Oculus VR Founder Says Rift Won't Support Mac Until Apple Releases a ''Good Computer' [Video]

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Posted March 4, 2016 at 7:34am by iClarified

Oculus VR Founder Palmer Luckey says the Oculus Rift won't support Mac until Apple releases a 'good computer' in an interview with ShackNews.

Luckey notes that even the top of the line $6,000 Mac Pro doesn't meet the recommended spec for the virtual reality headset.

Oculus VR Founder Says Rift Won't Support Mac Until Apple Releases a ''Good Computer' [Video]

Will there ever be Mac support for the Rift?
That is up to Apple and if they ever release a good computer we will do it. It just boils down to the fact that Apple doesn't prioritize high-end GPUs. You can a buy a $6,000 Mac Pro with the top of the line AMD FirePro D700s and it still doesn't match our recommended spec. If they prioritize higher-end GPUs like they used to for a while back in the day I think we'd love to support Mac.

Right now there's just not a single machine out there that supports it. So, even if we can support it on the software side there's just no audience of people that can run the vast majority of software out there.

Notably, Apple is said to be working on a VR headset of its own. The company has reportedly assembled a team of hundreds of experts in virtual and augmented reality to build prototypes that would rival Facebook's Oculus Rift and Microsoft's Hololens. Hopefully, the next generation Macs will be able to support available virtual reality products even if Apple isn't ready to enter the field.

Take a look at the video interview below...

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Eyera - March 6, 2016 at 7:04am

There is a difference between price and value. When VR can equal the value of the iPhone I will spend the same amount for both. As for Apple, when will they realize they should split into a computer company and a device company. The value would be more than it is right now for shareholders and the apple users would be better served.

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Bill - March 5, 2016 at 12:28am

Oh Apple computers are Good computers. Who gives a duck if you can't use Facebook rift? This vr thing is at its infancy

DiegoVilar - March 4, 2016 at 10:00pm

You do realize that "his company" means Facebook, right? They bought Rift. Also, he answered a question regarding Mac specs X Game hardware, and he told the thruth: Macs are way behind in what is needed for high-end games. It's not their focus, ok. But the point is valid for the context: no Mac selling today has what it takes for a Rift. Period. Doesn't mean Macs are shit... Just for high end games... No need to get offended... You can still use your mac for other stuff, and you'll be well served...

BobbySorloss - March 4, 2016 at 9:34pm

The Apple company decided to go with a combination of power and looks. I'm sorry that they drifted over to looks and style and forgot power, specially in the graphical output power of their GPU's. Nobody can beat Apple in looks, but you get more in RAW power out of a PC than a MAC. Price wise and graphical dynamic processing power. Period

BobbySorloss - March 4, 2016 at 9:29pm

For those sitting in front of their Mac computers, don't be blind to the fact that what is said is true.

Jamie - March 4, 2016 at 7:10pm

I think this guy is stuck in his own VR

Mang Domeng - March 4, 2016 at 4:02pm

I won't buy a device that is when plugged to your computer, all it does is just one thing and you can't use your computer for other stuff. What if your computer is also your home server and you used Occulus. You have to stop everything just to have that little enjoyment? Crappy device!

PaulieP - March 4, 2016 at 5:01pm

Well put

Tim Fitzgerald - March 4, 2016 at 3:33pm

Apple BADLY needs to get their ish together w/r/t gaming. I spent $2500 a year ago on a Macbook Pro and the geffin thing loses half the frame rate when I use an external monitor (with half of the built-in display's native resolution!) and apparently that's just normal for Macs. It's really just as Luckey says -- they put crappy, old GPUs in their computers, underclock them to cover for their failure to design the cases such that they can support the heat output, and then don't really bother to even write the drivers they need to work properly. If there is one thing about Macs right now that will drive me back to Windows, it's this.

gamerscul9870 - March 4, 2016 at 4:40pm

I happen to upgrade my old MacBook Pro with an upgraded GPU chip. Is it that much trouble to just use a Mac that ha super upgradable hardware? My friends happen to play games on their modern macs just fine, but I'm sure it all will work out with parallels. Maybe that could help, but for a boost, on those macs, I suggest external ssd's from owc.

gamerscul9870 - March 4, 2016 at 1:08pm

Like how he flag out said shit and doesn't even prove it in the slightest bit, but he didn't even try it with parallels? How much LSD did this guy take?

Nitro Junkie - March 4, 2016 at 3:10pm

It has nothing to do with it running on Windows or possibly being able to try it with parallels. It has to do with the graphics card and power to run it. In my opinion I think they're scared because they know Apple is secretly working on something that might eventually make oculus and all others irrelevant. We'll just have to wait and see. You know Apple takes their time to do things right.

Jabreu203 - March 4, 2016 at 12:37pm

Awwww, someone got their feelings hurt.

Some Person - March 4, 2016 at 11:57am

I got an ad that lists 4 PC's that are recommended for this gizmo. One was crazy expensive (but still less than $6k) Other 3 ranged from about $1500 to $3000. Asus, Alienware, and HP were the brands BTW. Each met the requirements simply due to the graphics card upgrade that was installed. The more expensive PCs had more onboard RAM obviously. Basically, Apples high-end computers already have the horsepower, they just need to be able to upgrade their graphics cards to the ones the Oculus folks have already built for and tested with for certification. Nothing we did not already know really.

Great - March 4, 2016 at 9:25am

You diss Apple? Wait till they come out with their own VR solution and then destroy your business.

John - March 4, 2016 at 7:45am

what a di**, srsly my £1000 mac runs highly graphical games and 3d simulators just fine!

A non e moose - March 4, 2016 at 8:28am

What kind of games are you running?

Hondo - March 4, 2016 at 3:52pm

I bet he plays tetris at ultra settings!