[Updated] 'Save Echo VR' petition brings many together as Meta (Oculus) pulls plug on Echo Combat & Arena

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

Original story (published on February 1, 2023) follows:

As of August 1, 2023, servers for the well-known free-to-play multiplayer game Echo VR will be turned off. This has recently been announced by Meta and its subsidiary Ready at Dawn.

According to the sources, developers have mainly moved on from their previous PC games and have started working on ‘new, exciting projects’ now.

‘Save Echo VR’ petition trends on Twitter

Since the decision to discontinue Echo VR has been taken by Meta, a number of players don’t really seem to like it. Instead many have taken to Twitter to circulate the ‘Save Echo VR’ petition en masse.

This petition is originally sparked on Change.org where several fans are urging Meta or RAD to open-source the server.

This has even prompted the creation of a Fight For Echo Discord server which has already gained around 2600 members.

Urge Meta or RAD to open-source the game and servers’ code and leave it to the community that helped them make this game what it is. Join the fight: https://discord.gg/9dtrR6mFdd
Source

Since Echo VR has had a long and eventful journey since its debut, it’s quite unfathomable for some players as to why the developers ever shut down the game.

Some reports (1,2,3,4,5) also suggest that players are even doubting the reason for shutting down Echo VR. While others are busy speculating the actual reason for the same.

It’s such a blatant lie I almost wonder if shutting down has something to do with exposure to legal issues. Just speculating, but I can’t think of another good reason for pulling the plug. I’m sure there have been instances of kids being groomed in there just like in VRChat, not to mention the extreme toxicity, sexual harassment (groping in VR, etc), and racial slurs.
Source

On the other hand, there are also some who have reluctantly accepted the fate of the game. It’s even been called ‘the only top game’ on the platform.

It appears that the developers have indeed chosen to pull the plug on Echo Combat and Arena starting in August. But it’ll be interesting to note whether they reverse this action considering the petition and massive fan-following.

We’ll keep tabs on the latest developments and update this article accordingly.

03:43 pm (IST): Meta CTO, Andrew Bosworth, said that the Echo VR’s playerbase has fallen down and due to this it’s being shut down. More on that here.

Featured image source: Meta

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