Oculus Rift virtual reality headset released in the UK

Tech fans in the United Kingdom are now able to purchase the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, after the device was released on Tuesday.

Retailers such as John Lewis and Harrods, as well as online retailers such as Amazon, now have the system available for UK gamers.

Oculus is owned by social media giant Facebook, and it has made the Rift device is available for around £549.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg referred to the headset as the "future of social networking" earlier this year, as tech companies continue to invest heavily in virtual reality devices.

In October, Sony are due to release the Playstation VR, which will not need its own computer, like most currently available VR systems do.

“Virtual reality is being heralded as the next computing platform and with more than 100 full-featured VR games and experiences now on Rift and with more than 30 new titles scheduled to launch this year, there has never been a more exciting time to jump into VR,” a statement from Oculus read.