“Two people familiar with the matter” claim Facebook has begun signing exclusive deals with major properties.
According to reports by The Information, “two people familiar with the matter” claim that Facebook has already signed a deal with game publisher Ubisoft to bring VR versions of Assassins Creed and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, arguably two of the companies most recognizable franchises, exclusively to Oculus headsets.
According to these sources, the acquisitions are just the first in a series of upcoming purchases that will see Facebook signing exclusive deals with major properties in the hopes of enticing new users to VR. The push is being led by Jason Rubin, the vice president of special gaming initiatives and co-founder of Naughty Dog, although reports claim Zuckerberg is directly involved as well; to what extent we currently do not know.
“The response to Oculus Quest and Rift S gaming has been incredible,” an Oculus spokesperson told The Information. “We cannot comment on specific partnerships, but we will continue to focus on expanding our library and reaching broader gaming audiences for years to come.”
Assassins Creed has seen several VR adaptations over the years, including Escape the Lost Pyramid, a multiplayer VR escape room set within the Assassins Creed universe. There’s also Assassins Creed: Temple of Anubis, a location-based VR maze experience that pits players against waves of enemy archers as they attempt to navigate an ancient temple riddled with deadly traps. as well as a location-based VR maze experience.
Splinter Cell, on the other hand, has yet to receive any virtual love, although upcoming stealth-based titles such as Phantom: Covert Ops and Espire-1 are doing their best to fill the gap.
Featured Image Credit: Ubisoft
