A recent software update for the Oculus Rift introduced copy protection in the virtual reality era. The latest update blocked Revive, the application allowing exclusive Rift games to run on the HTC Vive.
According to The Verge, one of the developers behind the Revive app, CrossVR, posted on Reddit that the Oculus update includes a new check to prevent non-Oculus hardware from connecting to the system. Now the app has to confirm that only the Oculus Rift VR headset is linked to the Oculus Platform DRM.
Revive app has been launched only a month ago and allowed HTC Vive owners to Play "Oculus Dreamdeck" and "Luky's Tale" on the HTC VR headset. This will be much difficult after the Oculus Rift update. Oculus is making clear now that it will prevent its VR game titles from crossing over to other VR platforms.
There is a way to work around the Oculus' copy protection. But in order to trick the platforms, users would need still the second development kit or a consumer version of the Oculus connected to their system. Some users will certainly be disappointed in hearing the news, since games such as "DreamDeck" are reportedly providing a more immersive virtual reality experience on the Vive.
Engadget reports that, up to date, owners of Oculus Rift and HTC Vive used to generally have many things in common, including access to many of the same games and applications. But it seems that the two virtual reality headsets will take separate paths as the competition increases on this niche market.
An Oculus spokesman has declared for Ars Technica that the latest update was aimed to fight piracy of VR game titles and it was not specifically targetting at Revive. This is true to some extent, but it will definitely affect Vive owners as well.
In a way, the latest measure taken by Oculus is also contradictory for the company itself. Founder Palmer Luckey previously declared on Reddit that he does not intend to lock people into his headset. However, this is exactly what seems to be happening now.
