It seems like Oculus Rift founder Palmer Lucky doesn’t make the decisions at the company anymore, if a new report regarding pornography and the virtual reality headset is anything to go by.
While Lucky previously said he would never block porn content or games, when the device launches – a spokesman has confirmed to Business Insider that not only will they not allow pornography on their app store, they’ll block any porn content being submitted.
“Oculus only distributes developer content that meets their terms of service, which forbid pornographic content from being a part of the Oculus Store,” the spokesman said.
The natural follow up question to this is: what about violence, and violent games? “Oculus only distributes developer content that meets their terms of service, but they aren’t open to discuss what those terms are at this time.”
While this is a nebulous response, as with most developers, distribution platforms, and so on – violence (even the highly explicit kind) is usually O-K, although this is all going to be chalked up to Oculus’ moderation team.
It’s worth reiterating that while Palmer Lucky said he would not block pornographic content, he did also say the device is an open platform – which leaves the door open to enthusiasts to at least develop side-loading apps, games, and so on.
Martijn Müller
June 13, 2015 at 7:49 pmIt not being on the Oculus Store doesn’t mean you can’t run it off your PC.
blackice85
June 13, 2015 at 7:50 pmEh, it’s stupid to block it entirely and not just age-gate it, but if it’s their own app store then whatever. Not like they’ll actually control what the device will work with.
heavensfeel
June 13, 2015 at 7:54 pmIt stands to reason that people will want to run adult content on these kinds of gadgets. Whichever machine supports that format will have a strong competitive advantage.
Raspberry
June 13, 2015 at 7:55 pmbig mistake, porn is a driving force for a new tech. If it has porn on it people will buy it.
Xanados
June 13, 2015 at 7:56 pmJust run it without going through the oculus store, but it is stupid to say one thing as the head of a company and do another because of PC reasons.
CommanderZx2
June 13, 2015 at 7:57 pmTalk about scoring an own goal. They’re literally handing the victory over to the competing VR systems.
MaidKillua
June 13, 2015 at 7:57 pmThey have a right to not sell it. Completely different to somehow making the device incapable of displaying it
Not that I care either way since I don’t want to see it, but I think people are overreacting somewhat
SadamBober
June 13, 2015 at 7:58 pmI don’t think anyone realistically expected them to sell porn on their store anyway
Kung Fu Ramone
June 13, 2015 at 7:58 pmThe not allowing porn part isn’t as worrying as the “We will block it if we don’t like it” attitude this whole statement sets up. It will drive away devs in droves.
CommanderZx2
June 13, 2015 at 7:58 pmThe device could be locked down to their store, like an Iphone.
MaidKillua
June 13, 2015 at 7:59 pmIt could be, but it’s going to be used on PC so I doubt they’d be foolish enough to waste time on something like that when it would very quickly be circumvented anyway
blackice85
June 13, 2015 at 7:59 pmI never thought so either, just that they wouldn’t actively discourage porn or anything else that people might find objectionable. Not that they could really stop it anyhow.
blackice85
June 13, 2015 at 8:01 pmGood point, though I would expect any company running an app store to reserve such a right anyhow.
Taedirk
June 13, 2015 at 8:03 pmIt’s a computer peripheral, not a bloody closed OS mobile device. Why does it even *need* an app store?
MaidKillua
June 13, 2015 at 8:04 pmSo Oculus can get a slice of the sale revenue? I mean I doubt a lot of people will use their store unless they put exclusive content on it
Brandon Orselli
June 13, 2015 at 8:05 pmThe concern now is that it’ll be locked to its app store and such. If they do confirm that it’ll still be open source, then great, as enthusiasts can make stuff to run on it, just not officially.
MaidKillua
June 13, 2015 at 8:07 pmIt would be complete commercial suicide for them to do that given that the main appeal of this thing is gonna be gaming and no one (gamers or publishers) is gonna want to abandon Steam for the Oculus store
I just can’t see any realistic scenario where they would lock it like that, though I suppose I have underestimated people’s stupidity before
blackice85
June 13, 2015 at 8:08 pmYeah I don’t think they would either. IMO they’re just saying you won’t be able to buy porn from their store, that’s all.
Brandon Orselli
June 13, 2015 at 8:09 pmOh no I agree. If they confirm that it’ll remain open source, we’ll follow up on it.
LostGryphon
June 13, 2015 at 8:09 pmIt’s 2015, right?
And we’re still not over the sex thing? Fucking pathetic.
Loli-Nox-Tan
June 13, 2015 at 8:09 pmEveryone knew they wouldn’t allow pornographic content on their store.
james kelly
June 13, 2015 at 8:13 pmis there porn in the steam store?
Kung Fu Ramone
June 13, 2015 at 8:15 pmWith Microsoft and Facebook’s policies so far I’m worried that it being locked to the store will be the outcome whether the original devs like it or not.
Fenrir7
June 13, 2015 at 8:16 pmAs long as it’s not locked down to their own App Store, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Brandon Orselli
June 13, 2015 at 8:17 pmThey are trying to make it as enticing to the “casuals” as possible. Having an integrated app store is pretty cool IMO.
I’m getting old and lazy with this stuff, so I’d prefer a more streamlined interface. STILL, I like my porn.
Evropi
June 13, 2015 at 8:17 pmIt will be more understandable when you have a family. Children should not be exposed to adult content, simple as that.
Nonscpo
June 13, 2015 at 8:18 pmDid you mean that we all saw this coming?
Nonscpo
June 13, 2015 at 8:24 pmUm Yeah it’s called parenting! It means doing your job and applying the parental guide features that almost all computer devices are installed with, and not handicapping your fellow hardworking legal voting age taxpayer citizens from being able to enjoy a product they purchased with their own money.
Nonscpo
June 13, 2015 at 8:29 pmThey have every right to not allow 18+ content on their store, just like I have every right to ignore there expensive piece of hardware out in the open and free market.
Badmojo7
June 13, 2015 at 8:31 pmExactly, parents need to step up and be parents and not expect the world to take care of their kids for them.
Badmojo7
June 13, 2015 at 8:31 pmFacebook
Wonderkarp
June 13, 2015 at 8:32 pmbut I can still stream my desktop onto it right? I dont need aps right? I want my Virtual Reality Porn. I want to say goodbye to Meat space
bgrunge
June 13, 2015 at 8:36 pmTechnically, no. But install Skyrim and then cruise on over to LoversLab, and things get pretty pornographic fairly quickly.
Loli-Nox-Tan
June 13, 2015 at 8:55 pmYou should not name the place that shall not be named
sanic
June 13, 2015 at 8:56 pmWill they also block waifu’s?
EroBotan
June 13, 2015 at 9:04 pmIf you need governments and big companies to discipline your kid then you’re a failure as a parent
evilmajikman
June 13, 2015 at 9:06 pmArticle title is a bit clickbaity. Should have titled it “Oculus Store”. And this really isn’t surprising. Google play store, Microsoft store, PSN, Nintendo eshop, Steam, etc doesn’t sell porn either.
RK
June 13, 2015 at 9:14 pmWho really cares. Oculus have the rights to protect its consumers. Just like Apple, Microsoft Amazon and Android does on their own app store. Oculus can always have you install unauthorized applications at your own risk for the Rift, it’s on PC anyway. There will always be other resources. If there is a will there is a way to use the Rift you want to..
Fenrir007
June 13, 2015 at 9:23 pm“Children should not be exposed to adult content”
Ever heard about filters? Active parenting? Content rating? if you are a parent and all those concepts are alien to you, well…
Firion Hope
June 13, 2015 at 9:26 pmThat’s fucking dumb. They just said a few weeks ago that x rated content won’t be blocked and now they’re backtracking. And I read a comment saying their other products were locked to the store http://i.gyazo.com/d98d9f8522cd5453703837d5ce612805.png
If they seriously ban porn then they’re idiots, that’s genuinely a really big if not the main appeal for a lot of people (me included). If they’re not going to be open then there’s zero point of getting it over Morpheus.
Fenrir007
June 13, 2015 at 9:28 pmAs long as its still open source, who cares. Like they say: “Where there’s a willy, there’s a way”.
Cred
June 13, 2015 at 9:51 pmyeah, we wouldn’t expect it
but a good follow up question is, why?
it makes money and if the demand is there would the moral outrage really have any tangible negative impact at all?
if anything it’d be more advertisement
Cred
June 13, 2015 at 9:52 pmExcept this does nothing to stop them from getting it, it only gets in the way of everyone else
plakia
June 13, 2015 at 9:56 pmGuess I won’t be using any oculus trash.
scdk
June 13, 2015 at 10:08 pmThey’re talking about two different things, to be fair. Palmer seems to be talking in a more general sense about locking down the device, and the spokesperson seems to be talking about the store specifically. Palmer’s explanation is more technically correct, but the spokesperson is more socially correct (as you would expect). It seems more of a PR move where they just don’t want to officially support porn in their store out of fear of being recognized as the “virtual porn hardware,” but as long as the device remains open then it really doesn’t matter.
Microsoft obviously doesn’t sell porn in their stores, but they’re not going to stop you from running it on their OS either.
Honestly, it’s still a crappy move on their part, if you ask me. They’re missing out on the opportunity to take a cut from people who want to develop porn and sell it via Oculus’ distribution platform. I think they’re severely underestimating how big of an incentive VR porn is for VR hardware sales.
RK
June 13, 2015 at 10:10 pmIf your seriously about porn, Why won’t you just look for other resources to make it work for the Rift. You do that anyway searching online for the best porn sites.
Himanshu Talwar
June 13, 2015 at 10:16 pmNot being on the Oculus Store means jack shit as long as it remains an open platform. Though, this could reduce sales of the peripheral and also ignore potential profit from selling the porn through their marketplace.
If they do change it from being an open platform, I don’t think we will be talking about the Oculus Rift for much longer as it will quickly become irrelevant to the potential early adopters.
Zanard Bell
June 13, 2015 at 10:29 pmAs long as they can’t brick your Oculus Rift for using it for VR porn, then I’m not too worried. Otherwise, this will just be another black mark against closed systems, like consoles.
Akumanoid
June 13, 2015 at 10:33 pmSo, they lied?
Facebook, ladies and gentlemen.
Dewey Defeats Truman
June 13, 2015 at 10:34 pmI’ve never been convinced on the whole “VR” thing in general but I’m not dumb enough to think that porn isn’t a major driving factor for such a venture.
I can understand not selling it on your store. Whatever. But if this is locked down and the only way to use pornographic programs on it is through essentially jailbreaking the headset then they’re fucking themselves over and begging for a competitor to take away a lucrative market.
Leaf Quar
June 13, 2015 at 10:38 pmWell I’m out. It’s a shame, this platform had great potential but now it’s only going to be a white elephant. Without Adult content this thing is dead in the water.
blackice85
June 13, 2015 at 10:41 pmI think you’re jumping the gun lol, or did you really think Oculus was going to be the one selling you porn? More likely than not, they’re not going to do anything to directly hamper the use of porn.
Firion Hope
June 13, 2015 at 10:55 pmWell if it’s locked down to the store as the screenshot I posted suggests then we’re going to have to rely on jailbreaking, and then people wanting to develop for the jailbroken device.
RK
June 13, 2015 at 11:26 pmIt doesn’t make any sense that oculus will only have it locked to its app store only. When you have Microsoft’s, Valve Steam, EA Origin and Ubisoft which distribute games within their own game apps service. Which they will support VR for the games that’s being distributed. So I don’t believe that it will only be locked only to Oculus store. We are free to use the Rift headsets the way we want it. Oculus just want to have a responsibility to protect its customers of all ages. If you want to install an unauthorize Rift content application for VR, you can. The hardware is not locked at all. You just have to find other ways to enjoy your erotic VR.
Nonscpo
June 13, 2015 at 11:28 pmLol you get an upvote from me for making me laugh :D
Nonscpo
June 13, 2015 at 11:29 pmLet us pray that they don’t!
CommanderZx2
June 13, 2015 at 11:30 pmValve allows censored Visual Novels on Steam and the developers are supplying uncensor patches in the Steam forums. Valve is aware of the uncensor patches and doesn’t have a problem with it, which effectively turns some of the Visual Novels into porn games.
Clate
June 13, 2015 at 11:34 pmJeez, who the heck cares. You guys need GFs bad…….
RK
June 13, 2015 at 11:44 pmThere are always other possibilities.
Firion Hope
June 14, 2015 at 12:22 amEither way we’re just guessing. I just really hope they don’t.
deadeye
June 14, 2015 at 12:49 amI don’t see the oculus rift or any of these VR things panning out in the long run.
I fully expect kinect tier games, survival horror driven entirely by jump scares, and maybe one or two games that actually manage to rise above and justify the device existing.
So honestly, I don’t really care what rules they set. These devices have a limited future.
Domhnall
June 14, 2015 at 1:06 amTrue. As long as its open source people will be able to program apps that don’t require whatever Steam-offshoot the Oculus is going to be using, and I would bet that more than one site devoted purely to Oculus porn will be created. If it doesn’t already exist.
JackDandy
June 14, 2015 at 1:33 amRidiculous.
Let nobody pretend otherwise – porn was one of the greatest sell points about this thing.
But, whatever. Users will find a way.
Dirkster_Dude
June 14, 2015 at 1:35 amWhether porn is or isn’t a good idea when people feel you’re restricting your right to use your tech the way you see fit they will find a way around it or simply not deal with it. Something like this in its infancy and already you’re being told how to use it when there may not even be a market for it.
Dirkster_Dude
June 14, 2015 at 1:49 amWell, I can see your point, but at the same time will your children be able to afford one of these things? Somehow I doubt it. Therefore, all they have done is limit choice by imposing their morality on someone else. Not good for something there really isn’t a market for yet.
Derek
June 14, 2015 at 1:57 amWhere were you when Video games died
Madbrainbox
June 14, 2015 at 2:17 amRIP Oculus.
dsadsada
June 14, 2015 at 2:42 amAs long as people can still get what they want on the thing, porn or otherwise, then that should be fine I suppose. They were saying that they won’t allow porn on their store which is common in most businesses. Still, I wish more online stores had an adult’s section.
Kengofu
June 14, 2015 at 2:53 amThis title’s misleading. Facebook’s blocking porn from their App Store; that’s their prerogative. You can still get Occulus porn; hell, you can get it now at VRTitties. There’s nothing barring you from obtaining and enjoying porn on an Occulus Rift; you just can’t get it on Facebook’s App store.
Zanard Bell
June 14, 2015 at 2:55 amI’m not admitting to not going to that site.
Steven T.
June 14, 2015 at 3:04 amPff, that’s cool.
Apple does it. Google does it. Facebook’s choice doesn’t surprise me one bit.
But once it’s out in the wild, the real fun can begin.
JackAss
June 14, 2015 at 3:35 amYep. Although he clarifies it in the last line, Brandon needs to add the word “Appstore” in the headline.
Loli-Nox-Tan
June 14, 2015 at 3:44 amWell not really since we never knew about the store. I mean that it wouldn’t be supported officially. What you do in your own time with unofficial stuff is your business alone
vileBrenman
June 14, 2015 at 3:52 amI know right! Especially when idiot parents let there kids play Grand Theft Auto, call of duty, and other ridiculously violent games. It’s pretty fuckin dumb that sex is basically considered worse than murder in media
SteamC4tz
June 14, 2015 at 4:08 amGrown adults shouldn’t be filtered because you don’t know how to watch your kids. Its not societies responsibility, its yours.
TeLin特林
June 14, 2015 at 5:09 amThat’s why it’s best parents not parent and the rest of the world deal with being treated like a child.
TeLin特林
June 14, 2015 at 5:10 amUnless they lock it down and make it to where the average consumer won’t be able to unlock it.
GotNews4Ya
June 14, 2015 at 5:20 amIt is only getting worse, to be completely honest.. I mean back in the old days.. sex was just a thing.. Now it is even more ridiculously blown out of proportion than it ever was..
GotNews4Ya
June 14, 2015 at 5:21 amThis can still be done, and still have adult rated games with sexual content.. If this was the sole reason.. They would never have been able to have Dirty Movies at the Movie stores..
GotNews4Ya
June 14, 2015 at 5:25 amExactly.. VR Porn would be a sweet thing.. so much money in it.. guaranteed.. Also.. There is so much porn out on the internet these days.. if the kids are smart enough to get Porn in VR.. then they would already know plenty of free Porn Websites.. derp.
GotNews4Ya
June 14, 2015 at 5:28 amI dunno.. Some BIG COMPANIES have done MUCH DUMBER THINGS in the PAST. Let’s just hope they get this out in the open quite soon.. so that they can change their minds soon.. or the future of VR could be over before it even begins.
GotNews4Ya
June 14, 2015 at 5:31 amWell.. Porn is one of the worlds biggest Industries when it come stop making money.. So.. if they want to succeed.. maybe they should sell a few interactive porn simulators.. Maybe even take it a step further and go to F*ck-Book style.. And Meet other people on VR.. and have virtual reality intercourse.. They could even come up with “Attachments” to help the “Simulation Feel Real”.. lol. And.. While I am being slightly sarcastic and funny.. This would probably make me a gazillionare
ndyBery
June 14, 2015 at 5:32 amThey didn’t lie. They said before that they wouldn’t block software from running, they didn’t say they’d allow it on their “app store”
GotNews4Ya
June 14, 2015 at 5:34 amLogic has never been a big factor in company choices.. Just saying.. You remember the E3 of 2012 or 2013? How did Microsoft’s E3 look again?
GotNews4Ya
June 14, 2015 at 5:35 amThis would be porn on a whole new level.. and They could do so much with it.. you could meet people all over the world.. and they could make it like a virtual dating site.. where you end up having sex with all kinds of people all over the world! LOL.. It could even really help people meet people.. The way we are advancing in technology has been a really good thing for meeting people with similar interests.
GotNews4Ya
June 14, 2015 at 5:36 amWell.. True to Facebook.. They gotta keep the Drama flowing.
Brian Boru
June 14, 2015 at 5:40 amYeah. If only there was some way to block children from accessing adult content or letting the parents know if a product contains content inappropriate for children. Wait a minute…
inquisitormcsagington
June 14, 2015 at 5:47 amSo Occulus won’t do porn games, huh? Yeah the backing of the porn
industry has never helped anyone. Just ask Betamax or HD-DVD…
Azure
June 14, 2015 at 6:40 amMeh, to be expected. Like look at the Android and Ios (Iso?) Stores for tablets it is not like they allow porn to be sold on those stores though you can still access other tablet designed stores through apps you can download directly from the websites.
Stickz
June 14, 2015 at 6:46 amBut maybe you don´t want your new high tech VR headset known as the ´porn simulator´ when your offical Oculus Store is full with Jenna Jameson and the likes. From a business perspective, this is completely logical.
Im not a father or anything, but all those parents filters can be removed so easily. My parents installed some thing 15 years back so i couldnt download stuff (was downloading SNES emulators + roms). What i did was reinstall windows et voila, restrictions gone.
R353ARCH
June 14, 2015 at 7:04 amI have to agree–it said ap store. My buddy has a kid, he got him a Kindle at like age 2 and the kid figured out how to buy games from the store. I don’t know how OR will work, but I don’t have porn in my Google Play or my old iOS, doesn’t mean you can’t look if you know how to look though.
Article titled “block content” but article itself says “not allow in ap store.” I feel like I clicked a GameSpot link.
Brian Boru
June 14, 2015 at 7:05 amBut mai waifu!
King of Bros
June 14, 2015 at 7:33 amRemember when Oculus was a Kickstarter thing?
Now Facebook controls it
humanity:not even once
Brandon Orselli
June 14, 2015 at 8:27 amThe main thing that we don’t know anymore is if the device is still open source. If this changes I’ll do a follow up report
R353ARCH
June 14, 2015 at 8:34 amRight on, and truth be told, while pads might be falling into hands of kids, I hardly see OR as a kid’s toy. It would just be more reasonable for devices to force the users to set up parental controls (and thus responsibilities) right out of the box. On one hand, I think its still a very insightful article for future consumers when considering a purchase, and downright disappointing to early backers to think the developers are already creating limitations before the device is released. Thanks for the reply!
Madbrainbox
June 14, 2015 at 9:32 amI bet GabeN is very pleased with their announcement.
Michael Richardson
June 14, 2015 at 9:42 amSo, Oculus is now some restrictive, locked-down, puritanical platform. I am so glad I didn’t kickstart this device.
Fenrir007
June 14, 2015 at 9:52 amAsk them during E3. They will be there, won’t they?
feralkitsune
June 14, 2015 at 10:40 amNo one would buy the damn thing anymore then.
TeLin特林
June 14, 2015 at 10:53 amI agree. But I’ve seen companies make stupid decisions before.
Takua343
June 14, 2015 at 11:26 amso the #1 reason anyone even gave a shit about oculus is blocked. thanks facebook, thanks a lot
TheCynicalReaper
June 14, 2015 at 11:36 amI TOLD YOU
I TOLD ALL OF YOU
WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN! THIS IS WHY WE FREAKED OUT DURING FB-DAY
[Facebook Buys Day]
TheCynicalReaper
June 14, 2015 at 11:38 am…you’re a shit parent who doesn’t deserve a child and should be taxed harder to pay for better parents to raise your child properly.
Sorry, just had to finish where you left off.
It’s what I think, anyway.
TheCynicalReaper
June 14, 2015 at 11:39 amThanks, Orselli. Personally I think it will stop being open source simply because of the megacorp hands attached to it now.
Lester Paredes
June 14, 2015 at 12:03 pmWell, which ever vr headset supports porn will most likely win. Let’s look at history here. VHS vs Beta Max: porn backed VHS, and beta max vanished. HD DVD vs Blu Ray: porn backed blu ray, and the rest is history. More of the internet is porn than anything else, so much so that stand alone adult stores are now a novelty instead of the only place to get your fix and toys.
Seriously sad that sex is so shamed, but explicit violence is A-Okay. At least, in the West.
chizwoz
June 14, 2015 at 12:35 pmWell we used to just have the religious extremists and the conservative puritans getting outraged about it. Now we’ve got the far left too. They’re just avoiding the negative press you can guarantee nowadays.
A smaller number of people care about standing up for their own principles year by year.
AnarKreig
June 14, 2015 at 12:36 pmHas anyone even cared about this product since Facebook bought it?
ReaperX30
June 14, 2015 at 12:41 pmAnd…..by doing this they just cut more than half the customers that would’ve bought the damn thing in the first place.
Psichaos
June 14, 2015 at 2:59 pmIf I was a backer on the original Kickstarter, I’d be furious as hell, especially if (when) they come out later and say OR is tied to the app store and no longer open source. Everyone knew that the Facebook acquisition would ruin the OR. What a shame.
DariusQ
June 14, 2015 at 6:51 pmThis just means the door is open for some competitor to develop a headset which won’t dictate what content you can use with the hardware.
Kathryn TK
June 16, 2015 at 11:48 amI am not saying I disagree with you, but I can’t see how so many, including the writers of this article, are using video game violence as a comparison for contradiction. They have nothing to do with each other! Nothing at all…..
Kathryn TK
June 16, 2015 at 11:50 amJust pointing out that sex and violence are two completely different things. They are justified in losing money the way they want, but don’t call them hypocrites over something that makes no sense.
ReMeDyIII
July 19, 2015 at 2:03 amThis could come back to haunt Oculus Rift if its competitors, like Project Morpheus, decide to be more lenient with pornographic content. As an example, I recall pornography being insanely accessible on VHS tapes as opposed to the stricter company-regulated Betamax tapes. No surprise, people were buying VHS cassette players in droves. I’m not saying sex is what won the war for VHS, but it’s one of them.
To quote gaming director Tobonobu Itagaki from Dead or Alive, “Sex sells.”