Mojang has announced that starting next March, Minecraft will cease support for VR headsets. In a recent update on the official Minecraft blog, the developer stated that “its ability to support VR/MR devices has come to an end,” signaling a shift in focus following a final update scheduled for March.
In this communication, Minecraft community manager Jay Wells clarified that while PC players will still be able to access the VR version of the game post-update, it will no longer feature any virtual reality components. “From this point on, you can keep building in your worlds, and your Marketplace purchases (including Minecoins) will continue to be available on a non-VR/MR graphics device such as a computer monitor,” he explained.
This decision comes on the heels of numerous complaints from Oculus users regarding performance issues with Minecraft VR, which have contributed to a low review rating on the Oculus store. The timing of this announcement aligns with a recent survey indicating that more than half of developers perceive a decline in the VR market. In a related development, Meta has announced the closure of its first-party VR developer, Ready at Dawn, despite CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s claims that Meta Quest 3 sales are exceeding expectations. Additionally, Canadian VR studio Archiact, known for Doom 3: VR Edition, has also shut its doors.
Greatness awaits?
In contrast, Sony continues to bolster its presence in the virtual reality space. The company recently unveiled PC support for its latest headset, PSVR2, alongside new titles such as Metro: Awakening and Hitman World of Assassination. Following a recent price drop, PSVR2 has experienced a notable surge in sales, suggesting that there remains a vibrant interest in VR gaming, albeit within a shifting landscape.
