The founder of Oculus Rift, Palmer Luckey, says that adult-oriented entertainment and games will not be prohibited on the new platform when it releases, probably in 2016.
Responding to a question at the Silicon Valley Virtual Reality Conference, Luckey stated that “the Rift is an open platform. We don’t control what software can run on it … and that’s a big deal.”
With the game-changing visual experience that VR promises, talk has begun to focus on what kinds of new experiences it might be able to offer. Some see adult games and entertainment as the kind of content that seems ideal for its “immersive” potential.
Oculus Rift is owned by Facebook, and is among the most-anticipated tech devices in development. Its released has not been set, but analysts predict an early 2016 launch at the earliest.
Other VR companies, such as Samsung, have been less forthcoming about what their stance is on “adult” themes on their devices. The Gear VR is among the closest units to come to market, with a scheduled launch at the end of the summer at Best Buy. Samsung has focused on bringing third-party support for its device.