Oculus makes it mandatory for all of its VR headset users to sign up or link their existing account with a Facebook account. Oculus will completely end support for Oculus accounts after January 1, 2023, if you choose not to merge your accounts at that time, you can continue using your device, but it will require a Facebook account to work fully functional.
After the end of this year, you will need to sign up for an Oculus account with Facebook credentials. Just keep in mind you can use the Oculus VR headset normally until January 2023, after that Oculus officially support will end.
Some old headsets using non-linked accounts will still work, but some games and apps may no longer be functional. This could be because they include features that require a Facebook account or because a developer has chosen to no longer support the app or game you purchased. All future unreleased Oculus devices will require a Facebook account, even if you already have an Oculus account.
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Check 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.
When you log in to Oculus accounts with a Facebook account, you can still create or maintain a unique VR profile. And if you don’t want your Oculus friends to find you by your Facebook name, they won’t—just make it visible to ‘Only Me’ in your Oculus settings.
You can also choose what information about the VR activity you post to your Facebook profile or timeline, either by giving permission to post or by updating your settings. And we plan to introduce the ability for multiple users to log into the same device using their own Facebook account, so people can easily share their headset with friends or family while keeping their information separate.
Here are some important updates from Oculus to how people log into Oculus devices, while still keeping their VR profile.
What changes are coming to accounts on Oculus?
Starting in October 2020:
- Everyone using an Oculus device for the first time will need to log in with a Facebook account.
- If you are an existing user and already have an Oculus account, you will have the option to log in with Facebook and merge your Oculus and Facebook accounts.
- If you are an existing user and choose not to merge your accounts, you can continue using your Oculus account for two years.
Starting In January 2023:
- We will end support for Oculus accounts.
- If you choose not to merge your accounts at that time, you can continue using your device, but full functionality will require a Facebook account.
- We will take steps to allow you to keep using the content you have purchased, though some games and apps may no longer work. This could be because they require a Facebook account or because a developer has chosen to no longer support the app or game you purchased.
All future unreleased Oculus devices will require a Facebook account, even if you already have an Oculus account.
Why are you making these changes to accounts on Oculus?
Oculus is owned by Facebook and is one of Facebook’s apps and technologies. Using a Facebook account provides a single way to log into Oculus devices and makes it easier to find, connect, and play with friends in VR. It also enables Facebook-powered social experiences, like live-streaming gameplay to your Facebook timeline, making calls with parties, joining events, and exploring new experiences like Facebook Horizon. And as Facebook adds new privacy and safety tools, they can be added in VR too.
What social features does Facebook provide in VR?
Some examples of social features that Facebook provides on Oculus include:
- Chats — Chat with friends in or out of the headset, and quickly hop into games together
- User and developer-created events — Organize tournaments or multiplayer games with friends
- Livestreaming — Share gameplay to your Facebook timeline from VR
- Sharing to Groups — Post to VR-related Facebook Groups under your VR username
- Parties — Create open parties to meet up with friends in-VR
Can I still have a profile for VR experiences that is different from my Facebook profile?
Yes. If you already have a unique username from your Oculus account, you will be able to continue using that username in VR. If you don’t have a VR username, you’ll be able to create one when you set up your profile for VR.
Will my VR activity be posted to Facebook without my permission?
No. If you log into your Oculus device with your Facebook account, you can choose what information about the VR activity you post to your Facebook profile or timeline, either by giving permission to post or by updating your settings. If you are an existing user and you choose not to merge your Oculus account and Facebook account, you will not have access to Facebook-powered social features and you will not be able to post your VR activity to your Facebook profile or timeline.
What happens to my data when I log into an Oculus device with my Facebook account?
When you log into your Oculus device with your Facebook account or merge your Oculus and Facebook accounts, we will use information related to your use of Oculus and Facebook for purposes such as:
- Providing and improving your experience across Facebook products
- Promoting safety and integrity on our services
- Showing you personalized content, including ads, across Facebook products. This could include recommendations for Oculus Events you might like, ads about Facebook apps and technologies, or ads from developers for their VR apps.
Examples of the information we use include:
- The VR apps you use, so we can recommend new apps you haven’t tried yet
- Your Facebook friend list, to make it easier to find and interact with your Facebook friends who are also in VR
- Invites and acceptances for events you create
- Information like your name and messaging metadata for chats in VR, so that you have access to your chats across devices
- Your photos and related content like captions likes and comments if you share photos from VR to Facebook
- Information about your VR activity, like which apps you use, to show you ads for other VR apps you may like
- Information about your activity on other Facebook products, such as Pages you like and groups you join, to recommend content and things to do in VR.
Will a Facebook account be required to use future Oculus devices?
- Yes. Future Oculus devices will require a Facebook account.
Do the account changes for Oculus coming this October apply to all countries?
- Yes, the Oculus account changes are applicable to all countries where Oculus devices have been sold.
Source: Oculus
We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article at no cost to you, though all opinions are our own. For more information, please read our ethics statement. Please note that pricing and availability are subject to change.
