Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell said on Tuesday that he’s leaving Facebook, five years after the social network bought the virtual reality headset company. He was serving as Facebook’s head of VR product.
In a post shared on Reddit, Mitchell said it was “bittersweet” to leave Facebook and Oculus after seven years between the two companies. He said that he plans to “travel, be with family, and recharge,” while still remaining a part of the VR community in a “smaller role.”
“Virtual reality is still on the bleeding edge of technology, and this community continues to pioneer the way forward,” Mitchell wrote. “What’s ahead is always unknown, and that’s what makes it exciting. Stay bold and keep chasing the future.”
Andrew Bosworth, head of Facebook’s VR and augmented reality team, tweeted he was “sad to see” Mitchell leave. “I enjoyed working with you and learning from you. Best of luck on whatever comes next.”
Mitchell’s departure comes after Oculus co-founders Palmer Luckey and Brendan Iribe left Facebook in the last two years. Facebook bought Oculus in 2014 for $2 billion — only two years after the company launched with a Kickstarter campaign. As Bloomberg’s Sarah Frier pointed out, Mitchell was the last founder who remained from Facebook acquisitions WhatsApp, Instagram and Oculus to leave the social media company.
While VR headset sales increased 30% last year from 2017, hitting $3.6 billion in revenue, the niche industry is still struggling to gain widespread appeal. Oculus, between its Go and Rift headsets last year, sold about 700,000 units, according to VentureBeat. Facebook unveiled the Oculus Rift S, its latest PC-tethered VR headset that runs $399, earlier this year.
10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos)
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.
House Intelligence Committee
Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President.
House Intelligence Committee
This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child.
House Intelligence Committee
Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said.
House Intelligence Committee
President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme.
House Intelligence Committee
Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem.
House Intelligence Committee
"Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election.
House Intelligence Committee
The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters."
House Intelligence Committee
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Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal.