Meta has large plans for VR, regardless of customers not being that into it

Meta is planning to launch a brand new model of its Quest virtual reality headset this 12 months, adopted by two extra superior fashions in a while.

That is in accordance with an in depth roadmap presentation, obtained by The Verge(Opens in a new tab), that Meta shared with its workers on Tuesday.

The brand new Quest 3 headset will probably be two occasions thinner and at the least twice as highly effective as the corporate’s present mannequin, Quest 2. It would even be barely dearer (Quest 2 retails for $400), workers have been advised in the course of the presentation. The corporate additionally plans to have 41 new apps and video games transport for the Quest 3.

That is simply the beginning, although. In 2024, Meta plans to launch a less expensive headset codenamed Ventura. And whereas there are not any plans for a followup for the $1,499 Meta Quest Pro which launched late final 12 months, the corporate does plan to launch a extra superior headset someday after Ventura. Codenamed La Jolla, it can characteristic photorealistic Codec Avatars.

A really fascinating tidbit from the presentation got here from Mark Rabkin, Meta’s vice chairman for VR, who advised workers that the corporate offered almost 20 million Quest headsets up to now. However he additionally stated that the individuals who purchased Quest 2 just lately are “simply not as into it” because the customers who purchased it earlier.

That is fascinating. We all know that Meta is losing money(Opens in a new tab) on its digital and augmented actuality efforts, and we have seen reports(Opens in a new tab) about customers not being too desperate to return to a few of Meta’s VR experiences after first attempting it out, nevertheless it’s totally different to listen to that from the corporate itself.

Meta can also be planning a followup to its augmented reality glasses, co-created with Ray-Ban’s guardian Luxottica, as early as this fall. We did not just like the first version, however on condition that Meta did not share any gross sales numbers, it is onerous to say whether or not they’ve made a big effect on customers (I definitely have not seen them worn by anybody). There are few particulars in regards to the second model of the glasses, however Meta is already planning a 3rd technology for 2025, which could have a “viewfinder,” permitting customers to view incoming textual content messages, translate textual content, and scan QE codes. They will even have a “neural interface” band that can permit customers to manage them with hand gestures.

Lastly, Meta can also be planning a smartwatch that can work with the good glasses, positioning it as an elective improve over the neural interface band.

There’s extra. Whereas Ray-Ban Tales and their rapid successors are pretty restricted in what they’ll do, Meta can also be engaged on a pair of true augmented actuality glasses, codenamed Orion. The corporate plans to launch these internally for workers in 2024, however would not plan to launch them to the general public till 2027.

You must hand it to Meta: Regardless of current layoffs (and probably extra forward), and a lukewarm reception of lots of its VR and AR efforts (together with complaints from employees), the corporate seems to be doubling down on its efforts to construct the Metaverse.

Meta’s VR and AR efforts will definitely make for an fascinating race with Apple, which is reportedly planning to launch its first mixed reality headset this June.