Palmer Luckey launched the Kickstarter campaign for the Oculus Rift in 2012.
The campaign began in August 2012 and sought funding for a developer-oriented virtual-reality headset. It raised more than $2.4 million, far exceeding its original goal, and helped revive broad public and industry interest in consumer VR.
Luckey had developed early Rift prototypes while experimenting with head-mounted displays. The project attracted support from game developers and technology enthusiasts because it promised a wider field of view and lower-cost access than many earlier research systems.
Facebook announced its acquisition of Oculus VR in 2014 for approximately $2 billion. The consumer Oculus Rift eventually shipped in 2016. The Kickstarter date is therefore distinct from both the acquisition year and the retail release year, which are frequent sources of confusion.