The Oculus Quest 2 will get a memory upgrade at the end of August, including a silicone case.
Scott Stein / CNET
Facebook announced Tuesday that it is temporarily ceasing sales of the Oculus Quest 2 a month before a planned update to a new entry-level model with more onboard storage. The move comes after several reported cases of skin reactions to the headset’s foam front panel, the social media giant confirmed.
The reactions to the foam face part haven’t happened to everyone, but reported cases have been bad enough at times to puff out faces and close eyes. In coordination with the US Product Safety Commission, Facebook voluntarily stopped selling the Quest 2.
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The company will equip the new version of the Quest 2 with a new silicone face cover. Existing customers can also contact Facebook for replacement coverage.
The recall comes a month before Facebook updates the Quest 2 with more storage: A new version of the Quest for $ 299, which hits stores on August 24, will have 128 GB instead of 64 GB. Quest models will include the silicone face cover in the packaging from this point on. It’s an inopportune time to move, but it also looks like a chance for Facebook to replace the Quest 2 components with models with silicone cases.
“Consumers who experience skin irritation or reaction should stop using the recalled foam facial interface immediately and all consumers should contact Facebook Technologies for a free silicone case,” said the US Product Safety Commission.
According to Facebook, “If you haven’t experienced any irritation, you don’t need to stop using it immediately, but you can still request a free silicone case. If you experience irritation you should stop using the foam facial interface immediately. “
What does that mean for you?
Order one of the silicone foam covers for Facebook’s Quest faceplate that Facebook is now offering. And stop using the Quest 2 if you have any safety concerns. The Quest 2 is not recommended for children under the age of 13, but be aware of the concerns when using VR.
That being said, none of my friends or family who use the Quest 2 have had any skin reaction issues. But I know one person who sent me a report about a friend who had a reaction. The silicone case is free, and you should probably use one in the future if you’ve never used VR before.
Is it an allergic reaction? (No, apparently)
Facebook is calling the problem contact dermatitis rather than an allergic reaction, according to an internal investigation with dermatologists that began last December. Facebook offered a statement from Dr. Robert Rietschel, co-author of the dermatological reference book “Fisher’s Contact Dermatitis”: “I have carefully checked the customer reports and data. In my opinion this is not an allergic reaction (i.e. not systemic or life threatening) and a certain percentage of the population reacts to everyday objects, including those worn on the body, by causing skin swelling. In fact, this is the same type of skin reaction that can be caused in some people by everyday household objects such as cinnamon flavorings and even foods like tomatoes. In the vast majority of cases, I did The reaction resolves on its own without medical attention or permanent effects. I believe the current state of reports and the severity of the reaction are about, if not less than, what can be expected. “
Is Facebook planning to do anything beyond the silicone case?
Nothing else has been announced, and it looks like this silicone sleeve (which covers the foam on the plastic liner) is the only blueprint. There are third-party faceplates that use different materials, but Facebook hasn’t announced any plans to make any new accessories yet.
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