While there is huge buzz surrounding the development of the Oculus Rift, there is another big name in the gaming industry that doesn’t share the public’s same level of enthusiasm for the project.
Strauss Zelnick is CEO of Take Two (of GTA fame) and makes no bones about the changing nature of how gamers will experience their content differently via the Oculus headset. Not only does he feel it’s not suited for all occasions, he goes so far as to call it “anti-social.” In a recent interview, Zelnick said, “I think for a core gamer, it could be a wonderful experience; someone who really likes to be immersed. But a lot of people who play video games, for example my kids, they play with their friends sitting next to them, so that technology is not going to appeal to them…It is an anti-social technology.”
The Oculus Rift and Take Two run parallel in one aspect: they have both enjoyed huge success over the last year. GTA V broke records and garnered BIG revenue the first month it was released, while the Oculus Rift’s buyout by social media giant Facebook pulled in a hefty $2 billion dollars.
While Zelnick might not be sold on its merits just yet, he’s still a business man. He understands that if the demand for technology like this is strong, they would be foolish not to incorporate it into future titles. “…we will support it to the extent it’s brought to market and it works for our games.” touts Zelnick “It is apparently great. Our people who have tried it, love it. I have not actually tried Oculus Rift. Everyone says it’s great.”