On the 16th of september 2020, a major event in the world of extended reality was held: Facebook Connect, the conference on virtual and augmented reality. Facebook Connect succeeds Oculus Connect 6 which took place in 2019, after Mark Zuckerberg renamed the 7th edition this year.
About Facebook Connect
Facebook Connect is an annual event through which the firm exposes its advances in augmented reality and virtual reality. At the same time, it ensures that Facebook keeps in touch with all the actors and fans of extended reality. This year, the event stands out in two ways.
On the one hand, its name was changed, while most connoisseurs were expecting an Oculus Connect 7, we are entitled to a Facebook Connect. This change affirms Facebook's desire to make its mark in the VR and AR domains. It also shows that this edition of Connect is not just about Oculus, but about the entire Facebook universe. And on the other hand, because of COVID-19, the conference was held entirely in VR and on a Facebook Live.
Facebook Connect updates
This edition of Facebook Connect has simulate a lot of attention, especially on the social media accounts of XR specialists and fans. And we can say that we were not disappointed by the news which were revealed during the conference.
On the front line, we had the announcement of the much-anticipated Oculus Quet 2, Facebook's VR headset, which is scheduled for launch on the 13th of October. It is one of the most powerful and affordable headsets on the market. It surpasses its predecessor Oculus Quest in every way, both in terms of technical performance and user comfort.
These virtual reality headsets allow users to play exclusive titles for Quest 2, such as the Ubisoft AAA games that will migrate to the platform. However, the headset is not closed and can be used for other games. In addition, Oculus Quest 2 does not want to only stand out in the gaming world. Its most important selling point is its processing functions. Thus, it is not surprising that the Infinite Office, a virtual workspace with no limitations via this new VR headset, was unveiled during the conference.
We can also talk about the partnership between Facebook and Ray-Ban to release connected glasses that are both stylish and powerful by 2021. And still in the same register, that of glasses, researching AR glasses by Facebook will be the mission of the Project ARIA which was announced during the event.
Many other announcements have been made, but let's take a closer look at those that affect the world of AR effects creation: the Spark AR news.
Focus on the creators, the announcements about Spark AR
Facebook Connect particularly delighted the creators of AR experiences on Spark AR. Did you like last year's new Spark AR features? With more than 50 new features introduced in 2019, it's hard not to appreciate the platform, but it's not over yet! According to Facebook, new and even more interesting features will be added to the platform and support the creativity of Spark AR users.
Instagram is not enough for you to showcase your talents? No problem, the integration of Spark AR in Reels (TikTok-like Facebook app), Messenger and Portal will take place in the near future. In addition, Messenger will soon be available in virtual reality.
Facebook Connect shows that there is no better time than now to become a Spark AR creator , so let's get started!
