Soon, we won't even have a virtual reality without Facebook. The ubiquitous social networking/advertising firm just announced it's buying Oculus VR, maker of the much-hyped virtual reality platform Oculus Rift, for $2 billion.

"Our mission is to make the world more open and connected," Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement.

"This is where Oculus comes in. They build virtual reality technology, like the Oculus Rift headset. When you put it on, you enter a completely immersive computer-generated environment, like a game or a movie scene or a place far away. The incredible thing about the technology is that you feel like you're actually present in another place with other people. People who try it say it's different from anything they've ever experienced in their lives."

Oculus will operate as an independent department within Facebook, and will initially continue focusing on games. But in the long term, Zuckerberg views the Rift—like everything else he touches—as "a communication platform."

"By feeling truly present, you can share unbounded spaces and experiences with the people in your life. Imagine sharing not just moments with your friends online, but entire experiences and adventures," Zuck wrote.

And Facebook will be right there with you, finding a way to monetize those experiences.

[Photo Credit: Oculus VR]