Virtual Reality giant Oculus has announced that the company is going to make away with its own user accounts starting this October. Instead, every user of a VR headset from the company will have to use a Facebook account to use their devices.
Today, we’re announcing some important updates to how people log into Oculus devices, while still keeping their VR profile. Starting in October 2020, everyone using an Oculus device for the first time will need to log in with a Facebook account. // https://t.co/SMeDOXgehN
— Oculus (@oculus) August 18, 2020
While this new rule will start taking effect this October, existing users will still be able to use their Oculus accounts to log into their headsets and use them up until January 2023. After that, these accounts will be closed for good.
Prospect readers who are new to the ecosystem won’t be able to create an Oculus account and are forced to use their Facebook accounts instead. During the transition period, existing owners will be able to merge their old accounts with their Facebook accounts.
We understand that this is a significant change, which is why we’re sharing the news early. We will update existing users who choose not to log in with a Facebook account as we get closer to ending support for Oculus accounts in 2023. In the meantime, here are answers to some questions you may be asking to help make everything clear.
It’s a controversial move by the VR company which is clearly visible by the sheer outcry on social media. Ever since Facebook purchased the promising virtual reality start-up way back in 2014, fans of VR were sceptical what it meant for the future of the company, and VR in general.
With Facebook making most of its money with ads and data, many weren’t happy how far Facebook would change the vision for Oculus for other goals. Today’s news is far from being that nightmare scenario but it’s still enough for an abundant backlash.
Oculus competitor HTC even profited from the controversy by chiming in the replies on Twitter. It’s an easy PR win for HTC who pretty much got handed disgruntled Oculus users on a silver plate. Such is the way of PR in the 21st century.
Oh, we're up.
— HTC VIVE (@htcvive) August 18, 2020
While this whole ordeal is very trivial in and on itself, it’s a reminder that anything Facebook is involved with instantly becomes a heated topic. We sincerely doubt that competitors like HTC, Valve Index, or the plethora of Windows Mixed Reality headsets are going to overtake Oculus overnight. The company still offers one the most well-balanced and affordable VR headsets on the market after all.
