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 will no longer receive bug fixes or security updates starting August 31.
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Users will still be able to download new apps and continue using existing apps as long as they are supported by the developer.
Meta ended the email with a grim warning to customers: continue using it at your own risk.
“However, if any security vulnerabilities are discovered in the futureprivate data stored directly on or accessible from the device would be compromised by the compromise,” the email said.
Confusion and anger erupted on social media as customers continued to receive notices.
As one Reddit user said: “A great tragedy occurs today.”
“I understand the bug fixes, but no security patches? Come on,” complained another Redditor.
“That’s really too bad – I’m still enjoying using my Quest, I can see how much nicer the new ones are, but I can’t afford a new one. I feel the meta should at least do minimum fixing of security holes for older hardware.”
Meta first indicated that support will end in January 2023 when the company announced that it would stop releasing new the features and headset apps.
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 isn’t even the first VR vehicle Meta has abandoned. The company discontinued the headset’s predecessor, the Oculus Go, in 2020, but continued support until 2022.
And newer products continue to flow into 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 the digital and the physical.
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The announcement could come in anticipation of the Meta Quest 3S, which is rumored to be a cheaper alternative to the Quest 3.
The meta has done its part to fuel the raging rumors. The name “Quest 3S” appeared in the digital software store, and CTO Andrew Bosworth featured it in a video, apparently by accident.
The company seemed to tease future developments in email.
“We are excited about the future of Meta Quest and look forward to bringing you more innovative MR experiences,” it read.
Virtual Reality vs 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 HTC Vive and Facebook’s Oculus Rift
- Augmented reality allows you to see the real world, but “adds” (or adds) computer-generated elements
- This means that you will be able to see computer images superimposed on your real world view
- For example, you can wear glasses that overlay the directions on the road ahead of you
- Popular AR headsets include Microsoft’s HoloLens and Google Glass
- Meanwhile, VR headsets included the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro
- Some headsets offer mixed reality and can combine both experiences