Launched back in 2019, the Meta Quest 1 was a major contribution to the augmented reality sector. Zuckerberg’s company believes that they are ready to retire and make way for the new generations.
This August will mark a turning point in the development of virtual reality glasses as a mass-market product. A sector still in its infancy, with a product that is still niche, is taking a generational leap thanks to Meta (Facebook), which has been leading this segment for years with its Meta Quest 1 and 2. The first model of these glasses, launched in 2019, will no longer receive support from Meta from August 30, as reported by the technology company.
Mark Zuckerberg’s company is immersed in the Meta Quest 3released in 2023. The previous model, the Quest 2, was released in 2020. While there have been attempts to mass-produce VR headsets suitable for the general public (such as the failed Google Glass), it was Meta who, after buying the company Oculus VR In 2014, it has been betting heavily on its Quest models, although little by little it has been facing more competitors, such as the recent Vision Pro from Apple or even the Nintendo Labo.
In this context, Meta has sent an email to Quest 1 users, notifying them that the device will no longer receive updates and security patches, although they will be able to continue using it as long as the applications or games are compatible. “We would like to inform you that, starting August 31, 2024, we will no longer offer bug fixes or security patches for the Meta Quest 1 headset. You will be able to continue downloading new applications and continue using the ones you already have, as long as the developer supports them. However, if a security flaw were discovered in the future, private data stored directly on the device or accessible from it would be at risk of being compromised,” the technology company indicates.
Although they may still be in use, a device is typically considered obsolete when its company stops offering support and updates, at which point the device is stuck in the past.
In addition to Meta itself, the popular developer for this virtual reality headset, Beat Games, also announced that it would stop offering support for its Beat Saber game for this Quest 1 model starting November 2, 2024. This means that not only will its players no longer receive updates, but they will also no longer be able to access multiplayer mode. At the same time, users will also no longer be able to access Meta Horizon Home, which brought together social functions.
VR glasses are not going anywhere
With two models ahead of us and new plans from Meta to create a new, more affordable model as well as a Pro version, the sector says goodbye to the Meta Quest 1, a model that undoubtedly set a precedent in the virtual reality glasses market. “We are excited about the future of Meta Quest and look forward to offering you more MR (Mixed Reality) experiences,” concludes the email sent by Meta.
Currently, the Meta Quest 3 can be found at a price of 549 euros, while the Quest 2 can be found for around 480 euros.
