Oculus disables Gear VR app on Galaxy Note 7 citing 'customer safety'

Oculus, Samsung’s technology partner for VR, has disabled Gear VR support for Galaxy Note 7 devices over customer safety concerns. The Gear VR app, intended for use with Samsung’s Gear VR headset and compatible smartphones, received a push update to disable Note 7 use, following numerous reports of the Galaxy Note 7 catching fire.

The news arrives via a Reddit user who uploaded a screenshot to Imgur several hours ago showing an in-app message from Oculus (the screenshot was later verified). The message said:

Customer safety is Oculus’ top priority. Oculus is removing support for all Note 7 devices on the Oculus platform. Until further notice, Note 7 devices will not be compatible with the Gear VR. For more information regarding the Note 7, please contact Samsung directly.

This follows a global statement from Samsung yesterday urging the complete shutdown and return of all Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.

Some Reddit users have been left disappointed by the disabling of the app, but this seems like a considerate move from Oculus. Samsung’s global recall may not have been heeded by every Galaxy Note 7 owner yet and if the device caught fire while in use as VR it could have caused serious damage.

For now, Samsung has not indicated it would move to compensate customers who bought the Gear VR (or any other accessory) to use it specifically with the Galaxy Note 7.

This post was originally published on our sister site, VRSource.com.