UE4 + Oculus Rift + HTML5

To my knowledge, web apps have restricted access to local devices. Especially when not using a plugin. This is why you generally have to use flash or something of the sort to use a webcam. This is also true for Unity, which to my knowledge doesn't give access to webcam or other devices through their plugin.

Is this different in html5? A bit, but it's for specific things. You can use webcams and stuff that are web specific, but they can't do things like access a physics card, raid controller, etc. This more then likely specifically put in place to keep security. If they could access any hardware, it allows for very easy use of viruses and the like.

There are some people trying to make a standard program to allow things like websockets and rift support into any html5 socket system, but it has to be programmed specifically for that, and it's using a bridge between that app and the browser. Pretty much it's a stand alone plugin.

TLDR: Not likely to work without a plugin. There are some ways to do it, but kind of defeat the purpose of not using plugins.

Excellent points, thanks! I'd forgotten that things like vr.js and the Streetview app need either a plugin or an external websocket server. I suppose one could be bundled by UE4, but that would break the idea of being able to run anywhere etc.

Thanks!!

No problem. And as you mentioned, if they built something into UE4, it's still likely you'd have to install a plugin to get access.

That said, they could do so, and make it optional inside the game to download the plugin specifically if you wanted to use the rift.