Notch scraps Minecraft plans for Oculus Rift

Minecraft developer Notch has announced that his studio Mojang was in talks about "maybe" bringing the world-builder to Oculus Rift, but following this morning's deal, the idea's been scrapped.

[Eonjay]

Wow. This is moving fast. The next few hours are going to be interesting.

[Naga]

Like wildfire, man.

Why do I feel like it's just the gamers that are going to get burned?

[Eonjay]

Because in Zuckerberg's statement, he said "after games, we will focus on social...". They are a social media giant. After games is like 3 months max.

[nicksetzer1]

@eonjay The fact he said "after" is proof enough, that means he doesn't intend to keep gaming the focus very long.... sucks.
.
.
You would say "also" or "as well'?" If the intent were to continue on both fronts.

[abzdine]

PS4 VR confirmed then?
let's wait and see.

[PLASTICA-MAN]

Now that Oculus Rift is officially dead, all eyes are turned "IN" (not on lol) PS4 Morpheus.

[gaabrielz]

He posted this afterward : http://notch.net/2014/03/vi...

[rambi80]

+bub interesting

[3-4-5]

^ I'm glad he made that post. ( Notch)

[Mr Pumblechook]

Some people are vey angry about this. It's almost as if Oculus is the new Xbone.

[thejigisup]

No ,not at all. OR is definitely lower than that.

[nicksetzer1]

Notch saying this all but ensures a shaky future for oculus for gaming now ... damn.

[Volkama]

No it doesn't.

Notch is a significant figure in the development community and his words carry some weight, but his skepticism of Facebook doesn't ensure a shaky future for the Rift.

This Facebook acquisition proves that VR is bigger than gaming, the applications go way beyond that. But these other applications don't need to contradict the fact that VR is amazing for gaming.

The challenges of VR for the gamer and VR for the mainstream are not so far apart that we're going to end up with a device we can't use for a good first person shooter. You need great tracking, framerates and fidelity for a good virtual business meeting too right? Those social network butterflies aren't going to use the thing if it makes them feel sick.

VR just got some huge backing. If this ensures anything it is that VR does have a future. We're going to get a device offering the fidelity we need to immerse ourselves in a virtual world. Some of those worlds will have monsters in them.

[Zichu]

I can see it now... Social networking is going turn into Playstation Home, a whole virtual world...

[thejigisup]

I thought NASA being involved with Morpheus was Further evidence VR is bigger than gaming. FB is the wrong direction for VR right now. its bad news when "new", rather budding tech is in the hands of a money/power hungry company. I can only see this ending poorly by this console generations end and itsgonna be nasty. hopefully other devsand upcoming devsrealize what notch has. He invested 10k for this. What a slap in the face. Is that a company youd wantto work with or for? How about invest in?

[Volkama]

@Zichu without any doubt that will exist.

@TheJigIsUp This is absolutely a slap in the face to kickstarter backers, but I think that highlights a problem with Kickstarter. IMO your investment should be protected against this, and returning those investments should have to be part of the deal if the project is bought up.

But there is still a silver lining here. VR had challenges to overcome, and it now has the backing to do so. It was always destined to stretch beyond gaming, and imo gaming is still destined to flourish on VR. Facebook wont/can't stop that.

[Talidan]

You're right, this is a huge positive for VR, just not gaming VR with Oculus Rift. There's no longer any hope for Rift to be the future of gaming, because that is not Facebook's interest, but it will help ensure we will have a future with VR gaming, just found in another tech company.

[thejigisup]

@volkama It is not the fault of kickstarter. Silver lining my ass , its all brown to me and this deal stinks. instead of needing to protect investments why dont companies be honest and up front. The long term goalsare different , dont trust or like fb. VR would have gotten loose to run wild without fb. It just happens now with a strong push in thewrong direction . Andanother thing aboutreturn investments . We kickstarter dont invest money so the company we put our faith in can use that to sell out. FB wasnt part of the plan, i dont invest infb. But like many i feel i was tricked into doing so. The little guy was stepped on again to make someone else a ton of money. For many kickstarter is a way to share a vision or dream and to make it a reality by contributing time or money. thanks for the "financial backing" fb. You bought something that had a bright future and you turned it to crap. And y'all over at OR hope you like watching your beautiful concept go from hanna montana to miley cyrus faster than you can say zuckerberg. Thanks for fuelling fb.

[BattleTorn]

To quote Kotaku on this topic "And the fallout begins."

[rambi80]

Fallout 4 for OR! WOW!!!

[BattleTorn]

For anyone wondering why this acquisition may be bad for gamers, this is why..

Facebook has tons of revenue. (mostly from advertising) And in attempt to avoid paying boat loads in taxes, they try to hide their profits by acquiring R&D projects, that current don't have revenue, or are revenue negative. Basically like balancing a spread sheet, the way I see it.

So, as far as Facebook is concerned, their "goal" at hand is accomplished the moment Oculus is bought. It's essentially fulfilled it's purpose by merely being on their portfolio.
This does not incentivize FB to further the project. In fact, they likely more prone to delay the development of OR to prolong the balancing of their portfolio as I mentioned.

I could be wrong, cause this is complete conjecture after all.

Either way, OR in the hands of FB won't be nearly as incentivized as say in the hands of the people with negative revenue to account for.

[Brazz]

it's good to see that there is people here that can see the whole picture. Bravo,bubble for you.

[Volkama]

I don't doubt that Facebook will make moves to manipulate the books, but $2billion is a big investment to sit on.

Some of their investments have to be genuine, as a business they have to look at how to establish themselves in our future. VR has so much potential to become prominent in our day to day lives. I think this investment is genuine, I think they just laid claim to the future.

I'm not sure I want Facebook controlling that future, I share the same concerns as everybody else about how they will monetise and exploit it. But I think this deal will establish VR in our lives so it isn't all bad news.

[Brazz]

The announce a purchase of 2 billion is different from paying 2 billion ...

This is just an idea, an evil idea that has no basis or evidence, but it would be a very good thing for Mr.Facebook if the "real value of purchase" was something like 1 billion, but the record books would mark 2 billion...

[thejigisup]

There is truth inyour words, balancing that portfolio, though i feel like thats just one aspect. 1.6bn was stock sooo marky mark didnt lose anything. 400 mill is a flash in the pan for what he stands to earn.

[Codewow]

Facebook was blowing up on notch yesterday when this was announced. But I happen to agree with what notch did. I would have done the same. Time to work with a competitor.

[xfear2diex]

better go with sony at least they will care for a longer time if it had a good sales

[jairusmonillas]

Well it's better than it being discontinued due to lack of fund or something. Glad we still have Sony's VR for gaming.

[isa_scout]

I expect more of this will happen as the news spreads to other developers. Facebook developing quality games for the Oculus is laughable at best. Better to just hold out for Sony and MS to create a quality VR headset solely dedicated to games.

[beebap]

I would pull out too but think about the developers who have made games for Oculus I can see less sales which will maybe put some off making any vr games on any system. Vr had real good momentum going forward now with facebook involved it slow it down maybe even put people off altogether hope sony start pumping out good news on their headset.It has to be focused on games for now that is the main reason for people to invest in the technology and they get other uses later but facebook is clouding the focus. Social connectively is not going to work and will put people off at start it about imersion experiences.

[GentlemenRUs]

Look what you did Facebook, You ruined yet another great invention!

Though I think it's mostly down to the OR team for not saying NO.

[Belasco]

What the hell else can you do with the Oculus besides gaming? I hardly even visit my FB account anymore, and have considered deleting it.

[GentlemenRUs]

I deleted mine once, Though I had to come back as I wasn't able to upload the videos from my PS4 anywhere else...

That will all change in the next firmware update!

[mhunterjr]

Something about notch rubs me the wrong way. Stop working to add a feature that fans want out of spite for the peripherals parent company... How about see exactly how things shake out.

[Belasco]

It's the hat, along with an aura of sheer arrogance that stems from a vastly overrated game. Plus, how long does this guy get a pass on skating on the success of one game? He and Zuckerberg should get married and hang themselves.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

He explained why perfectly. We don't have to wait to find out what happens next because it is predictable.

Oculus VR will turn from a gaming revolution into a social device bent on sure addiction from the casual.

[mhunterjr]

Why can't it be both? Does expanding its use to social applications automatically remove it's viability as a gaming device? Isn't multiplayer gaming an addictive social activity? Why does everyone have these mutually exclusive attitudes around here?

[Azurite]

https://share.oculusvr.com/...

[ifistbrowni]

VR Minecraft? Why in the world.... I know i wouldn't play it.

Though, the news about Facebook acquiring Oculus... How terrible. Candy Crush VR anybody?

[Ripsta7th]

And down goes the Titanic funded oculus rift, I see developers moving away from it very soon