Having founded Oculus in 2012 and been an important face for the company throughout its growth from fledgling startup to $2 billion acquisition by Facebook and beyond, it was a shock to see Palmer Luckey leave the company just two months ago. Having shied away from the public eye since September 2016 after the ousting of a polarizing political position, Luckey has gone on record in an interview for the first time since leaving the company.

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey on stage at Oculus Connect 2015 | Photo courtesy Oculus

Speaking with MoguraVR during a trip to Tokushima, Japan to attend the anime event Machi Asobi, Luckey opened up about his personal hobby of cosplay—a freedom he didn’t have while at Facebook—the Japanese VR market, and the future of VR headsets.

Update: Parts 2 and Part 3 of Luckey’s interview have been published.

VR enthusiast Marulu translated the article, which was originally published in Japanese, for Road to VR.


Cosplay and Freedom

MoguraVR:

First we asked Palmer Luckey about his cosplay impressions.

Palmer Luckey:

Some of Palmer’s previous female cosplay: Matoi Ryuuko from Kill la Kill, Tracer from Overwatch. He creates the outfits himself. His first cosplay was Seto Kaiba from Yugioh.

It was fun. I have cosplayed several times in America but this was my first time cosplaying in Japan. This is the first time that my cosplaying has gotten this much attention. Normally no one stops to look at my cosplay. I don’t know if the reason I got this much attention was because I cosplayed in Japan, but I think that the “uniqueness” was a big part of it. Anyhow it was really fun.

Photo courtesy MoguraVR

MoguraVR:

We accompanied Palmer Lucky at the Machi Asobi event, we had lots of fun at the event.

Palmer Luckey:

I think the location the event was held at was really beautiful. The idea to use an entire street for a large scale anime event is a great idea. This is a good way of utilizing the normally small and cramped convention center aimed at businesses for an anime convention.

I also had lots of fun in the city of Tokushima. There was a lot of green, and there even was a river. It was a wonderful experience to ride a boat to visit the anime art gallery underneath the bridges. I also cosplayed at the cosplay area near the riverside, everyone was taking pictures of me, it was a impressive spectacle.

Photo courtesy MoguraVR

MoguraVR:

Machi Asobi actually is a event to revitalize the city.

Palmer Luckey:

So it was a plan to increase tourism.

MoguraVR:

[Regarding your risque cosplay] your behavior at this cosplay event was rather ‘free’. Do you have any personal rules regarding this kind of behavior?

Palmer Luckey:

When I work I am extremely self controlled. It also is the same when I dedicate my free time towards my work. But when I am not working it is a entirely different story. I don’t care about how people look at me and about how they think about me. What I care about in my free time is how I can enjoy myself. I do this so when I return to work I will have regained all my energy.

I really love to cosplay and hanging out with people at these events. It is the same with my cosplay this time as Quiet, I did it because I love to cosplay and because I thought other people also would enjoy it.

At the moment I am an unemployed engineer, when I worked at Facebook I was just a business person. The Oculus offices were on the Facebook campus. It certainly was a great working environment. But I had to restrain myself working there. I could not cosplay while working at Facebook.

Palmer Luckey’s cosplay take on ‘Quiet’ a scantily clad character from the ‘Metal Gear’ series | Photo courtesy MoguraVR

MoguraVR:

Palmer said he felt like Umarua chan from the anime “Himouto! Umaru-Chan” while working at Facebook. On the outside Umaru is a perfect talented high school student without flaws but once she arrives at home she is a lazy Otaku.

Palmer Luckey:

That’s right, Umaru was holding a secret. She was an Otaku but never showed that side of her outside of her house. I was in exactly the same situation as her for several years. I am glad I’m not currently employed, the good thing about independence is that you can stay yourself both at home and when outside.

Photo courtesy MoguraVR

Continue Reading on Page 2 >>

1
2
Newsletter graphic

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product we may receive a small commission which helps support the publication. More information.


Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."
  • Davo

    Cross dressing or Cosplay Palmer ?

  • I’m hoping VR will push character animation forward, the tech exists for us to climb farther out of the uncanny valley!

    • Get Schwifty!

      You and me both…

  • econik

    As an American VR user living in China, WHERE can I find Japanese VR games/apps? Apparently, the Japanese are making a lot of content. I’d be willing to try. Anyone else? Who’s coming with me and where are we going!?

    • Get Schwifty!

      Yeah I would definitely like to check out some of the content if it will run on Vive/Rift…

    • ✨EnkrowX✨

      From what I understand most of it isnt commercially available. A lot of cool demos at cons, Bamco set up a VR arcade with custom content, there is a VR experience being developed for Gundam Cafe, etc.
      None of it is available for download or purchase, though.

  • iThinkMyCatIsAFlea

    Ok I’ll read it and see if they’ve put any difficult questions to Palmer.

    No difficult questions for Palmer to answer.

    @Palmer Luckey Now that you’re free to dress how you like and to talk about whatever you like, I have some questions for you. I dare you to answer them.

    Why did you lie about being a Trump supporter in your Facebook statement last year?

    If your answer is along the lines of ‘I am not a Trump supporter’, then answer me this; There is footage of you on YouTube at a Trump rally wearing a pro-Trump CAN’T STUMP THE TRUMP t-shirt. Search for ‘Chaos in Costa Mesa After Trump Rally’ and skip to 1:52.

    You also financed an alt-right, pro-Trump group called Nimble America. The hashtag on the billboard read cantstump.

    You also donated $100,000 to Trump’s inauguration.

    Are you sure that you aren’t a Trump supporter?

    I’ll let you answer that before asking another.

    • Ghosty

      Who gives a shit who he supported… It’s his right just as it’s everyone else’s right to support whomever he likes… Give it a rest it’s not a big deal!

      What I would like to know is what he plans to do now? Do you still plan on doing something in the VR scene?

      • NooYawker

        While I think the OP is beating a dead horse your response shows people actually have no idea what he did. It’s not who he supported but his actions pushing racism and fake news that angered people. Either you really are that clueless or you simply agreed with him.

        • Ghosty

          No I know exactly what he did I just dont give a fuck… Tell me you’ve never made any mistakes before! Judge not…

          • NooYawker

            That’s fine you don’t give a fuck. But don’t say it was a mistake, that apologist bullshit and don’t say things like “it’s everyone right to support whomever he likes” knowing full well that isn’t the issue at all.

          • Mr. New Vegas

            Mistake? He didn’t nothing wrong, no mistakes and the only racism he pushed is in minds of crazed SJWs and Libs: Because in their minds supporting ANYTHING on the right side of political spectrum makes you AUTOMATICALLY racist.
            Im waiting to buy VR v2 and Choose Oculus both because I prefer the controller and because FINALLY we had ONE normal non liberal tech guy and now hes gone because the liberal mob hates democracy and freedom of speech, they wont allow any republicans in their little world, most Republican have to hide unless they so big that just dont care like that guy on Facebooks board of directors, hes way too big to get pushed out

        • 1droidfan

          The mainstream media promotes racism and fake news, so not really seeing what your point is.

          • NooYawker

            This guy again LOL.

        • Get Schwifty!

          Well of course you could argue that CNN as an example is very guilty of these exact same tactics with constant race baiting and “features” designed to elicit a calculated response… just saying, it’s not limited to groups like Nimble America, etc…

          • NooYawker

            I’m not even shocked people compare CNN to nimble America and say they do the same thing. Sad, but not surprised.

          • Lucidfeuer

            You’re the dangerous nut here, wait till people realise that alt/extreme-right wingers are not the only ennemies of the common majority people.

          • NooYawker

            Extreme leftists are dangerous, I know that. The difference is extreme leftists are fringe groups not accepted by liberals. Alt right and extreme right are running the Conservatives.

          • Lucidfeuer

            That’s not true anymore. Alt-left represents the majority of liberals and that’s why the majority rejected liberals in the last election and will continue to do so. Some people fall into the trap of rejecting them so much that they fall in the inverse extreme, but they both really are the two faces of the same coin, and the volume of people who were ready to either vote Trump or at least not vote against him speaks volume about how large (at least in politics and medias) this alt-left is represented, thus creating this massive rejection.

          • NooYawker

            What do you consider the alt left? Because to me Jill stein, Susan Sarandon and their ilk are leftists. If you think they’re even in the realm of the majority you’re sadly misinformed.

          • Lucidfeuer

            Jill Stein? She’s not even in the democrat party. When I say the majority, I might have badly chosen my word: they are the over-representation, maybe not the majority of neo-democrat people.

            What I retrospectively consider as being the alt-left is made of the main representation of neo-liberal social agendas. Mainly sexist “feminists”, sexuaphobe LGBTQs, and racist” anti-racists” in the representation.

          • NooYawker

            People pushing equal rights are extremists? So who in office running things are these alt left. Because I can list off dozens of extremists in the Republican Party.

          • Lucidfeuer

            I’m genuinely curious: are you pretending or do you really not understand in 2017, that people pretending to push for equal rights have created more discriminations, dissonances and delusions than they have brought progress? Being so extremely hypocrite up to the point of becoming dangerous that, yes, even though everybody is aware that there are extremists in the Republican Party they’d rather make the mistake to vote for them or not vote against them even when they’re as ludicrous as Trump. That’s the whole point of this defiance against liberals, some falling in the opposite trap/problem, but hopefully most people being as aware of the dangers of the alt-left as they are of the alt-right.

          • NooYawker

            I know it’s difficult for peopleike you to understand that liberals believe everyone has a right to live and be treated as a human being. And you can’t use your religion as an excuse to refuse service, jobs etc to people you deem freaks or sinners. But you divert. Who’s an extremists leftist voted into office.

          • Lucidfeuer

            You either didn’t read or as I fear, don’t understand words like most liberals who twist the meaning of things until it becomes that extreme and dangerous hypocrisy of acting against those you pretend to defend. Nobody, as illustrated on this thread, believes that “liberals believe everyone has a right to live and be treated as a human being” this is bullshit, people are done with that lie, get that into your head. And if you don’t understand why this is the case, against I’m telling you: liberals are as fascistic, racist, sexist etc…as extreme right wing people. It’s up to you to figure out how and in what exactly.

          • NooYawker

            Ok.

          • Get Schwifty!

            When Obama had one of his acceptance parties in the living room of a core member of the 70’s domestic terrorist group The Weathermen I think it’s safe to say the far left is in no way apart from the “fringe left”. Nothing could be further from the truth.

        • Buddydudeguy

          Racism? Racism?? Muslim are not a race, it’s a religion and they are a cancer.

          • Lucidfeuer

            That’s because you’re a fucking spineless coward racist, ouin ouin “i’m not a racciisss”, yes you fucking are, the reason muslims are not a race is because races don’t exist, and whether you discriminate against a group because of ethnics, color or religions you’re a just a loser inbred enemy racist.

          • Buddydudeguy

            “I’m” a spineless coward “racist! HA Good one. K, lets go over this. First of all, Muslim is a religion not a race. You don’t get to change the definition of words to suit your own agenda. I don’t hate a skin color, I hate a culture that treats woman like lesser slaves, makes them subservient and to wear a cover to say nothing else about the rest of their ridiculous culture. You must be one of these pieces of dirt to argue with me. I can do this for hours. Bring it. Inbred “enemy” hahahaha. Is it possible you are one of these Muslim? You call those who don’t follow your garbage infidels and “the enemy”.

            “races don’t exist”. Are you stupid? Wait don’t answer that, rhetorical question. Black is a race, Oriental is a race. White is a race. You don’t get to change definitions to suit your self. Ya ya, I know, we’re all human, one big happy family. Meanwhile there is reality where we have labels which you apparently can’t handle.
            But ya, I’ll repeat my self here, I don’t hate any race, I have a extreme distaste for a religion that teaches intolerance, sexism, spousal abuse and religious extremism.

            “ouin ouin ” ya fuck you too dimwit.

          • NooYawker

            Discrimination isn’t pleasant is it?

          • Lucidfeuer

            I’m not an alt-left racist neither an alt-right racist. In case you didn’t understand.

        • nebošlo

          There was no racism, that part is purely made up. And without that, what he did is completely boring and uninteresting.

        • Toby Zuijdveld

          “It’s not who he supported but his actions pushing racism and fake news that angered people”
          [Citation Needed].

      • iThinkMyCatIsAFlea

        That was only the first question. Calm down.

    • Justos

      This guy again LOL

    • victor

      You’re the only one who cares !!!….and he’s allowed to support whoever the f–k he wants, just like you!…and is allowed to lie about it too!….just like ALL politicians do anyways!!

    • joemitz

      1. Do you really think Palmer is going to read this comment thread? LOL
      2. Who gives a shit?

      • Get Schwifty!

        LOL I would be surprised if he didn’t read it…. he doesn’t have to work, why wouldn’t you read up to see how an interview you did was posted…. if I was going to have my picture put online wearing women’s clothes I would definitely check it out ;)

        • joemitz

          Ok good point there lol – hey may read it indeed. In that case, what up Palmer? How you been broham?

    • NooYawker

      If you think you’re going to change anyones mind with these posts you’re wrong. You’re just uniting them. I mean one guy just posted nimble America didn’t do anything racist. Keep this stuff on political sites.

      • Get Schwifty!

        Poor guy – I really wonder what is in Fleas past that he has this obsessive compulsion regarding Oculus/Trump….

    • Andrew Jakobs

      You’re really the moron here. every single time you keep bitching about this here.. Go somewhere else with your politics, as we don’t care if he was a Trump supporter or not. You’re the only one making it a big problem..

  • Well, he’s back!

    What he says confirm the impressions that he felt like with hands tied at Facebook.

  • Mike549

    I really hope he’s right that integrated headsets are the future. If we had a standalone wireless headset that required no sensors that could do what the PC ones do right now, that might be enough for mass interest provided it’s comfortable with maybe a slightly increased field of view.

    Like the guy from Unity predicted, for under $1000 maybe too, in the next couple years.

  • Foreign Devil

    There should be a basic physical fitness test done before being allowed to wear skimpy cosplay outfits. this goes for guys and girls. My eyes! Some people have no shame.

    • I give Palmer his props for not worrying about how he will be “perceived” by others. There is great freedom in a lifestyle like that. So much of our time is spent worrying about what other people will think of this or that. Sometimes it’s nice to just live your life and not worry about all that crap.

    • crim3

      Do you mean that when watching that picture you don’t feel the urge to rub that hairy belly? You are so weird :D

  • registeredanon

    omg this is hilarious. Palmer truly is our guy

  • Get Schwifty!

    One thought I had here was this concept of fully integrated headsets… I suspect that what is going to happen is a high-fidelity headset that utilizes wireless, and some system of external cameras to both allow for AR and also allow full body representation (in some form) in the virtual space. This can only occur in limited areas like a living room setup or say a play area at an arcade, at least for full on VR. AR applications where body tracking is limited or not necessary are likely to be done with integrated gear as Luckey describes.

  • GrandMaster404

    Seeing how far left Facebook is I don’t blame him for leaving. The left are crazy and will burn down a Starbucks then go to the other Starbucks a block away and order a bubble gum frap. Some how they think legal migration equals racism but child rape is another gender. I feel sorry for the old left who had there old party hijacked. So many Democrats voted for Trump yet the media would never let you realize that. There where more votes for Trump then registered Republicans.

    • Graham J ⭐️

      You need help.

      • GrandMaster404

        Just speaking the truth sorry that offends you.

    • FloridaOJ

      What are you going on about? Lol. Save your political diatribe for your Facebook friends. This is RoadToVR. Also Libertarian > Republican

      • GrandMaster404

        Just saying I don’t blame him for leaving Facebook. I also like libertarian ideas but they are usually never an option.

        • Toby Zuijdveld

          Their social ideals are fine but their economic ideals are lunacy.

    • Sebastien Mathieu

      Trump! the soon to be impeached clown of a president….

      • GrandMaster404

        They said the same about Obama and never happened your never going to get 75% for the impeachment process. It’s to bad he had to leave because the political pressure my bet it was also coming from Facebook. Had he never sold he probably still be in charge.

        • Meow Smith

          Trumps a train wreck waiting to happen, if any one can get impeached its him.

  • iThinkMyCatIsAFlea

    @Palmer Luckey “I know you’re there. I can feel you here.”

    Question 2 of 11.5: How friendly are you with Milo Yiannopoulos and Richard Spencer?

    Question 3: Trump, Bannon, Zuckerberg. You gotta fuck one, marry one, kill one, go!

    • Ombra Alberto

      You’re ridiculous.

  • Morality_Mortality

    Does Palmer ONLY do female cosplay characters ?
    “Not that there’s anything wrong that . . . “

    • Toby Zuijdveld

      There is DEFINITELY something wrong with this.

      • Daniel Gochez

        Seeing him using a bikiny top is something that can’t be unseen.

        • Get Schwifty!

          lol so true…. I mean, I can accept our gender equal culture… but – at least shave for it :)

  • RockstarRepublic

    Remember, if you have a position that is not in line with the lefts chosen position at any given time, you have a …and I quote “polarizing position”.

  • Graham J ⭐️

    Well there’s a picture that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

  • MW

    So,the man like to dress in womans clothes in public. And have fancy name for that (cosplay). What a strange society…

  • Sponge Bob

    great photos
    bearded overweight dude wearing stuff from Victoria secret
    not sure I would want to work for him … not that there is anything wrong with that…

  • Nimblerichman

    You gotta admit-that wonderboy is one sexy faggot!