In what is turning out as a year if massive acquisition at camp Facebook, the social media giant now plans to purchase Oculus VR, maker of the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, for $2 billion. Oculus will get $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook stock. The purchase was announced via a blog post.
For those wondering why Facebook had to make such a purchase, not only do they have the money nor do they want to make virtual reality gaming social, but according to the company CEO Mark Zuckerberg in his blog says
“Oculus’s mission is to enable you to experience the impossible. Their technology opens up the possibility of completely new kinds of experiences, Immersive gaming will be the first, and Oculus already has big plans here that won’t be changing and we hope to accelerate.”
he goes on further to say that Facebook will “focus on helping Oculus build out their product and develop partnerships to support more games.” But he makes clear that after Oculus sees through its gaming ambitions, Facebook will expand the product into new territory.
“We’re going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences. Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face — just by putting on goggles in your home.”
Zuckerberg compares Oculus to “a new communication platform” and also has a vision that extends far beyond the gaming focus that helped Oculus become a smash Kickstarter success.
He ponders on where the technology will go in the future and he says
“By feeling truly present, you can share unbounded spaces and experiences with the people in your life. Imagine sharing not just moments with your friends online, but entire experiences and adventures.”
Its clear that the Facebook CEO wants to bring the future closer that we think and he “can’t wait to start working with the whole team at Oculus to bring this future to the world, and to unlock new worlds for all of us.”
