The Smoking Gun?

As the controversy that is #GamerGate rolls on, this is the latest bombshell to be dropped.  Essentially, there is evidence of collusion between a number of journalists to not only paint the GamerGate scandal in a specific light but to paint Gamers in a negative light as well.  If you have not yet researched GamerGate, I would recommend starting with a number of YouTube videos from InternetAristocrat.

Facebook buying Oculus VR is not the end of the Rift

I have to admit, my first reaction was one of sinking dread.  Like hearing a great show got canceled by a network that never gave it a chance (Pushing Up Daisies anyone?).  How could this possibly be anything but a give-up by Oculus VR in the face of Sony developing better technology.

Well, here is why I think this is may not be a bad move.

Not the Oculus Rift

First, there will always be a bigger fish.  This is the modern tech world.  There are no small players anymore.  Like the maturation of any industry, any good idea is going to be absorbed by a big fish.  This is an inevitability.  This isn't a guarantee that the Oculus is great tech by itself but I've seen first hand that it is really good tech.  Facebook is making an investment in the future, an investment in technology that works.

Second, the Rift is no longer a unique technology.  Sony is working on their own VR and Mircrosoft probably is as well.  And with Microsoft's newly found belief in the PC as a gaming platform (we'll see MS, we'll see) Oculus was in danger of being passed by the faster and better behemoths of the world.  The influx of money and people that Facebook should bring may be the only thing that drives the Rift to keep pace.

Probably not the Oculus Rift

Finally, Oculus VR has been innovating the Rift publicly longer than anyone.  The benefit of this can not be overstated.  The changes they've made are not only single handedly moving VR forward, they are currently ahead of the game in some respects.  Believe me, I do not trust Facebook with this technology but they have a chance here to be the nameplate on some of the most innovative technology to be unleashed onto the public in years.

So, as with any major business partnership, let's all just take a deep breath and see what happens before we start getting out the pitchforks.