Meta, through an email sent to Quest 1 users, has announced that it will no longer provide the four year old VR headset with any new feature updates. The company notes that owners will still be able to use the device and the apps available for it, but will gradually be locked out from certain social functions as it will lose its compatibility with them moving forward.
In regards to the latter, the email states that Quest 1 users will no longer be able to create or join a party, while those who currently have access to Meta Horizon Home social features will lose access to these features starting 5 March 2023. So once the date rolls in, owners won’t be able to invite other users to your Home or even visit someone else’s, including others who are also sticking with their own first generation Quest VR headset.
Just got this email from Meta. Looks like the Quest 1's days are numbered💀😥 pic.twitter.com/QV3EPBXIuR
— blaze5161𝕏 (@blaze_5161) January 9, 2023
But on the flipside, Meta assures that it will continue to maintain the device’s system software with critical bug fixes and security patches. However, these too have an expiration date as the company plans to cease all updates for the VR headset by 2024. To quote user blaze5161 who shared a screenshot of the email on Twitter, “it looks like the Quest 1’s days are numbered.”
Meta did not explain why it is ending support for the device, though its ageing hardware is likely the reason behind the decision. Chief being its onboard Snapdragon 835 processor, which already precedes the Quest 1 by two years. In comparison, the Quest 2’s Snapdragon XR2 chip is a more recent piece of hardware that provides significant performance to support current generation features, and even newer ones. At least for a couple more years, as it is inevitable that the company’s 2020 VR headset too would eventually lose support somewhere down the line.
And just in case you missed it; Meta officially launched its latest standalone VR headset, the Quest Pro VR, in October of last year. Sporting the newer Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 chipset, the device is touted to offer 50% more processing power than the Quest 2. However, it is safe to assume that the product isn’t for everyone as it also comes with a very hefty price tag of US$ 1,499 (~RM 6,556).
(Source: blaze5161 [Twitter])
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