In a move that has already received backlash on Social Media, Oculus announced yesterday that from October 2020, all users will be required to have a Facebook account in order to continue to log in and use their VR devices:
The Statement on the official Oculus Website explains further:
After January 1, 2023, we will end support for Oculus accounts. If you choose not to merge your accounts at that time, you can continue using your device, but full functionality will require a Facebook account. We will take steps to allow you to keep using content you have purchased, though we expect some games and apps may no longer work. This could be because they include features that require a Facebook account or because a developer has chosen to no longer support the app or game you purchased. All future unreleased Oculus devices will require a Facebook account, even if you already have an Oculus account.
Giving people a single way to log into Oculus—using their Facebook account and password— will make it easier to find, connect, and play with friends in VR. We know that social VR has so much more to offer, and this change will make it possible to integrate many of the features people know and love on Facebook. 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. We’re also making it easier to share across our platforms if you’d like. For example, people already have the option to livestream or share their VR experience on Facebook, and soon you’ll be able to use your VR avatar on other Facebook apps and technologies.
Currently there are major privacy concerns amongst tech users towards Facebook, just recently Microsoft themselves closed their own streaming platform MIXER and announced a partnership with Facebook Gaming which did not go down well with its user base. Oculus did explain that additional privacy options will be available such as hiding your Facebook ID from other users but the concern is very palpable on social media since this was announced yesterday.
Full support for current Oculus accounts will continue until 2023 but they are letting people know and beginning the process early as of October 2020 this year. Time will tell if this reaction will impact Oculus plans.
