Earlier today Oculus VR announced the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display’s (HMD) latest prototype, Crescent Bay. The new device contains a range of improvements over the device’s second development kit (DK2), including a higher resolution display and better design. One of the highlights of the kit is undoubtedly the integrated headphones, a feature that had long been requested by the VR community. According to the company, this will be improved on even further with the release of the consumer Oculus Rift, which will include a microphone as well.

Oculus VR Audio Engineer Brian Hook confirmed as much speaking at his Introduction to Audio for Virtual Reality at the Oculus Connect developer conference in Hollywood, California. As an image of one of the slides provided to VRFocus shows, the consumer version of the Oculus Rift will be complete with a ‘Guaranteed Audio Experience’, including headphones, integrated DAC and a microphone. The last feature is certainly significant and its uses within VR experiences could certainly prove interesting.

Other features of the Oculus Rift’s consumer version remain under wraps for now. VRFocus recently reported that the device was expected to receive a beta roll out as earlier as April 2015. VRFocus will continue to follow the device going forward, reporting back with any further updates on its progress.