META is ending support for a beloved virtual reality tool – and users are begging the company to rethink its decision.
In an email to owners of the original Meta Quest, the company informed them that the headset would no longer receive bug fixes or security updates starting August 31.
Users will still be able to download new apps and continue using existing apps as long as they are supported by the developer.
Meta rounded out the email with a grim warning to customers: continue use at your own risk.
“However, if any security vulnerabilities are discovered in the future, private data that is directly stored on the device or accessible from it would be at risk of compromise,” the email read.
Confusion and outrage exploded across social media as customers continued to receive notifications.
As one user on Reddit put it: “A great tragedy befalls this day.”
“I understand bug fixes, but no security patches? Come on,” another Redditor lamented.
“This is really too bad – I am still enjoying using my Quest, I see how much nicer the new ones are but I can’t afford a new one. I feel like meta should do at least the bare minimum of fixing security holes for older hardware.”
Meta first indicated that support would crawl to a halt in January 2023 when the company announced it would stop releasing new features and apps for the headset.
The Meta Quest debuted in 2019, originally known as the Oculus Quest.
The headset was the first of its kind to offer positional tracking and six degrees of freedom.
The term describes the number of ways an object can move in three-dimensional space. Early VR headsets were generally limited to three degrees of freedom.
The original Quest is not the first VR tool Meta has abandoned either. The company discontinued the headset’s predecessor, Oculus Go, in 2020, but continued support through 2022.
And newer products continue to flow onto the market. This includes the Meta Quest 3, a mixed-reality headset released in October 2023.
The reality-bending Quest 3 allows users to “play a virtual piano on your coffee table” and “open a portal in your living room,” seamlessly blending the lines between digital and physical.
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The announcement may come in anticipation of the Meta Quest 3S, rumored to be a cheaper alternative to the Quest 3.
Meta has done its part to stoke the swirling rumors. The name “Quest 3S” appeared in the digital software store, and CTO Andrew Bosworth showcased it in a video, seemingly by accident.
The company appeared to tease coming developments in the email.
“We’re excited about the future of Meta Quest and look forward to providing you with more groundbreaking MR experiences,” it read.
Virtual Reality v.s. Augmented Reality – what’s the difference?
Here’s what you need to know…
- Virtual reality involves using a headset to simulate a virtual world
- In a VR world, everything you see will be computer-generated
- Popular VR headsets include the HTC Vive and Facebook’s Oculus Rift
- Augmented reality lets you see the real world, but “augments” (or adds on) computer-generated elements
- This means you’ll be able to see computer images overlaid onto your real-world view
- For instance, you could wear glasses that overlay directions onto the road in front of you
- Popular AR headsets include Microsoft’s HoloLens and the Google Glass spectacles
- Meanwhile, VR headsets included the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro
- Some headsets offer mixed reality, and can blend both experiences