Recently Oculus VR raised $75 million from a clutch of investors led by Andreessen Horowitz, to build an all-new virtual reality headset that is aimed to be better than the Oculus Rift. However, Oculus VR has bigger plans, announing that it has set up a new publishing arm that will convince developers to create new games that will take advantage of what its virtual reality headset is capable of doing.
Heading the new initiative is former Senior Vice President at Electronic Arts, David DeMartini. "I'm figuring out how to partner effectively with big developers, small developers, all the way down to the individual who just wants to make something great for the Rift," DeMartini told Gamasutra. DeMartii won't be focusing only on game developers, but also on other cool aspects that could really make Oculus VR's virtual reality headset a thing of the future. "There are other cool things besides games that you can do with the platform: IMAX movies, live concerts, educational programs, that kind of thing," he said.
It is clear that Oculus VR has a long way to go if the company wants to keep its lead ahead of the likes of Sony and Microsoft who are also planning similar products for the future. Sony's own VR headset is slated to work with the PlayStation 4, while Microsoft's device is aimed at both Windows and the Xbox One.
Nevertheless, each of these companies will have the huge task cut out of convincing gamers and entertainment nuts alike that these virtual reality devices are capable of doing what they are designed to do. This isn't the first time we came across virtual reality devices, but it is the first time we have the feeling it could really work.
Currently only a small number of game developers have pledged their support for Oculus VR's virtual reality headset. One such developer is EVE Online creator CCP. The new game is called EVE Valkyrie, and it is basically a multiplayer dogfight space game. It was originally designed as a project to explore what the Oculus Rift is capable of, but later turned into a full fledged video game.
