Source: Meta
It took a long time, but Meta has finally decided that you can decouple your Oculus VR headset from your Facebook account. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced it'll offer a new Meta account instead for new and existing users starting August. If you are still signing into your VR headset with an Oculus account, you'll have to ditch that before January 1, 2023.
Meta emphasizes that the Meta account isn't a social media profile per se. Instead, it "lets you log into your VR devices and view and manage your purchased apps in one place." There is still a social aspect integrated into this, though. Your Oculus profile will be replaced by a Meta Horizon profile that you'll set up. It comes with a username, photo and avatar.
Your Oculus friends will become your followers, and you'll also follow them by default. You can link your Meta account to Facebook or Instagram, use the VR version of Messenger, and play games. You get the option to decide how and if people can follow you. But even if you stay in private mode, others can still see your avatar, profile picture, and username.
As The Next Web pointed out, this move works in Meta's favour. It gives the company access to new users who prefer not to use Facebook but want that virtual reality experience.