Oculus To Enforce Facebook Integration For Users To Use Their Virtual Reality Headsets

Acknowledging that social media giant Facebook acquired virtual reality firm Oculus has always been a questionable act regarding the future for company and what that might mean for the future of virtual reality as Oculus continues to lead the industry. For the most part, Oculus looks to be receiving a endless budget to further innovating its branded headsets and push for new experience in the virtual reality platform.

Most notably this year back in June, Oculus announced its acquisition of California-based team, Ready at Dawn. The firm while shipping recognized VR entries such as Lone Echo & Echo Arena is most associated with its AAA property, The Order 1886. The game still stands as a PlayStation 4 exclusive and the firm’s acquiring essentially solidifies a sequel will not be coming to fruition.

Now this week, Oculus announces new protocols for its platform which will initiate later this fall. Starting in October, all Oculus products are said to require a Facebook account to full use the headset.

Everyone using an Oculus device for the first time will need to log in with a Facebook account. If you’re an existing user and already have an Oculus account, you’ll have the option to log in with Facebook and merge your Oculus and Facebook accounts. If you’re an existing user and choose not to merge your accounts, you can continue using your Oculus account for two years.

Oculus does reiterate to disclose that current users will be prompted to use the option for logging in with a Facebook account, but the initiative is aimed for new users following the plans rolling out this October. The firm elaborates further by stating that the Facebook account integration will be in full effect by 2023. So users are given years to properly adjust to the move before it is enforced fully.

While the firm is encouraging users to log in with its parent company’s profile, the decision will not completely strip headset owners of utilizing Oculus products. Instead, Oculus tells consumers will be refrained from “full functionality” of their headset. Adding on, the decision is told to properly integrate Facebook-powered matchmaking and other online efforts through the social media firm.

“It will also allow us to introduce more Facebook powered multiplayer and social experiences coming soon in VR, like Horizon, where you can explore, play, and create worlds. The majority of our users are already logging into Oculus with a Facebook account to use features like chats, parties, and events, or to tune into live experiences in Oculus Venues”

What is you opinion on Oculus decision to enforce Facebook sign-ins to use the branded VR headsets?

Source: Oculus