While the Vive and other VR headsets continue to lack official support on the Oculus Store, this change once again allows owners of non-Oculus hardware to use software like Revive to utilize the platform. Of course, Revive on its own had bypassed the DRM within 24-hours of its implementation, so the DRM’s removal is more of a symbolic gesture. Yet, considering Oculus’ relative inaction with regards to community feedback since launch, something is always better than nothing.
To perhaps soothe worries that the DRM removal is temporary or making way for something more severe, Oculus provided a statement to Ars Technica:
An impressively direct and yet vague statement from Oculus. It can be read as both a promise to be more open and to protect developers, or as a promise of more varied DRM in efforts to protect the developers supported by the Oculus Store.
CrossVR, the developer of Revive, is proactive within the Vive community and was quick to verify and respond to the situation. Keep in mind that Oculus’ effort with the hardware DRM could be considered a direct response to the development of Revive and CrossVR’s work:
Overall, the community response to this move by Oculus has been met very positively by the larger virtual reality community. Greater issues like platform exclusivity, the lack of Vive support on the Oculus Store, and communication issues in general continue to be mentioned in the same breath, but people mostly just want progress – and this decision delivers.
The decision also comes, likely not coincidentally, on the day Oculus’ Store Summer Sale is beginning. That coincides with the start of Steam’s Summer Sale as well, which is also not likely a coincidence. With the removal of the DRM, Vive owners who pick up Revive can now pick up some of the supported titles on sale over the next week. If additional DRM is indeed on the way, plan on it at least waiting until after the sale ends on July 5. Vive shoppers beware.
Source: Ars Technica, Reddit
