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Oculus’ Gaming Showcase Is Here but What Can We Expect in the Future?

On May 13, 2021, by Chris Mawson

If it seems as if gaming showcases are becoming the norm, it’s because they are on the verge of becoming the norm! Every major gaming brand in the industry wants to strut its stuff on the big stage, and Oculus is no exception with its first showcase.

However, there is always more on the line when an innovative hardware and software developer decides to give its audience an insight into its strategy. Therefore, it’s essential to analyse what happened at the event and what we can expect from Oculus in the future.

Big Name Title Announcements  

Although nothing was confirmed on the gaming front before the showcase, we did know that it was Oculus’ first showcase, and the brand would want it to be a big deal. It might have been a little secretive, due to a mix of cutting-edge technology and a sprinkle of paranoia, but it was obvious game titles would be dropped since quite a few developers were happy to admit they were going to “showcase” upgrades.

Thankfully, Oculus didn’t disappoint as it was revealed that all-new games like Pistol Whip: Smoke and Thunder will be available in the future, along with new episodes of Star Wars’ Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge. There were also updates on the likes of Lone Echo II and After the Fall, which will really get the fans going! Sadly, speculation from industry insiders that updates for Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell are on the horizon was not confirmed at the event.

Still, the news that there is a multiplayer upgrade for Warhammer and a follow up to James Bond-inspired release, “I Expect You To Die”, gamers shouldn’t be too disappointed. Of course, let’s not forget about Resident Evil 4 VR, either, where the thrills and spills will be even more life-like!

A Response to Mobile Market Leaders  

Occasions such as showcases on home turf are perfect places to highlight a strategy that aims to put Oculus at the top of the sector. While VR is going to play a significant role in the future of the industry, there are a few pitfalls, such as how they make it mobile-compatible. The mobile market is quickly transforming into the largest in the world, with the likes of Microsoft finally acquiescing and bringing out a cloud-based app that lets gamers play on their smartphones and tablets.

It’s an essential move because gaming developers are in danger of being left behind by the likes of online casinos. For example, remote wagering has gross gambling yields of £5.5 billion, making it the UK’s biggest gambling sector. The likes of Oculus will be even more concerned about the impact the growth is having on games that were once stagnant but are now thriving, such as bingo. Bingo contributes over £900 million in GGY, meaning it’s another rival video game that brands will have to take on. The number of bingo promotions now available to users proves this beyond any doubt because the ability to provide value in the form of cashback and free spins highlights the wealth of the game since the beginning of 2010.

There is a lane for Oculus to develop a mobile-compatible that would position it as a market leader in the mobile sector since Google has all but given up on Daydream View. Therefore, revitalising the Gear VR headset would have been a little out of leftfield, but it also would have made a lot of sense when you look at the bigger picture.  It didn’t happen at this showcase, yet you’d imagine it will have to be on the agenda to stop the VR industry butting heads with the mobile sector and losing out big time.

Whichever way you look at it, the consensus is that Oculus pulled it out of the bag by focusing on an age-old tactic – giving the people what they want.