The long-awaited consumer version of Oculus Rift could begin to ship by summer 2015, according to alleged sources speaking to two separate publications.

Both TechRadar and VRFocus claim that a market-ready Oculus Rift will launch in a "strictly limited" public beta half way into 2015.

Though specs and release date plans for the consumer version of Oculus Rift (known as CV1) are not public, a limited supply of the latest prototype (known as DK2) is available to developers and hobbyists.

Oculus VR, the company formed by creator Palmer Luckey, has urged gamers to hold out for CV1 and resist the developer version.

That long wait for the consumer version could end as soon as April 2015, with a strictly limited test supply, although both TechRadar and VRFocus suggest that "summer 2015" (which runs from late June to August) could be the more realistic target for general release.

Oculus exec Nate Mitchell recently claimed that the consumer version of Oculus Rift will be priced somewhere between $200 and $400.

Palmer Luckey has also previously stated the consumer version would be a significant improvement on the DK2's 1080p display, with a 90Hz refresh rate.

Oculus VR has declined to comment.