How Facebook is bringing virtual reality gaming within touching distance

Oculus Rift has linked up with Microsoft as it prepares to bring VR to the home, and developers' enthusiasm appears undiminished by past disappointments

Oculus Rift's virtual reality headset has moved another step closer to serving up heart-in-mouth moments in gamers' living rooms with news of a link-up with Microsoft that will see every headset ship with an Xbox One.

Having paid $2bn for VR startup Oculus in 2014, Facebook is making its plans to be one of the key providers of the technology, alongside companies including Sony, Google and games firm Valve. Its Oculus Rift VR headset can only be bought by developers at the moment, but will go on sale commercially in the first quarter of 2016.