, then, but a host of appreciated updates.
