In an era where mergers and mega-corporate are almost daily, Facebook makes another statement. After spending billions on getting the What’s App, they made another mega purchase.
Facebook is in the process of buying Oculus VR? for approximately two billion dollars. Oculus is a premier virtual reality company. Some say it leads the world in virtual reality, the kind where you put a headset over your eyes and are transported to another world. Why would Facebook do this? Facebook CEO Zuckerberg believes virtual reality, not just gaming, is the wave of the future. He doesn’t seem to be worried about competition from Microsoft or anyone else, it’s been rumored they’re working on a virtual reality project. Some worry this merger will compromise Oculus’s creative integrity. Facebook assures that won’t happen.
I hope so. I will give Facebook credit: during their previous purchases, they’ve let the smaller companies run as the small companies see fit. It sounds like Oculus will get the same freedom. But is virtual reality the wave of the future? I’m having a tough time seeing it happen. Then again, 20 years ago, I had a tough time seeing a cell phone in every hand. Ten years ago, I thought everyone would still be listening to CDs. Five years ago, I didn’t think I would have You Tube or Facebook on my iPod Touch. So who am I to say virtual reality won’t be the? wave of the future? Will this help?