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> VR is still up for grabs Curious statement, considering the FTC is trying to preserve competition in the space. Excite and Altavista weren't trying to buy up

by ece 4y ago

> VR is still up for grabs Curious statement, considering the FTC is trying to preserve competition in the space. Excite and Altavista weren't trying to buy up the biggest websites around at the time.

danielmarkbruce 4y ago
Yes and they are overreaching in response to a perceived miss many years ago when FB bought Instagram. The VR market is so young and small that it doesn't need regulatory intervention. Let's allow it play out a little bit before we get regulators involved who think things like: this app is something which "proves the value of virtual reality to users". And yeah, they were, and they were being bought and sold, and Yahoo too. There was lots of m&a action in the space. Virtually everyone involved went under despite having a dominant position for a hot minute.
- ece 4y ago
  From your link, the FTC says: > "Meta already owns a best-selling virtual reality fitness app, and it had the capabilities to compete even more closely with Within’s popular Supernatural app. But Meta chose to buy market position instead of earning it on the merits." I don't buy that VR is so young, we're a couple generations in now on multiple platforms. There are still new entrants in the space, which is good, and they would be negatively impacted if there were less established independent developers. Facebook had a head start, and they're trying their best to lock up the market before Apple/others enter it.
  - danielmarkbruce 4y ago
    Best selling doesn't mean well selling. Someone is always the best selling in a market. It doesn't mean the market is anywhere at all. VR might not even exist in 10 years. It's been hyped for 8-9 years now and user growth has been anaemic. Most headsets are shelfware. Here is an article to read: https://mixed-news.com/en/quest-2-why-meta-isnt-talking-about-sales-numbers/ https://mixed-news.com/en/quest-2-why-meta-isnt-talking-abou... This isn't speculative nonsense - the usage problem is know across the industry. Single digit millions of users is either early in the market or late... Either way no interference from a clueless regulator is required.
    - ece 4y ago
      The Within deal is above $400 million. Doesn't seem like shelfware money. The end of the article seems pretty consistent with FTC's view: Meta can compete with better hardware and software on it's own.
      - danielmarkbruce 4y ago
        They do try to build better hardware and software. At this point they are throwing everything they have at it. The FTC are treating them as though it's a big, profitable, won market where Meta isn't playing fair. In reality it's a small, money losing, no winner market where Meta is trying to create something.
        ece 4y ago
        This is growth at all costs. Big companies buying up established independent developers to add to their services while consumers have less choice. AB/MS, Figma/Adobe, it needs to stop.
        danielmarkbruce 4y ago
        The VR market isn't in that phase. Adobe is in a big market with a strong position, makes a lot of money. That market has been around for decades. VR is default dead right now.

by ece 4y ago

danielmarkbruce 4y ago

Yes and they are overreaching in response to a perceived miss many years ago when FB bought Instagram. The VR market is so young and small that it doesn't need regulatory intervention. Let's allow it play out a little bit before we get regulators involved who think things like: this app is something which "proves the value of virtual reality to users". And yeah, they were, and they were being bought and sold, and Yahoo too. There was lots of m&a action in the space. Virtually everyone involved went under despite having a dominant position for a hot minute.

ece 4y ago
From your link, the FTC says: > "Meta already owns a best-selling virtual reality fitness app, and it had the capabilities to compete even more closely with Within’s popular Supernatural app. But Meta chose to buy market position instead of earning it on the merits." I don't buy that VR is so young, we're a couple generations in now on multiple platforms. There are still new entrants in the space, which is good, and they would be negatively impacted if there were less established independent developers. Facebook had a head start, and they're trying their best to lock up the market before Apple/others enter it.
- danielmarkbruce 4y ago
  Best selling doesn't mean well selling. Someone is always the best selling in a market. It doesn't mean the market is anywhere at all. VR might not even exist in 10 years. It's been hyped for 8-9 years now and user growth has been anaemic. Most headsets are shelfware. Here is an article to read: https://mixed-news.com/en/quest-2-why-meta-isnt-talking-about-sales-numbers/ https://mixed-news.com/en/quest-2-why-meta-isnt-talking-abou... This isn't speculative nonsense - the usage problem is know across the industry. Single digit millions of users is either early in the market or late... Either way no interference from a clueless regulator is required.
  - ece 4y ago
    The Within deal is above $400 million. Doesn't seem like shelfware money. The end of the article seems pretty consistent with FTC's view: Meta can compete with better hardware and software on it's own.
    - danielmarkbruce 4y ago
      They do try to build better hardware and software. At this point they are throwing everything they have at it. The FTC are treating them as though it's a big, profitable, won market where Meta isn't playing fair. In reality it's a small, money losing, no winner market where Meta is trying to create something.
      - ece 4y ago
        This is growth at all costs. Big companies buying up established independent developers to add to their services while consumers have less choice. AB/MS, Figma/Adobe, it needs to stop.
        danielmarkbruce 4y ago
        The VR market isn't in that phase. Adobe is in a big market with a strong position, makes a lot of money. That market has been around for decades. VR is default dead right now.