Meta are rising the worth of all variations of the Meta Quest 2, their flagship wi-fi VR headset, by $100. They introduced the choice in a put up on the Oculus weblog, saying that the rise in worth would assist them “proceed to take a position for the long run and preserve driving the VR business ahead.” Mainly, Meta want to lose much less cash now.
“We’ve been all-in on VR for the reason that early days of PC and cell, during to at this time’s premium standalone 6DOF headsets—and we’ve invested billions of {dollars} to assist nurture a thriving VR ecosystem,” begins the put up on the Oculus weblog. “Now, we’re making a change that may assist us proceed to take a position for the long run and preserve driving the VR business ahead with best-in-class {hardware}, action-packed video games, and cutting-edge analysis on the trail to actually next-gen gadgets.”
From August, the Meta Quest 2 will value $399.99 USD for the 128 GB model and $499.99 USD for the 256GB model. There is no point out within the put up of regional pricing, nevertheless it appears protected to imagine that costs will improve equally in different territories. The 2 variations of the Meta Quest 2 at present value £299 and £399 within the UK.
The put up additionally notes that Meta Quest 2 equipment and refurbished models may also be rising in worth. For a restricted time, purchasers of the Quest 2 will get Beat Saber included totally free as some form of compensation – which is, no less than, the perfect VR sport.
The Meta Quest (previously Oculus Quest) headsets had been priced to encourage adoption within the nascent VR market, and it is seemingly that Meta (previously Fb) have been promoting them at a considerable loss. Rising the worth appears extra more likely to sluggish gross sales than ‘drive the VR business ahead’, however I think about Meta’s collapsing inventory worth in 2022 performs a job within the choice. It is also price noting that Meta have a second quarter earnings name scheduled for tomorrow (July twenty seventh), Meta workers anticipate heavy layoffs (paywalled), and Meta are within the New York Instances at this time making an attempt to make their metaverse pitch sound thrilling and never stumbling and undesirable. The NYT article notes that Meta’s {hardware} unit “misplaced almost $3 billion within the first quarter” of 2022 alone.
For what it is price, the Oculus Quest 2 is an effective headset, and with the ability to play in VR with out wiring as much as a PC is a large boon. Earlier this month, Meta introduced that they might not require a Fb account to make use of the Quest, which is a bonus.
If you happen to’re keen to pay the elevated worth, nonetheless, you may wish to think about the Valve Index headset, which stays dearer at £459 however which is the gold commonplace of VR headsets. No less than till we get a take a look at Meta’s Mission Cambria, their high-end headset which, this worth change announcement notes, is because of launch later this yr.