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[John117]

Was killing the "Rift 2" project the right move for Virtual Reality?

News leaked yesterday that Rift S will be officially decommissioned after stocks run out. Palmer Luckey thus reiterated the importance of a PCVR headset, and also let slip a rather important detail:
Rift 2 was ready and had to be very different in spec from Rift S.

We all know how things went within Oculus when Facebook aggressively decided to abound the PCVR world, Brendon Iribe left the company, and there were several discontent in the community.

But how much has this move benefited virtual reality?

Difficult to say today, it is true that we have not had major improvements in the PCVR world, Reverb G2 does not have any surprising technology. Valve Index is a high-end viewer but it hasn't turned the market upside down with innovative technology.

Virtual reality has gotten better as an adoption since Facebook shifted all economic and productive efforts to the Standalone segment. At the level of technologies there have been improvements such as hand tracking and the adoption of VirtualDesktop rather than Oculus Link.

Lately, however, I have been thinking that VR technology is experiencing a stalemate at a technological level, needless to deny it. There hasn't been a big generation jump yet and honestly I can't pull out a window of time.

Without Quest 2 we would not have these numbers, but at the same time the technological improvement has been limited.

 

[FutureMD]

Without a market, there's no reason to pump money into an ecosystem. And to build a market, you need a base. Mobile only is the most profitable choice Facebook could do and they know it

 

[reksveks]

VR is like the only part of Facebook that's actively doing well in terms of strategy (plus Instagram). I think Mobile and a slightly cheaper sku was always going to be the key strategy honestly and that's going to morph into an mixed reality sets.

 

[Griffon]

Portable VR is clearly the way to go. Quest can both be portable and use a PC, the best of both world. There's no reason to have a PC-only headset.

 

[ResilientBanana]

Quest 2 is mobile and PC, so yes, killing the Rift 2 was a great idea.

 

[CrustyBritches]

What is a Rift?

 

[Dream-Knife]

No one who's serious about VR is buying an Oculus now anyway with the forced FB integration. Quest is a casual headset that will be killed off whenever Nintendo decides to enter.

 

[Fredrik]

Oculus Quest 2 is everything it needs to be and it’s awesome. Been playing No Man’s Sky with wireless VR for awhile now. It’s transformative.

No one who's serious about VR is buying an Oculus now anyway with the forced FB integration.

That’s such a none issue, I bought one just over a week ago, created my first ever FB account after avoiding it for 15 years. What’s the problem?

 

[Chukhopops]

It was the right move and I say that as someone who has a Rift S. You can’t go for mainstream if you sell for 500 bucks + the cost of a decent PC.

I think standalone VR will be the only thing available a couple years from now.

 

[Dream-Knife]

That’s such a none issue, I bought one just over a week ago, created my first ever FB account after avoiding it for 15 years. What’s the problem?

Just because you don't have a problem with it doesn't mean other don't as well.

Casuals have no issue with that. It's a different market from dedicated sets.

 

[Keihart]

Just because you don't have a problem with it doesn't mean other don't as well.

Casuals have no issue with that. It's a different market from dedicated sets.

Most people don't care or google and twitter and instagram and amazon services would be going out of business.

 

[Dream-Knife]

Most people don't care or google and twitter and instagram and amazon services would be going out of business.

I know, I'm talking causal vs enthusiast. Casuals is where the money is at. Same reason FIFA, COD, etc outsell everything.

 

[Fredrik]

Just because you don't have a problem with it doesn't mean other don't as well.

Casuals have no issue with that. It's a different market from dedicated sets.

Yeah but what’s the actual concern here? As I see it it’s just another account. Like on Instagram or Twitter or Google or Windows etc. And it took like 2 minutes for me to create and then I could jump into the Quest 2 VR awesomeness. Bonus for me was wireless PC VR, didn’t think it would actually work, makes everything else seem like none issues for me. I just need a better GPU now, it’s a lot of pixels to throw around.

 

[Keihart]

I know, I'm talking causal vs enthusiast. Casuals is where the money is at. Same reason FIFA, COD, etc outsell everything.

Even then, why would a VR enthusiast not buy it because of facebook? Maybe a privacy enthusiast, but a VR enthusiast would be more worried about the headset features and software selection.

 

[Dream-Knife]

Even then, why would a VR enthusiast not buy it because of facebook? Maybe a privacy enthusiast, but a VR enthusiast would be more worried about the headset features and software selection.

Idk, I wouldn't because I'm against social media. Apparently the hardcore VR audiences I've seen online also aren't a fan. Perhaps the two overlap, all I know is oculus is basically dead to that group

Yeah but what’s the actual concern here? As I see it it’s just another account. Like on Instagram or Twitter or Google or Windows etc. And it took like 2 minutes for me to create and then I could jump into the Quest 2 VR awesomeness. Bonus for me was wireless PC VR, didn’t think it would actually work, makes everything else seem like none issues for me. I just need a better GPU now, it’s a lot of pixels to throw around.

Privacy. People are also upset that they won't just be able to use their oculus account and now have to sign up for a social media service that spies on you.

 

[McCheese]

It makes sense, you can still connect it to a PC, but Oculus doesn't have the studios to support both PC and mobile formats with exclusive games so focusing on the Quest eco-system whilst still allowing it to be used for PCVR is the most sensible solution.

Plus wireless VR is just better.

 

[Reallink]

It was allegedly pretty much complete, so no, it wasn't the right move. Releasing it wouldn't have taken anything from Quest 2, they still released to shit tier Rift S in its stead. The S bombed for obvious reasons, and dragged PCVR software down with it. Rift 2 certainly wouldn't have come close to outselling Quest, but if the hardware was good, they would have sold a solid number of units to people upgrading CV1's or Vives (FAR more than S did), which would have done more to renew interest in PCVR software and act as a solid sales boost.

 

[Fredrik]

Privacy. People are also upset that they won't just be able to use their oculus account and now have to sign up for a social media service that spies on you.

You don’t think you’re spied on right now as well? You’re always tracked when you’re on the internet, FB account or not, or when you use your phone. It’s used for personalized ads and market statistics or just to get the user experience more seamless. I don’t see the big deal. Nobody is actually interested in if you’re watching VR porn or not. The tracking is there to help you find the next video easier or recommend even better ones or recommended games you like or find and connect to friends easier etc.

And if you want to take the foil hat route you can always disable video and app history and hide your online status and name, I’d say it’s easily on the same level or better than any other console regarding privacy options.

 

[playXray]

Even then, why would a VR enthusiast not buy it because of facebook? Maybe a privacy enthusiast, but a VR enthusiast would be more worried about the headset features and software selection.

I really think the “don’t buy it because Facebook” group is just a very small, highly vocal minority. I know a lot more hardcore/enthusiast gamers who own a Quest 2 than I do casual gamers - having standalone and PC-link modes makes it ideal for gaming enthusiasts.

 

[Dream-Knife]

You don’t think you’re spied on right now as well? You’re always tracked when you’re on the internet, FB account or not, or when you use your phone. It’s used for personalized ads and market statistics or just to get the user experience more seamless. I don’t see the big deal. Nobody is actually interested in if you’re watching VR porn or not. The tracking is there to help you find the next video easier or recommend even better ones or recommended games you like or find and connect to friends easier etc.

And if you want to take the foil hat route you can always disable video and app history and hide your online status and name, I’d say it’s easily on the same level or better than any other console regarding privacy options.

I think the issue is primarily having to create a FB account, and that account has to be tied to your actual name.

Believe it or not, some people do take their privacy seriously, regardless of whether you do or not.

I really think the “don’t buy it because Facebook” group is just a very small, highly vocal minority. I know a lot more hardcore/enthusiast gamers who own a Quest 2 than I do casual gamers - having standalone and PC-link modes makes it ideal for gaming enthusiasts.

PC link is irrelevant when an enthusiast owns an Index or Vive.

 

[Fredrik]

I think the issue is primarily having to create a FB account, and that account has to be tied to your actual name.

Isn’t that the case everywhere if you use credit card info to buy games? I think Microsoft, Apple, Google etc all know our name as well. And you can hide your name shown on the Quest and use an alias if that’s a problem. I just think it’s a strange thing to be concerned about in 2021, you have to go through an insane amount of hoops to be anonymous today.

 

[Tygeezy]

I think the issue is primarily having to create a FB account, and that account has to be tied to your actual name.

Believe it or not, some people do take their privacy seriously, regardless of whether you do or not.

PC link is irrelevant when an enthusiast owns an Index or Vive.

It’s not irrelevant if they want to play wirelessly with airlink.

 

[Alright]

I won't buy a headset made by, or tied to, a social media company. There are too many what if's that I shouldn't need to think about before buying, what is essentially, a console.

 

[Jaxcellent]

No one who's serious about VR is buying an Oculus now anyway with the forced FB integration. Quest is a casual headset that will be killed off whenever Nintendo decides to enter.

We already know when the Q2 will be killed, going by their own track record.. when Q3 launches.. a few more games will be made for Q2.. then they will shift development to Q3.. like the did with RE4 right now.

 

[Wonko_C]

According to Carmack, even the Rift S shouldn't have been released and jumped straight to standalone. But they didn't listen to him.

 

[ManaByte]

Quest 2 is the first step to a Ready Player One Oasis headset that everyone owns.

 

[pr0cs]

After using a CV1 for years I was pretty disappointed that Oculus was, what felt like, abandoning PCVR. After picking up a quest2 this week and using virtual desktop to stream my PCVR games and using Immersed to actually work wirelessly on a virtual massive screen I can admit that I was wrong.

Chasing mobile will put Oculus behind the high end PCVR race but only temporarily. It's clear that the hybrid concept they have offers the best of both worlds. I don't think it will limit uptake on the pc side of things yet still allows less tech saavy people use vr.

As far as Facebook is involved I honestly don't give two shits. At least they're dumping some of their infinite money into something I value and can help me get my job done more effectively instead of focusing purely on social media cancer that infects everything these days

 

[Gold_Loot]

I own a Rift S as well as a Quest 2. I’m not all that happy about the mandatory Facebook account shenanigans, however I’m very thankful that VR has such a big push through them.

In the end though, it doesn’t bother me. I have all my VR activity privatized regardless.

The Quest is basically a PC headset with the side bonus of mobile games built in. The updates have been stellar as well.

 

[Alexios]

If you want a premium native PC VR kit there's Index, if you want something more affordable then nothing beats Oculus price/performance/quality ratio whether you want it stand alone or for PC VR. At least when stock is available and the prices aren't inflated. Though it'd have been nice if they had a native PC connection rather than video streaming or whatever it's doing, it's said to be improved to the point it doesn't matter and had the side effect of all the wireless connectivity development (that beats buying a $300 kit for your Vive or whatever) from third parties and now Oculus itself so it's all good too. I'm still rocking the CV1 but if the market remains similar my next kit for a much needed resolution upgrade more than anything (playability wise CV1 with 3 trackers is still spot-on given newer controllers, from Oculus to HTC to Sony hold a similar design) will likely be a future iteration of the Quest. Eventually there will be more open alternatives like the Pico Neo 3 shows as it's basically an exact Quest 2 replica with the same snapdragon specs and everything. Maybe Oculus will lose market share then but it'll probably be a while until such alternatives aim for the worldwide consumer market and prove themselves in terms of software/tracking/overall quality (even HTC failed with their inside out tracking so far). It'd be cool if they become open platforms like Android vs iOS. I'm interested in seeing the Huawei kit's performance too, it has a PC version and a version for mobiles (idk why it can't be one and the same like Quest). But apparently they're also going for offering their own storefront as well, rather than only sell hardware and just port games to Google Play or whatever so they aren't working towards such an open platform future either. And of course Apple is said to soon be jumping in VR and eventually AR as well. I wonder a) how much their kit will sell and b) how much it will boost the sales of the likely much cheaper but still fancy and premium looking Quest by legitimizing the medium as a whole for the mainstream. Exciting.

 

[CS Lurker]

Yes.

 

[onnextflix5]

Facebook plz sell oculus to ms, as long as oculus is tied to Facebook, i want nothing to do with it thanks .

 

[FunkMiller]

Of course it was.

Wired VR is a dead end.

 

[nemiroff]

There are VR headsets for every possible wallet and application out there, and new ones keep being released (mine is the HP Reverb G2). So the Rift 2 was not essential for the market and will not really be missed.

 

[Tygeezy]

Facebook plz sell oculus to ms, as long as oculus is tied to Facebook, i want nothing to do with it thanks .

Why is Microsoft a better big corporation than Facebook?