Facebook might not be a name that is synonymous with gaming just yet, but the company is reportedly going to be taking steps to fix that in the near future. Sources inside the company recently talked to The Information about the firm’s future plans for Oculus VR. Those plans could make Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell fans very happy. It could also make those fanbases quite unhappy, depending on how things turn out.
After a push by Mark Zuckerberg himself, Facebook recently acquired exclusive licenses to brand new Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell games that will be VR only. The obvious rationale behind these moves is making the headset really take off in popularity.
By acquiring the licenses for very popular game franchises, Zuckerberg is hoping that Oculus VR can be a real player in the industry. The fact of the matter is that the social media giant’s push into video games so far is at best, on par with the PlayStation VR system. The argument can be made that it’s taken a back seat to its competitor simply because it’s easier to play well-known games on Sony’s platform.
The push into more well-known titles on the Oculus VR also shows Facebook truly appears to be dedicated to making the platform a titan of the industry. While the popularity hasn’t been there yet, it’s hard to claim Zuckerberg and company aren’t giving it a real go.
Marvel Powers United is another Oculus Rift exclusive looking to capture gamers using popular characters and stories. The company also continues to work on improving the hardware. A recent job listing pointed to eye-tracking that could be included in whatever is coming after the Rift.
The tightrope that is being walked here comes back to the collective fanbases of the two franchises. If whatever lands on Oculus VR is a very good and fully formed Assassin’s Creed game, it could be a big step forward. On the other hand, if the upcoming Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell feels hollow and unfinished (a complaint that follows a good amount of virtual reality games), then it could be a body blow to Facebook’s gaming platform.
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