Only recently did Facebook hold it’s annual Oculus event where the VR company showed off its latest developments, as well as their plans for a new standalone headset which would sit directly in between the Gear VR and the Oculus Rift and plans for a new social experience that would allow users to interact with friends through the social network directly from the headset.
With the use of websites becoming less and less frequent and users opting to use the mobile app equivalent, it’s inevitable that once VR headsets become mainstream, users will once again switch platforms in the hope of socializing directly from their headset, without the need to pick up any extra devices, which is part of the reason Facebook is investing so heavily into VR at the moment. Now, obviously, there is still a long wait before VR becomes a platform that can easily compete with mobile or desktops in terms of an active user base, but Facebook already has a number of prototypes for its virtual reality experience which, going by what has been shown off before, should allow users to view photospheres, take virtual selfies, receive messenger video calls and customize their own virtual avatars. The aim of the social media giant is to basically be prepared and have its VR experience available and working as soon as possible in a bid to stay relevant, make sure it gets it right before any of its competitors do and get some important feedback from early VR adopters in order for the experience to be as ready as possible for when the platform goes mainstream.
With the company hoping to make the new version of its platform available as soon as possible, it’s likely that the social giant will show off more at next year’s F8 conference, where the company will likely announce a number of new features and improvements to the social network, along with other VR-related announcements. Another possible announcement by the company could be a VR version of Instagram which may excite many of its users due to the fact that it could lead to photosphere integration, the first move away from the tradition photo format and shape.