Facebook pauses global sales of the Oculus Quest 2 while it upgrades the headset’s memory and replaces its foam face covers with a new silicone design. From August 24th, all Quest 2 virtual reality headsets will be delivered with at least 128 GB of storage instead of 64 GB. They come with a silicone interface between your face and the headset instead of the old foam design. And all current Quest 2 owners can request a free silicone mask online to replace their foam mask thanks to a recall after some users reported skin irritation.
The head of Facebook Reality Labs, Andrew Bosworth, announced today in a blog post. “As more and more people got into VR with Quest 2, we received reports that a very small percentage of Quest 2 customers experienced skin irritation after using the detachable foam facial interface that comes with Quest 2 and is also sold separately of the Fit Pack, ”writes Bosworth. “While the reporting rate is low and the majority of reported cases are low, we want to make sure that our products are safe and comfortable for everyone who uses them.”
In cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the company is now voluntarily recalling all foam interfaces from Quest 2 and Quest 2 Fit Pack. Owners can follow the instructions on the Oculus website for a replacement – you’ll need your account login, headset serial number, and an address in one of the supported countries. Even if you are in the majority with no negative reaction, the Quest’s foam headset can soak up sweat during exercise and is more difficult to clean than a smooth face cover, so a silicone mask could be a welcome change.
The CPSC provided some more details about the number of complaints – and possibly some approximate sales for the Quest 2. It said it had received 5,716 reports of skin irritation incidents and “about 45 reports from consumers in need of medical attention” during the The recall affected “approximately 4 million” units in the US and “approximately 172,600” in Canada. This theoretically includes all Quest 2 headsets that ship in both countries, as well as the Quest 2 Fit Packs (which contain two additional facial interfaces in different sizes) and any replacement parts that were sold separately or under warranty.
Facebook first published the foam irritation issue in December 2020, saying that “about 0.01 percent of people” who used the Quest 2 experienced temporary redness, bumps, or swelling. It compared the irritation to that sometimes caused by foam in motorcycle helmets or ski goggles, emphasizing that it was different from the normal indentations or redness that could be seen on the weight of the headset itself.
The Quest 2 storage upgrade, meanwhile, was rumored last week after a retailer’s product description was leaked. It won’t change the base price of the headset from $ 299, and Oculus will still be offering a 256GB model for $ 399 when the upgrade kicks off in August – although the difference between the two will be less pronounced after the upgrade will.
Update 12:00 PM ET: Added details of the recall from the CPSC update.
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