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 digital actuality headset this yr, 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 brand new tab), that Meta shared with its workers on Tuesday.

The brand new Quest 3 headset will probably be two instances thinner and a minimum of twice as highly effective as the corporate’s present mannequin, Quest 2. It should even be barely costlier (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 aren’t any plans for a followup for the $1,499 Meta Quest Professional which launched late final yr, 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 to this point. However he additionally stated that the individuals who purchased Quest 2 lately are “simply not as into it” because the customers who purchased it earlier.

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

Meta can also be planning a followup to its augmented actuality glasses, co-created with Ray-Ban’s dad or mum Luxottica, as early as this fall. We did not like the primary model, however provided that Meta did not share any gross sales numbers, it is arduous to say whether or not they’ve made a huge impact 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 era 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 may permit customers to manage them with hand gestures.

Lastly, Meta can also be planning a smartwatch that may work with the sensible glasses, positioning it as an optionally available 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 does not plan to launch them to the general public till 2027.

It’s a must to hand it to Meta: Regardless of latest layoffs (and probably extra forward), and a lukewarm reception of lots of its VR and AR efforts (together with complaints from workers), 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 blended actuality headset this June.