What Is Oculus Touch?

Oculus Touch is the motion controller system used in the Oculus Rift, Rift S, and Quest virtual reality (VR) systems. Each Oculus Touch consists of a pair of controllers, with one for each hand. These controllers operate like a single gamepad, allowing Oculus Rift to provide full motion tracking of a player's hands in a VR space. 

The Oculus Touch controllers are traditional controllers in their own right, complete with the analog sticks, buttons, and triggers needed to play most games.

How Does Oculus Touch Work?

Oculus Touch combines traditional game controller functionality with the motion tracking technology of the Oculus Rift.

Each controller includes an analog thumbstick similar to those found on Xbox or PlayStation controllers, two face buttons that can also be pressed with a thumb, a trigger designed for the index finger, and a second trigger that is activated by squeezing the rest of the fingers against the controller grip.

In addition to standard game controls, each controller has a number of capacitive sensors capable of locating the player's fingers. For example, the controller can tell whether the player's index finger is resting on the trigger, or whether the thumb is resting on a face button or thumbstick. This allows the player to perform complex gestures like pointing fingers and balling fists.

Each Oculus Touch controller is studded with a constellation of LEDs that are invisible to the naked eye, just like the Oculus Rift. These LEDs allow Oculus VR constellation sensors to track the position of each controller, which lets the player move their hands around and rotate them through a full range of motion.

Who Needs Oculus Touch?

Oculus Rift systems include both Oculus Touch and two sensors, but Oculus Touch is also available to purchase separately. Although there are a lot of VR games that don't require motion controls, the experience is much more immersive and feels a lot more natural with the use of motion-tracking controllers.