Virtual reality has long been touted as the next big thing in gaming. But it still hasn’t reached the masses like traditional consoles. Facebook hopes to bring VR to the public with the release of Oculus Quest 2.
Oculus Quest 2 is an all-in-one wireless VR platform that doesn’t need to be connected to a game console or PC. It’s priced at $ 299 for 64GB of storage and $ 399 for 128GB.
“Our goal is for VR to become a self-sustaining ecosystem in which developers are able to build significant companies on the platform while people can try more and more amazing games and experiences,” said Prabhu Parthasarathy, VR- Product manager at Facebook Reality Labs said. “To support this, our ultimate goal is to get Quest 2 into the hands of as many people as possible.”
VR faced hurdles as it achieved widespread adoption, including cost, lack of content, and the ability to adapt to a wide variety of sizes. With the Oculus Quest 2, Facebook wanted to address all three areas.
“Content turns a piece of hardware into a magical experience,” said Parthasarathy. “Without question, there should be an experience for everyone when they pick up an Oculus headset.”
However, content means little if the cost of entry is too high – a concern Facebook has heard loud and clear.
“To be something everyone can enjoy, VR has to be something everyone can afford,” Parthasarathy said. “We worked hard to bring Quest 2 for $ 299, $ 100 cheaper than the original Quest as it is an important way to bring VR within reach for more people.”
At first, the new price seems to have worked. In a Facebook poll to win, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that the Oculus Quest 2 was pre-ordered five times as many times as the original Quest before it launched in October. There are also a number of accessories that are designed to help people find the most comfortable fit.
“VR needs to be flexible enough to meet the needs of a wide variety of people,” Parthasarathy said. “With a product that you wear on your head, there is no one size fits all. That’s why we offer a range of optional, customizable accessories that people can use to find their own fit. “
Although Quest 2 got off to a good start, it was not undisputed. Most notably, new users and users of new devices have been encouraged to log into their Oculus headsets with a Facebook account.
“This makes it easier for people to make friends and connect with them while still maintaining a separate VR profile,” said Parthasarathy. “We know that social VR has so much more to offer, and this change will make it possible to incorporate a lot more Facebook-based social functionality.”
While several new game systems were released this fall, Facebook is betting on VR and believing it will continue to push boundaries for its users.
“There is so much potential for VR to improve our lives in so many areas, but especially in strengthening human connections despite distance,” said Parthasarathy. “There are many challenges in making this vision a reality, from building new technologies like more realistic avatars to promoting the development of new apps that enable these new experiences. We are committed to the long term to realize the full potential of this great technology. “
Contact Lukas Eggen at leggen@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279. Follow @lukaseggen on Twitter.
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