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  • VRBangers got rid of the download button

Yeah, that sucks! I doubt I'll sub to them again if I can't download scenes...or at least find some kind of workaround.

They come out with these stats that say 90% of members stream and only 10% download etc...but I think sites need to look into why that is.
If you take SLR for example, those figures are probably about right in my case, but there's a good reason for that...the reason being, is that I only d/l scenes I like and think I'll watch again in the future, so I'll stream any new releases that pique my interest, then d/l the ones I want to keep. The problem with SLR atm, is that 90% of their scenes don't interest me, so I very rarely d/l anything from them anymore! So for me, I don't stream more because I prefer it, it's because there's nothing worth downloading in the first place! If SLR released quality scenes like they did a few years back, and had a better selection of 3rd party sites, then I'd download a whole lot more! That's just me though, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd always like an option to download.
How long before sites start to go streaming only, meaning that you have to constantly sub to watch your favourite scenes!? And use their own shitty apps to view them too. Fuck that shit!

I honestly think VR Bangers have pressed the self destruct button 🙂

Their users on the forums are just going to destroy everything they do from now on, the ONLY conversation will be about the removal of the download option and nothing positive from now on and the amount of pushback is off the charts with users requesting refunds or cancellation on all of their sites.

Every action has a consequence and this will cost them dearly !

I think they will reinstate downloads once they realise how much damage the mass exodus of subscribers will do to their bottom line, but the damage will already have been done to trust.

    The no downloads thing, it's not only about if streaming is okay for you at the moment or you can live with the download workaround it's also about vr bangers greatly diminishing your rights as a consumer. They can at any point mess up your download workaround, make other stupid anti consumer limitations like forcing you to keep an active subscription to watch your movies or limit what you can download and how frequently, pulling scenes which will be gone forever like SLR did, etc. But they can't do it all at once, so they chip away at your rights till it's too late.

    It's a slippery slope and user should stand up to this anti consumer behavior before it's to late. Before you know it we'll have traded in all our rights like we did with streaming and games and be much worse off because of it. Porn would simply suck when we only have streaming only walled gardens. We would pay much more (if you want content from multiple sites), couldn't use the vr players we want, have to switch between a shit load of players, wouldn't be able to manage our own library, couldn't make playlists and compilation of multiple studios, generate subtitles or passthrough for your own videos, permanently keep your favorites, have the best quality for the video (not capped to 30mbs, which will be a big deal once 8k+ content will become available), and on and on. Really VR bangers should be boycotted for this until they revert this decision

    I did actually e-mail them regarding the download issue, and this was their reply for anyone who's interested...

    Hello,

    Thank you for getting in touch. The video download functionality has been moved from the website to the PLAY'a app. Make sure to download the PLAY'a app to continue enjoying video downloads with the enhanced features of PLAY'a.

    We understand that this change might be disappointing for some who prefer downloading files. However, based on a thorough analysis of our website data and logs, which revealed that less than 10% of members use the download function through browsers, we have decided to remove this function from the website.

    This change will help reduce server load, improve speed, enhance streaming quality, and ultimately enhance the quality of our future content.

    We recognize that some of you still prefer downloading files, so we have kept the option to download videos through the free PLAY'a app. The app also offers a wide range of functions not available in the browser, as well as many video adjustments, hotkeys, and much more.

    To download a video in the Free PLAY'a app, please follow these steps:

    1. Open the PLAY'a app.
    2. Add vrbangers.com and log in to your account.
    3. Choose the video you want to download and click on it.
    4. Click "Download Video" and choose the video quality.
      ​
      We assure you that the process is straightforward and easy to follow. You can find more information about the app at https://vrbangers.com/app/

      tallbloke35 Those lame generic responses of theirs is the cherry on top of a slap on the customers face.

      I'm just glad this insane business-decision happened before my renewal.

      As you mentioned above, the statistics they provide as a reason is laughable.

          takabom The insane thing is that i'm a lifetime subscriber and yes i'm pissed, but pretty much nothing i can do about it except spread the word of this decision and trust me alot more than i'm willing to reveal.

          But.... who in their right minds would now subscribe as a monthly user to their site where the option to watch their admittedly high quality scenes in the best player available is taken away from them.

          They have amazing image quality and now that is reduced to the shitty Playa option where 8k looks shitter than 4k.

          You may as well just download 4k pirate copy for free, and even as a lifetime subscriber my only option to watch their scenes is piracy at 4k - I literally cannot watch their scenes as a subscriber.

          In... flippin insane but it's Friday and i'm feeling good !

          Fortunately i'm in control of my other subscriptions and as soon as they follow suit i will cancel - I have more than enough downloaded content to see me through but prefer to support creators who are honest and i feel should be rewarded or payed for content they create.

              Silly-Sausage They moved the download options to Play'a, so if you want to download onto a computer you should think about making Play'a work on that computer...

                  Silly-Sausage Life is full of contradictions. The new deal is: We recognize that some of you still prefer downloading files, so we have kept the option to download videos through the free PLAY'a app. Play'a app is available for computers. Unfortunately, on my platform limited to 6K, but you may be luckier.

                  Frankly, I have no idea what the genuine reason behind this move is. To me it seems like a desperate move, one of the kind you make when every penny counts, one or two steps away from bankruptcy.

                      SchnuppiLilac one or two steps away from bankruptcy.

                      At least that would be honesty, I hope they go out of business with this move, but i guarantee 100% they won't because they know how to manipulate people into sympathy.

                      They stole my money - i want them to fail and with their response to my messgaging i'll do everything i can to make it so.

                        It doesnt even work, I cant add the vrbangers.com website.

                        Damn, I have a lifetime account there and feel scammed now.... What a HORRIBLE move

                        Silly-Sausage it already happened to SLR. I only watch passthrough now that I own a Quest 3, and most of it is AI passthrough, which can't be downloaded. SLR keeps implying that they're moving to streaming only, so I wouldn't be surprised if they never add the option to download AI passthrough scenes

                            lolitovtb Well I wouldnt mind that much IF they had a good player that supports all headsets including the AVP. Right now AVP support for streaming downright s*cks, so anyone with an AVP really needs to be downloading. But if you can just stream at max quality without hiccups, personally I wouldnt have any issues. I guess the only risk then would still be that if the company stops, then you're left without any content.

                              There's over 100 negative responses on that forum thread now (mostly all unique users too), and here's a summary of what I gathered from there:

                              • Apple Vision Pro users can't access VRBangers in the app, so they are fucked
                              • Pico users can't use PLAY'a, so they are fucked
                              • Meta 3 users can't download the files successfully, so they are fucked
                              • Linux users can't download the files, so they are fucked
                              • PLAY'a doesn't allow resumes, so people with less robust wifi are fucked

                              VRB is a total joke. They can't do anything right. They sail only on their marketing and getting some big names every once in a while. Just a greedy and unethical company.

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                                • Post #23

                                PLAY'A doesn't work for me and Streaming through the browser only offers 4K quality. Unfortunately, I'm a lifetime subscriber, so it's too late for me. But the rest of you can step back and let that site rot!

                                I don't post on forums often but, as a lifetime subscriber to VRBangers, I'm fucking pissed about this. Who in their right mind would want to sign up for this bullshit?! Fuck VRB