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Oculus Rift sales will start off slow, says Facebook CEO

During Facebook's Q3 2015 earnings call, as reported by Road to VR, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained that VR, seen as the "next big thing" by many, isn't going to become an overnight sensation.

Chris Kerr, News Editor

November 6, 2015

1 Min Read
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During Facebook's Q3 2015 earnings call, as reported by Road to VR, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained that VR, seen as the "next big thing" by many, isn't going to become an overnight sensation.

With the Oculus Rift set to launch early next year, Zuckerberg has tempered expectations, suggesting that it could take some time for the tech to reach its potential. 

"So we’ve said often that we think that virtual reality and augmented reality could be the next big computing platform," said Zuckerberg.

"Virtual reality has the potential to be the next computing platform that changes all our lives, [but] it’s important to also recognize that this will grow slowly."

Comparing the headset to the very first smartphones, Zuckerberg explained that he wouldn't be surprised, or disappointed, if Oculus Rift sales figures only numbered in the hundreds of thousands next year. 

"Just to put that in perspective and compare it to the development of previous computing platforms, like phones and computers, I think the first smartphones came out in 2003," added the Facebook CEO. 

"In the first year I think BlackBerry and Palm Treo were the initial smartphones that came out. I think they each sold in the hundreds of thousands of units.

"So, just to kind of give a sense of the time frame that we’re thinking about this and how we expect this to develop, that’s how we’re thinking about that."

 

About the Author

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

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