Today. Oculus announced that they are phasing out out their Oculus accounts and will be replacing them with Facebook account logins starting in October of this year for new accounts. In October, everyone that logs into Oculus for the first time will need to do so with their Facebook account.
Existing Oculus account owners have a bit more time to make the switch. Support for all accounts will cease after Jan. 1, 2023. At that point, you’ll be able to use your Oculus device still, but with limited functionality and features until you merge your account into a Facebook account.
Here’s the run down of everyone’s options via Oculus:
- 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.
People love change, and being forced to do things that they may not want to do like open up a Facebook account. So I’m sure this won’t go over like a lead balloon and that the transition will be super smooth for both Oculus, their customers, and Facebook.
My cynicism aside, here are some snippets of Oculus’ justifications for the change:
- 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.
Regardless of whether you hate this, or it’s not a big deal at all to you, it’s coming starting with new owners in October and everyone else in 2023.
You can read the full official breakdown right here if you’re interested.
