Oculus VR in-game ads backlash may cause developers to rethink their plans

Oculus Quest 2
(Image credit: Oculus)

Facebook, owners of the Oculus VR platform and Oculus Quest 2 hardware, has a community of angry virtual reality fans on its hands. It’s facing a backlash against its plans to introduce advertising into its virtual reality titles, and vocal fans are already leading one developer to adjust its plans.

The injection of advertising into games (presented so far relatively discreetly, like the touchline banner adverts you’d see on a football pitch), was pitched to fans as a good thing, with Facebook stating its intention is to give its developers more opportunities to generate revenue. But the feedback to Resolution Games’ plans to test adverts in its Blaston game has been resoundingly negative, with the game being ‘review bombed’ by users (bombarding the user score area with bad reviews focussed on the advertising issue).

As a result, Resolution Games is now backtracking on its plans.

“After listening to player feedback, we realize that Blaston isn’t the best fit for this type of advertising test,” the developer said in a statement. "Therefore, we no longer plan to implement the test." However, Resolution Games will continue the testing in one of its other titles, the free-to-play Bait!

The monetization of the VR oasis

For many VR fans, the promise of virtual reality has always been as a digital escape from the norms of the real world – a perhaps naively utopian vision of a space where real world rules don’t have to apply – right to the capitalistic standards of omnipresent advertising.

But Oculus owner Facebook has built its empire around advertising and so this feels like an inevitability. It also goes some way to explaining why Facebook has mandated that a Facebook account has to be tied to the Oculus Quest headsets – not only to improve social communication among friends, but also to tap into the wealth of user data it can use to target advertising with.

Still, perhaps there’s good to come of it all – Resolution Games’ decision to stick with advertising in only its free to play title is a positive one. We get free games, they get some extra cash to make new ones. But here’s hoping that doesn’t become the direction VR titles lean towards – you only have to look at the race-to-the-bottom quality of mobile free-to-play titles to see where that approach can lead you.

Gerald Lynch

Gerald is Editor-in-Chief of iMore.com. Previously he was the Executive Editor for TechRadar, taking care of the site's home cinema, gaming, smart home, entertainment and audio output. He loves gaming, but don't expect him to play with you unless your console is hooked up to a 4K HDR screen and a 7.1 surround system. Before TechRadar, Gerald was Editor of Gizmodo UK. He is also the author of 'Get Technology: Upgrade Your Future', published by Aurum Press.

Read more
Does anyone care about VR anymore? It still doesn't have that "killer" app
Hamish hector drawing a bow in VR while wearing the Meta Quest 3S.
Meta's Horizon app was the no. 1 iPhone app on Christmas Day – and I'm not surprised. Here's why
Roku TV on wall in living room setting
Roku fans are furious with a new ad shown before you even see the home screen – it's a test for now, but it's not a good sign of things to come
A man wearing old red-blue paper 3D glasses on a color-split countryside background.
Acer is still pushing its glasses-free 3D display tech, but I’m not convinced – and I doubt I ever will be
The Meta Quest 3 and controllers on their charging station which is itself on a wooden desk next to a lamp
Meta announces major Quest 3 home theater update – but I want to know when it'll make it easier to watch 3D films in VR
Girl wearing Meta Quest 3 headset interacting with a jungle playset
Latest Meta Quest 3 software beta teases a major design overhaul and VR screen sharing – and I need these updates now
Latest in Virtual Reality Gaming
Hitman's Agent 47 strangling someone while dressed as a sailor
‘Never say never’ – we ask Hitman developer if Project 007 is coming to VR, and learn how Hitman VR was fixed for PSVR 2
Agent 47 holding up duel pistols with a PSVR 2 headset outline over his head
I can’t believe it either, Hitman on PSVR 2 is actually, finally a great VR port of the World of Assassination trilogy – and my new favorite way to play the series
Meta Quest 3 in white with Batman: Arkham Shadow bundle on red background with don't miss text
Get a $50 gift card with this Meta Quest 3 + Batman Arkham Shadow bundle at Best Buy
A Dragonborn warrior, Tiefling rogue and Halfling mage preparing for battle next to a sign saying "Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked"
First Dungeons & Dragons VR trailer teases a beginner-friendly tabletop game – but I’m just begging for a custom game mode
Meta Quest 3S with Batman: Arkham Shadow banner behind it and red background with black TechRadar lowest price sign
Save $50 on the Meta Quest 3S with a free copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow
Aliens crawl out of the dark to attack Zula
Alien: Rogue Incursion review: superb survival horror with monsters I wish were more terrifying
Latest in News
Xbox Series X and Xbox wireless controller set to a green background
Xbox Insiders are currently testing a new Game Hub feature that looks useful, but I've got mixed feelings about it
A stylized depiction of a padlocked WiFi symbol sitting in the centre of an interlocking vault.
Broadcom warns of worrying security flaws affecting VMware tools
Microsoft Surface Laptop and Surface Pro devices on a table.
Hate Windows 11’s search? Microsoft is fixing it with AI, and that almost makes me want to buy a Copilot+ PC
Oura Ring 4
Activity tracking on Oura Ring is about to get a whole lot better, but I've got bad news about your step count
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Cleaned your Pixel Buds Pro 2 recently? If not, you might be getting worse sound
Google Maps on a phone being held in someone's hand
Google Maps is getting two key upgrades, for easier route planning and quicker access to Gemini AI