It would appear trouble is brewing in the VR landscape. Brendan Iribe, the co-founder of Oculus and former CEO of the company, is leaving Facebook. This is primarily because of an alleged cancellation of the Oculus Rift 2 VR headset. Those rumors are discredited by other staffers who claim the company is working on a new “Rift” project.
The Future of Oculus Rift VR Headsets
It is evident the Oculus Rift VR headset has never been the success the company’s initial founders hoped it would turn out to be. A high price tag and a genuine lack of interest in VR have made this unit unappealing since its launch. Even though there are rumors regarding an Oculus Rift 2 being developed, that is not necessarily happening anytime soon.
According to former CEO Brand Iribe, the plans for the Rift 2 are canceled completely. This is the main reason why he is leaving Facebook, the current owner of the Oculus franchise. Iribe wants to take a much-needed break from work and recharge his batteries.
Several internal changes have affected Oculus in recent weeks. The Rift 2 cancellation is a pretty big problem, although that has still not been officially confirmed by Facebook itself. The company’s announcement of the Quest VR headset seems to confirm as much, as the Rift simply is an unfavorable brand first and foremost.
It did not take long for Facebook to comment on Iribe’s departure. According to a spokesperson, the team is still working on a “future version of the Rift VR headset”. That can mean a lot of different things, albeit speculating serves no real purpose. It is not the first time an initial founder of a company acquired by Facebook departs the company. Iribe follows the likes of Palmer Luckey, Jan Koum, and Kevin Systrom, among others.
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