Meta's newest VR headset technology is set to hit shelves later this year, complete with some notable upgrades — and a steeper price tag.
A new report from The Verge revealed that Meta's Quest 3 headset will be at least twice as powerful as the previous iteration. The wearable tech will also be two times thinner and cost "slightly more" than Quest 2, which currently sits at a $400 pricetag.
One of the main draws of the new tech will be its ability to simulate "mixed reality." Similar to the recently announced Quest Pro, Quest 3 will feature front-facing cameras that allow the device to pass through video of the real world. The headset can then use this video input to create mixed reality, resulting in an experience that isn't as immersive as full-on virtual reality.
“The main north star for the team was from the moment you put on this headset, the mixed reality has to make it feel better, easier, more natural,” Mark Rabkin, Meta's vice president for VR, said to employees during a roadmap presentation on Tuesday. “You can walk effortlessly through your house knowing you can see perfectly well. You can put anchors and things on your desktop. You can take your coffee. You can stay in there much longer.”
Rabkin also said that there will be a new "smart guardian" implemented into the device, helping users to navigate the real world while they are wearing the headset. The mixed reality function of Quest 3 will be a big selling point, and Meta hopes that it will help justify the steeper price tag.
“We have to get enthusiasts fired up about [Quest 3],” Rabkin said. “We have to prove to people that all this power, all these new features are worth it.”
Alongside Quest 3's new updated hardware, the new headset will also feature 41 new apps and games. Some of these apps and games will focus on utilizing the mixed reality experiences to their fullest extent, truly showing off what Quest 3 can do.
Quest 2, which was released back in 2021, received a 9/10 rating from IGN's Whitson Gordon thanks to its wireless nature, ease of use, and accessible price. Since its release, though, it seems that Meta has had trouble retaining engagement from users.
“Right now, we’re on our third year of Quest 2,” Rabkin told employees. “And sadly, the newer cohorts that are coming in, the people who bought it this last Christmas, they’re just not as into it” or engaged as “the ones who bought it early.”
Carson Burton is a freelance news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter at @carsonsburton.
