Oculus acquires tech company Pebbles Interfaces

Virtual reality company Oculus announced it has acquired Israeli-based firm Pebbles Interfaces, as it continues to bolster its efforts in VR ahead of the launch of a consumer headset next year.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Pebbles Interfaces specializes in depth sensing technology, working on tools that detect and track hand movement.

Facebook-owned Oculus says Pebbles Interfaces -- founded in 2010 -- will join the company's hardware and computer vision teams to "help advance virtual reality, tracking, and human-computer interactions."

"Through micro-optics and computer vision, we hope to improve the information that can be extracted from optical sensors, which will help take virtual reality to the next level," says Pebble Interfaces chief technology officer Nadav Grossinger in a statement.

Last month, Oculus unveiled its own controlled called Oculus Touch, which introduces hand movements into the virtual reality space. Players grip a controller in each hand, pressing buttons to mimic gestures with their thumbs and fingers.

Meanwhile, Oculus is preparing to launch a consumer version of its Oculus Rift headset during the first half of next year.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.