Facebook adds ads to the Oculus Quest, revealing today that it tests headset ads in several virtual reality titles. This is an announcement predicted by many days it will occur, after Facebook acquired Oculus in early 2014, although until now the giant social network seems to be satisfied to leave his promotional campaign to the smartphone and desktop interface.
There is no good thing going on forever, and of course your next VR experience may have some ads in it. Ads will not, at least, become a vocal popup that blurs that interfere with your game or experience.
Instead, they will be integrated into the virtual reality scene, at least go with Facebook mockup. Think along the advertising board line that matches the VR world, but what you can click to view video content or save a link later.
Facebook’s argument is that advertising is a crime needed, given the need to monetize the VR experience. “Our main focus on Facebook Really Labs (FRL) is to bring more people to VR, advance consumer experience, and make progress on our long-term augmented reality initiative,” said the company today.
“We also explore new ways for developers to generate income – this is an important part of ensuring that we create a Mandiri platform that can support various business models that open new types and audience types. It also helps us continue to make Ar / VR hardware Innovative is more accessible to more people. “
Initially, Facebook tested the advertising system with Blaston from the resolution game, along with several other developers with the title which continued over the coming weeks. This will watch the results, and base the next step about feedback from the developer and the user. In time, too, there will be a guide for companies that want to advertise in VR too.
Users will be able to hide certain ads, or complete black list developers, Facebook said. There will also be more detailed advertising preferences, can be accessed from “Why do I see ads?” Options that can be called in the VR scene. As for data shared with Facebook as a result, it will track whether you interact with advertisements – whether to get more information, or to hide it – but “beyond that,” Facebook insisted, “this test does not change. How your oculus data is processed or How information informs the ad. “
Similarly, advertisers will not get access to raw search sensor data or hand tracking data, which are stored on-headset and not shared with Facebook itself. Weight, height, and gender information in oculus steps are also stored on the device and are not distributed. Facebook has “no plans to use movement data to target ads,” said the company, and no messenger, party, chat, or voice interaction also used.
VR monetization, arguably, is unavoidable. Just like smartphone software has split between paid titles and ad-supported applications, as well as VRs and mixed reality software tend to do the same with the growing market. However, whether Oculus users will respond well, it still has to be seen.
