Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Facebook did acquire Seattle-based VR developer BigBox VR, the studio behind POPULATION: ONE. BigBox announced on June 11, 2021, that it was joining Facebook’s Oculus Studios. The purchase price and deal structure were not disclosed. Meta’s later regulatory filings identify the acquisition as taking place in May 2021, so the clearest distinction is between the reported closing date and the public announcement.
What BigBox VR made
BigBox VR was a Seattle startup focused on online multiplayer virtual-reality games. Its principal commercially visible title was POPULATION: ONE, a squad-based VR battle-royale shooter.
BigBox launched the game on October 22, 2020, for Oculus Quest and Rift, with cross-buy support, and for HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality and Valve Index. Its launch price was $29.99. The game combined shooting with VR-specific movement: players could climb surfaces, glide through the map and coordinate socially with teammates. TechCrunch compared its battle-royale format with Fortnite, while noting BigBox’s distinct art direction and movement systems.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Facebook’s acquisition coverage described matches of up to 24 players and characterized POPULATION: ONE as one of the Oculus platform’s top-performing titles. Those descriptions came from Facebook executive Mike Verdu, as reported by TechCrunch.
#1 Best Overall
- CARDBOARD MONKENAUT — Get our best Gorilla Tag bundle yet with this Amazon exclusive deal. Purchase Meta Quest 3S to get exclusive items, including the Gorilla Space Program Suit and Helmet, plus 2,000 SHINY ROCKS.
- NO WIRES, MORE FUN — Break free from cords. Game, play and explore immersive worlds — untethered and without limits.
- 2X GRAPHICAL PROCESSING POWER — Enjoy lightning-fast load times and next-gen graphics for smooth gaming powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor.
- EXPERIENCE VIRTUAL REALITY — Take gaming to a new level and blend virtual objects with your physical space to experience two worlds at once in your VR headset.
- 2+ HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Charge less, play longer and stay in the action with an improved battery that keeps up. *Based on the graphic performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform vs the Meta Quest 2 platform.
What Facebook actually acquired
This was a studio acquisition, not simply a license for POPULATION: ONE. In its announcement, BigBox said the team was “joining Oculus Studios,” Facebook’s VR-games organization at the time, and would remain focused on the game. The company described the move as the next step in its existing relationship with Oculus and said the arrangement would help it pursue larger features and connect more people through VR and games.
The public announcement appeared on June 11, 2021, in BigBox’s own announcement and contemporary coverage from GeekWire. Later FTC and court materials use May 2021 as the acquisition date. These dates need not conflict: May can refer to completion of the transaction, while June 11 was the public disclosure.
Why Facebook wanted BigBox
The sources support a straightforward strategic explanation. POPULATION: ONE was a prominent live multiplayer game for the growing Quest 2 ecosystem, and BigBox already had experience operating it across VR platforms. Bringing the team into Oculus Studios gave Facebook more direct control over continued development, online operations and platform strategy.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #2
- NO WIRES, MORE FUN — Break free from cords. Game, play, exercise and explore immersive worlds — untethered and without limits.
- 2X GRAPHICAL PROCESSING POWER — Enjoy lightning-fast load times and next-gen graphics for smooth gaming powered by the SnapdragonTM XR2 Gen 2 processor.
- EXPERIENCE VIRTUAL REALITY — Take gaming to a new level and blend virtual objects with your physical space to experience two worlds at once.
- 2+ HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Charge less, play longer and stay in the action with an improved battery that keeps up.
- 33% MORE MEMORY — Elevate your play with 8GB of RAM. Upgraded memory delivers a next-level experience fueled by sharper graphics and more responsive performance.
That interpretation also fits Facebook’s broader acquisition program. Around the same period, the company bought or brought into its VR portfolio studios including Beat Games (Beat Saber), Sanzaru Games, Ready at Dawn and Downpour Interactive (Onward). Contemporary reporting described BigBox as another addition to Facebook’s expanding VR development group. The evidence does not disclose an internal valuation model or a specific revenue target, however, so claims about the company’s precise financial motives would be speculation.
What changed for players in 2021?
BigBox’s announcement was deliberately reassuring. It said:
- POPULATION: ONE would remain on its existing platforms.
- Regular updates would continue.
- The player community would not be disrupted.
- Early-access playtests would continue.
- Steam VR support, including HTC Vive and Valve Index, would continue.
In other words, the acquisition did not immediately make the game a Quest exclusive. BigBox specifically promised ongoing support for Oculus/Quest, Rift, Steam VR and other previously supported hardware. Ownership of the studio and exclusivity of the game were separate questions.
Rank #3
- CARDBOARD MONKENAUT — Get our best Gorilla Tag bundle yet with this Amazon exclusive deal. Purchase Meta Quest 3 to get exclusive items, including the Gorilla Space Program Suit and Helmet, plus 2,000 SHINY ROCKS.
- NEARLY 30% LEAP IN RESOLUTION — Experience every thrill in breathtaking detail with sharp graphics and stunning 4K+ Infinite Display.
- NO WIRES, MORE FUN — Break free from cords. Game, play and explore in immersive worlds — untethered and without limits.
- 2X GRAPHICAL PROCESSING POWER — Enjoy lightning-fast load times and next-gen graphics for smooth gaming powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor.
- EXPERIENCE VIRTUAL REALITY — Blend virtual objects with your physical space and experience two worlds at once in your VR headset.
The later Quest 1 change
BigBox subsequently announced that native support for the original Quest headset would end on October 31, 2022. It cited the need to focus on next-generation features and technology, not the acquisition itself. The company said supported options included Quest 2, Oculus Rift and Rift S, and PC VR headsets such as Valve Index and HTC Vive. Eligible Quest 1 purchasers could qualify for a base-game refund under the conditions in the announcement.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11BigBox’s support FAQ also explained that Quest 1 could still be used through Link or Air Link in the supported PC-connected configuration described there. This distinction matters: “Quest support” can mean native installation on a headset, while PC VR access through a cable or wireless connection is a different mode.
Facebook became Meta
In October 2021, Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta. Therefore, the historically accurate wording is that Facebook announced BigBox’s move into Oculus Studios in 2021, while Meta is the company name used for later ownership, filings and support documentation. BigBox’s later terms identify Meta entities as the relevant service providers, depending on the user’s region.
Rank #4
- Your purchase of this item includes a new Meta Quest Pro 256 GB VR headset and a 12-month subscription to Optima Academy Online (OAO) field trips.
- Optima Academy Online (OAO) harnesses the power of virtual reality to make previously impossible learning opportunities just a few clicks away. Our VR Field Trips provide powerful ways of engaging users on a whole new level while providing learning experiences. With our VR Field Trips, we deliver users directly into an immersive educational experience that engages them like never before. We offer a one-month subscription to our VR Field Trips. During your subscription, you can spend as much time in our uniquely created Metaverse environments as you like. Each environment has its own theme, learning experiences, and adventures.
- High resolution mixed reality passthrough uses full-color sensors to let you see and engage with the physical world around you, even as you connect, work and play in virtual spaces.
- Share your true emotions and reactions with real time natural avatar expressions. Meta Avatars translate your natural facial expressions into VR so you can bring your true personality to meetings and gatherings with friends.
- Meta Quest Touch Pro Controllers translate instinctive hand gestures and detailed finger actions directly into VR with self-tracking cameras and precision controls. Multi-point, advanced haptics make virtual interactions feel entirely real
What remains undisclosed
Neither BigBox nor Facebook disclosed the purchase price, transaction structure or the consideration received by founders and investors. TechCrunch reported that BigBox had previously raised about $6.5 million, citing Crunchbase, but that figure is fundraising history—not the acquisition value.
The public record also does not establish detailed employee arrangements, a specific post-acquisition roadmap beyond continued POPULATION: ONE development, current staffing or current player counts. Meta’s legal materials do confirm that BigBox continued developing new Population: One content after the acquisition.
Why the deal mattered to VR gaming
BigBox was strategically important less because it was a large publisher than because it operated a recognizable, cross-platform live-service VR game. Acquiring that team gave Meta an established multiplayer product that could help populate its hardware ecosystem while adding developers experienced in VR networking, social play and ongoing content updates.
Best Value
- NEARLY 30% LEAP IN RESOLUTION — Experience every thrill in breathtaking detail with sharp graphics and stunning 4K Infinite Display.
- NO WIRES, MORE FUN — Break free from cords. Play, explore and exercise in immersive worlds — untethered and without limits.
- 2X GRAPHICAL PROCESSING POWER — Enjoy lightning-fast load times and next-gen graphics for smooth gaming powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor.
- EXPERIENCE VIRTUAL REALITY — Blend virtual objects with your physical space and experience two worlds at once.
- 2+ HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Charge less, play longer and stay in the action with an improved battery that keeps up.
The player-facing result was continuity rather than an immediate platform lock-in: the team joined Oculus Studios, but the game remained available across the platforms BigBox identified at the time. Later hardware-support decisions, such as the Quest 1 cutoff, should be evaluated on their own terms rather than automatically attributed to the acquisition.
Bottom line
Facebook bought BigBox VR in 2021, with the public announcement arriving June 11 and the price undisclosed. The Seattle studio and its POPULATION: ONE team became part of Oculus Studios, helping Facebook—later Meta—build first-party VR content and multiplayer expertise. BigBox initially promised continued updates and support for existing platforms, while the later end of native Quest 1 support reflected a shift toward newer technology, not an announced move to make the game exclusive.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
