Oculus, a Facebook-owned company, has announced today that it will terminate support for signing in its devices with Oculus accounts in favor of Facebook accounts. But don't fret as these changes don't get into effect immediately. Starting this October 2020, first time log-ins on an Oculus device will need to do so with a Facebook account. Existing users will have the option to merge their Oculus and Facebook accounts, or continue using their Oculus accounts for a period of two years. After January 1, 2023, support for Oculus accounts will completely end. Those who don't merge their accounts by that time can still continue using their Oculus device, but will require a Facebook account for full functionality.

Of note, the company mentions that "all future unreleased Oculus devices will require a Facebook account, even if you already have an Oculus account."

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

— Meta Quest (@MetaQuestVR) August 18, 2020

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This move appears to be made to streamline Facebook’s management across its platforms. The announcement reads that rather than having a separate Oculus Code of Conduct, Oculus will adopt Facebook’s Community Standards as well as a new additional VR-focused policy. Another reason given is that a single login will make it "easier to find, connect and play with friends in VR" as well as allow Oculus device owners to try "Facebook-powered social experiences" such as live streaming gameplay on your Facebook timeline, making calls with parties and joining events. It could also help the company ban spam accounts.

This decision also goes against what Palmer Luckey, the creator of the original Oculus, said upon the acquisition: "You will not need a Facebook account to use or develop for the Rift".

What do you think of this announcement? Will it make you reconsider before purchasing a new Oculus device?

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[Foxi4]

I don't quite understand why *any* electronic device requires a login to use, Facebook, Oculus or anything else. It's a glorified monitor with some accelerometers and sensors, it does not require any online service at all.

 

[wiiando]

I don't quite understand why *any* electronic device requires a login to use, Facebook, Oculus or anything else. It's a glorified monitor with some accelerometers and sensors, it does not require any online service at all.

Just another form of DRM really

 

[spectral]

I don't quite understand why *any* electronic device requires a login to use, Facebook, Oculus or anything else. It's a glorified monitor with some accelerometers and sensors, it does not require any online service at all.

Its more than those things, it is also software. Software that is made by a company that has a financial interest in you signing up with them. Since the hardware is useless without the software they can choose to put any artificial restrictions they like in place that they like. It sucks but thats just the way it is.

 

[Deleted User]

Once Facebook bought Occulus, this was always going to happen at some point.
RIP Occulus.

 

[Jonna]

Were you?

I am going to. Were you?

 

[FAST6191]

I don't quite understand why *any* electronic device requires a login to use, Facebook, Oculus or anything else. It's a glorified monitor with some accelerometers and sensors, it does not require any online service at all.

Theoretically can keep facebook relevant with the kids, means facebook might have a source of advertising (you know who they are, can say "pay us and we will tell all the existing users about your new game, or you could try youtube I guess"), and when it finally does have a real use case with a wide audience they are the ones holding the keys to the kingdom in terms of APIs, libraries, probably sales vectors and said advertising stuff, if if it gets really really big (think largely abandon this reality to live in the virtual world) then even better still. I am sure they can probably also make a justification along some lines that because it is such a powerful tech then [people we/our puppetmasters don't like] won't be able to infect your kids with an idea that might challenge our power and money making.

No magnanimous company set upon improving tech for the world at large would do it that way (as you say it is a screen and position sensor) but be the one holding the bag when the music actually starts and you make a lot of money and gain a lot of influence. DRM and censorship* for all it is.

*I am curious to see what the VR wild west will be similar to how youtube used to be, and Twitch soon will be, basically "copyright, meh" before pulling the rug out. You have the obvious line of VR augmented sex doll (taking bets on whether it will be simple misogyny, the act of what is essentially a fabric dildo means rape couture is a thing, something similar to the anti face swapping porn "as it is basically upskirting", "OMG there might be a pedo somewhere", or maybe "think of the no babies being made any more and resulting spinsters" used as the main thrust) but the more minor ones are where I am waiting to see what goes. Though that probably also means we will get to see if porn really is still a driving force in tech adoption a la vhs vs betamax and credit cards online, or indeed parallel advertising and video hosting in the modern world.

 

[Kioku]

I could care less about that stuff honestly less latency

Eh, not by much. Unless the Index is known to be the most responsive. I owned the Rift S and the Quest wasn't any worse. Even when using Virtual Desktop to stream Tarkov or Doom VFR.

 

[GenNaz]

Surprised it took them this long frankly.

 

[anhminh]

You'd been zucc'ed.

 

[Foxi4]

Its more than those things, it is also software. Software that is made by a company that has a financial interest in you signing up with them. Since the hardware is useless without the software they can choose to put any artificial restrictions they like in place that they like. It sucks but thats just the way it is.

You missed my point. There is no *legitimate* reason for you to sign up to any service. Every piece of hardware you connect to your computer has "software" running it, both in terms of firmware and drivers - few require a log on. What I'm saying is that it's anti-consumer behaviour, and I won't be surprised if some clever heads will come up with a workaround in due course.

 

[PatrickD85]

Puts on VR headset
Please login with Facebook
Takes of VR headset

 

[shaunj66]

You missed my point. There is no *legitimate* reason for you to sign up to any service. Every piece of hardware you connect to your computer has "software" running it, both in terms of firmware and drivers - few require a log on. What I'm saying is that it's anti-consumer behaviour, and I won't be surprised if some clever heads will come up with a workaround in due course.

Long gone are the days of ownership I'm afraid. Everything is or will be digitally "licensed" out and can be altered, changed or revoked at the click of a button.

 

[Foxi4]

Long gone are the days of ownership I'm afraid. Everything is or will be digitally "licensed" out and can be altered, changed or revoked at the click of a button.

Makes me miss the days of dial-up. A game may have taken 15 minutes to download and required several floppies to store, but dang it, at least it didn't have a Like & Subscribe button attached to it.

 

[raxadian]

Thanks Facebook, now I know what VR device not to buy.

 

[Deleted member 388531]

lol fuck off facebook

 

[XDel]

What did John Carmack get himself involved with?

 

[Hambrew]

I never had Roblox VR bucks anyways...

 

[mrnintendoguy]

wasnt going to buy in the first place but now im not gonna buy it even more

 

[HideoKojima]

More money for Fb, I'd just create a fake account to login though

 

[BeastMode6]

Rift S owner here, not too happy about the news. Thankfully I bought absolutely everything VR related on steam. Oculus's store sucks. If you bought a quest, my condolences. You're kind of screwed.

I'd reckon that facebook is probably going to walk this back after seeing the backlash they were and still are getting. If not, hopefully by 2023 OpenHMD on linux will support all oculus products.