Having been released at a very consumer-friendly price point  (starting at $299,) the Virtual Reality (VR) headset has become the go-to VR device for many consumers. With talk of a third and fourth generation of the wildly successful VR offering being already in development Facebook executives, earlier this year, confirmed that we would sooner see a Pro version of the Oculus Quest 2 before an Oculus Quest 3.

The Oculus Quest 3 is still a possibility for the breakthrough VR headset brand, however, the Quest 2 has been so successful on the market, that the firm seems to have taken an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. Instead, Oculus plans to extend the Quest 2’s shelf life, and (not in 2021) release a Pro version, featuring improvements to its namesake’s functionality.

What can Quest 2 users expect?

“For those who are curious, Quest 2 is going to be in the market for a while—for a long while, and it’s gonna be, you know, I think the best bet for the most accessible way to get into VR and have a great experience,” – Andrew Bosworth, Facebook Reality Labs Vice President, In Upload VR hosted, Twitter Q&A session this April.

Good news for Quest 2 users, as the announcement means that services and software upgrades dedicated to the Quest 2 VR headset will continue to be dished out for quite some time. With the Quest 2 a long way away from obsolescence, the device stands to be the go-to VR device for the next several months.

The Oculus 2, which features standalone capabilities, means – unlike previous VR headsets – does not need to be tethered to a powerful PC or laptop to run. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon, XR 2 processor and 6GB of RAM in both the 64GB ($299,) and 256GB ($399) options, this device requires little improvement hardware-wise at this stage.

In terms of updates, Facebook’s breakthrough VR brand has, through software updates, increased the device’s refresh rate from 72Hz to 90Hz. There were plans of an additional increase to 120 Hz when we last checked.

“I did hint at an AMA earlier this year about Quest Pro because we do have a lot of things in development where we want to introduce new functionality to the headset along with the kinds that people theorize that we would want to introduce, and that’s a little ways off still” commented Bosworth, during the Q&A session, suggesting that the Oculus Quest 2 would not see a successor in the market in the foreseeable future.

Closing thoughts on Oculus 3 and 2

The Oculus 3 is a long way away from being a reality, though it is rumored already to be in Research & Development. The Quest 2 made such a splash that Facebook seems to be placing big bets on its continued relevance, opting to better the VR experience it delivers through continuous upgrades. It is such a decent device that we look forward to a Pro version, I a new edition won’t be available shortly

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Virtual Reality technology is designed to immerse people in environments, and have them experience exhilarating gameplay in a more engaging way than ever before. What the Swedish video game firm behind the Wraith: The Oblivion title exemplifies, is just how far the medium allows the mind to stretch, in terms of constructing novel narratives. 

Set to release on Oculus Rift, & Quest platforms, PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, Valve’s Index, as well as Steam within the month. Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife is based on a 1994 book by White Wolf Publishing, that goes by the same title. The game forms part of the stable’s World of Darkness narrative universe. The World of Darkness series of games features other titles, like Werewolf: The Apocalypse, and Vampire: The Masquerade. 

Players who have encountered any of the titles in the World of Darkness series may be familiar with the game’s setting, The Barclay mansion. A palatial residence that has a lot of metaphysical stuff going on beyond its opulent façade.

In the Wraith: The Oblivion game, players step into the shoes – so to speak – of a recently deceased individual who expired under mysterious circumstances, during a séance. Returning as a restless spirit, or wraith, one explores the question of what lies beyond the grave while haunting the Barclay mansion, in search of answers as to why – and how – they died. 

One quickly finds that they are not the only spirits wandering the mansion’s halls. They’re not out to have a conversation or compare notes about the whole ‘being dead’ thing either. Though some combat aspects are incorporated into the title’s gameplay, the game puts a greater emphasis on stealth. This means one does a great deal more sneaking, and escaping than actual fighting. 

Being a spirit – after all – one is equipped with some special abilities to make the investigation a tad easier. Ducking and diving around other restless souls, probably mad about their own deaths, one has the ability to Wraithgrasp, become insubstantial, and employ their Sharpened Senses ability whenever the situation calls for it. 

With the Wraithgrasp ability, one can lift, and move, objects from a distance, regardless of weight, or size. This might be an acquired ability however, not one that is available from the onset. Insubstantiality, on the other hand, allows one the ability to phase through walls, when certain markers appear. Excellent for quick escapes in tight situations. 

Sharpened sense, is pretty much a homing ability connected to the game map. It enables one to, more easily, reach their next objective by scanning their environment with their hand. One of the player’s hands will glow when they are close to getting close.

Though based on a book, the game – put together by a team consisting of director, Erik OdelDahl, designer Daniel Kihlgren Kallander, and programmer, Casper Renman – the game is still set up to be easy to play, by gamers who are to the World of Darkness series.  This game is targeted at narrative-based horror game enthusiasts, and features no gore. Just suspense, and thrill. 

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While hardware extensions to standalone gaming console staples,  Xbox, and Playstation inspired a fitness gaming craze, VR technology has taken it to a whole new level. The Kinect, Nintendo Wii, and PS Move were geared at encouraging users to be more active. The very movement intensive nature of Virtual Reality (VR) consoles means that a simple gaming session can easily turn into a full body workout.

The fact that VR offers a more physical, and immersive, gaming experience than classic screen-display, couch potato gaming, did not go completely unnoticed by gaming developers. As such, Oculus offers a number of phenomenal fitness oriented gaming titles.

Supernatural

This is – by far – VR’s most highly ranked fitness app. It doesn’t just deliver a rhythm based gaming experience that is intense enough to give one a workout, it is an app that was purpose built for fitness.

Instead of having to slash through shapes with a virtual lightsaber, or leaping, and squatting to fit through strangely shaped objects, users of the Supernatural app are treated to aerobic workouts – delivered by actual humans. The coaches have different personalities and deliver motivation throughout the workout, so one can choose how to keep themselves going. 

The app features workouts of different intensity, and length, along with enabling one to choose from a host of popular songs to workout to. In addition to that, users also have the freedom of picking from a number of different scenic locations, to have their workout session. 

FitXR

FitXR isn’t as aesthetically put together as Supernatural, the music is generic, the graphics are – well – OK, and much of the bells and whistles that make Supernatural such a phenomenal app are not to be found on this game. However, the game’s intensity, and mix of boxing, or dance based workout routines makes it a great workout title.

Players can choose to either dance, or box their way through their workout session. Boxing workouts require one to jab, hook, and uppercut to bust targets that come at them at varying paces. One has to really throw an elbow in order for the hit to effectively destroy a target, so one can expect to get some good cardio work out of this title. 

Beat Saber

Not exactly a workout app, but it really gets the job done. Beat Saber equips the player with a lightsaber, which they must use to cut through objects that fly at them at variable intensities. 

The game is challenging enough to inspire multiple playthroughs, so it’s pretty simple to work into a more interactive, and dynamic workout routine. It would be cool to have a duel wield option, just for laughs.

VZFit 

VZFit offers the gaming experience of titles like Beat Saber, or FitXR, combined with the scenic interactivity of Supernatural – on an exercise bike. By attaching a cadence sensor to one’s excecise bike, they virtually cycle around the globe, with the help of Google’s immersive street views. 

Though the game seems more roughly put together than other Oculus fitness titles, it shines most when using Google’s immersive street views. It’s turning mechanism has a very natural feel to it, really creating the effect of actually paddling past the Louvre at 4am in the morning. 

VZFit comes with some games as well, one can paddle to send a race car barreling down a track, or be a tank commander, mowing other vehicles down with heavy artillery. Paddling faster makes the vehicle go faster, while head turns cause the vehicle to turn. Simple enough, fully engaging.

Racket: Nx

Fancy a game of squash? Try it in a Sci-Fi themed, thunderdome-like environment. Racket: Nx is another of those accidental fitness titles that just deserve honorable mention for the calorie burning workout they delivers. armed with a racket, the player must work at destroying illuminated hexagonal tiles.

There is a tracker-beam between ball and racket so one has the added benefit of calling the ball back for another beating. It also helps to send the ball up in a way that enables it to knockout multiple tiles at once. So, some hand-eye coordination is in order. 

Oh Shape

This is a dance-based fitness app for folks who don’t dance much. This isn’t Dance Central, or FitXR. In fact, Oh Shape doesn’t look much like a dance game, as there are no avatars to create, or any dance routines to master. What players of this title will appreciate most, is the novel, and simplistic approach to the dance genre.

All one does is stand on a conveyor belt, ducking walls. The key twist is that these walls have different body poses cut into them, that the player must contort, lunge, and jump to fit into. I doubt that I really need to say more. The workout that awaits players of this game is probably quite clear already. 

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About six months since it first went on sale, the Oculus Quest 2 has blown past a lot of rivals by delivering a great VR experience, at a more accessible price point. The VR product’s success is perhaps evidenced by the usage stats presented, every month, by Steam. Last month’s survey painted a similar picture. 

In February, Oculus Quest 2 took up 22.91 percent of total VR hardware numbers, while the Oculus Rift took second position with 21.58 percent of the platform’s total adoption rate. Placing third, and securing Oculus’ dominance over VR headset adoption, is the company’s Oculus Rift (standard model,) commanding 16% of VR hardware adoption rates. Tallied together, that is a total of 60.48% of VR hardware usage of the gaming platform belonging to Oculus products.

In March however, the numbers are slightly down from the previous month (by about 8.2%.) Total Oculus adoption in March added up to 52.28%, with the Oculus Quest 2’s popularity showing no sign of abating, increasing its share of Steam’s on-platform VR hardware uptake rate to 24.25%. Oculus’ Rift S headset usage rate indicates that it may be falling out favor with users, with its adoption rate falling slightly, to 20.96%. The Rift (proper) on the other hand, may be losing ground to newer models, as it went shrinking violet in March, giving up a good amount of market share to finish the month off with 7.07% of VR user patronage.

The best VR headset of 2021 – thus far – is the Oculus Quest 2, according to PC Gamer. Hard to see why it shouldn’t be ranked so, despite the fact that the Oculus Quest 2 really isn’t the most technically powerful of the current crop of VR gaming products out there, as it delivers amply on factors that have made VR more than just a novelty technology that can be appreciated by a few.

Having moved 1.1million units (by last count, back in February) since launch, the Quest 2 is lauded as the VR headset that finally brought VR technology into the limelight. The headset was less awkward than previous models, with built-in tracking, ergonomic, lightweight design, and most importantly, it was wireless. Previous iterations of VR headset technology had required a wire link-up to powerful – and expensive – gaming PC’s. Which left the average casual gamer out. 

Oculus sought to marry the two separate spheres of the gaming market, by designing a VR headset that delivers on the needs of both hardcore, and casual gaming enthusiasts. At a price point that left nobody complaining. “When I first tried Quest, it really felt like the experience I had seeing the first iPhone,” explained Mike Verdu, Facebook’s Head of AR/VR Content, to GQ magazine UK back in February.

The jury is still out on whether, or not, the company can keep up it’s dominance over the VR headset market. However, Facebook have stated, repeatedly, how bullish they are on the technology, and have moved to dominate the space by delivering an intuitively designed piece of hardware. Oculus’ VR hardware offerings are obviously the ones to beat right now, and from the looks of things. Other VR brands aren’t about to rest on their laurels. Expect VR technology to be a hot topic in the months to come.

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“We’re continuing to work on new hardware [which] will fit the same platform, so the content that works on Quest 2 should be forward-compatible, so that we’re going to build one larger install base around the virtual reality headsets that we have.” said Zuckerberg, in an earnings call statement back in January. About two months ahead of the The Information interview. The announcement inspired a bevy of speculation, as to how far along the development journey the next generation Oculus was, and what it would look like. Right down to the improvements it would featureover it’s predecessor – which is currently selling like hot cakes.  

Oculus’ current premier headset model, the Oculus Quest 2 has only been out a few months, and has already garnered critical acclaim as the best VR headset to date. The Quest has also earned the title of most used VR headset on video game streaming platform, STEAM. The fact that Facebook has confirmed news that they are already designin third and fourth edition of the headset does indicate that the current model will have a short run, however. 

With information on the next Oculus headset is currently scant, and severely hard to come by, we can only – at this point – speculate on when Oculus might trickling – at the very least – images of the next Quest headset. Seeing as the Oculus Quest 2 has only just seen the light of day – having been released during the tail end of 2020, this year is most likely out of the running for a Quest 3 release. 2022-2023 may bring us our first glimpses of Oculus’ next VR product, if Mark Zuckerberg’s bullish statements are anything to go by. 

So why the rush to announce? “Because of how hardware gets developed, you kind of need to know what your next three products are going to look like, all at the same time. It’s not like software where we’re changing it every week or every couple of weeks,” explained Zuckerberg  “So we have product teams spun up now working on the next few generations of virtual reality and what Quest 3 and 4 are going to look like. And then of course fundamental technology that goes into that in terms of improving the optics, and the performance of it, and making it smaller and lighter, and adding a lot of functionality that you’d want.”

Zuckerberg also said – during is discussion with The Information – that all improvements added to their Quest VR headsets were based on the company’s drive to offer ” social presence”. This probably means that future versions of the Quest will come packed with features that make the VR computing experience feel more natural. 

“For example one of the things that I’m really excited about for future versions [of the Oculus Quest VR headset] is getting eye-tracking and face-tracking in, because if you’re really excited about social presence, you want to make sure that the device has all the sensors to really animate realistic avatars so you can communicate well like that.” – Zuckerberg

Improvements – over the current iteration of the Quest product – that are expected ranged from form factor (product look and feel), to display as well as performance. The Quest 3 and 4 will continue the “standalone device” element of the product, that much is certain (I mean – why revert back to cables, right?)

Anyway, it looks as though the next generation Quest will host a far higher refresh rate than the current model. We’re talking 120 Hz, as opposed to the standing 72Hz. Integration into the Facebook ecosystem is something that is likely going to continue with the Quest 3 and 4, requiring users to have a Facebook account to operate the device. A improved controller experience is probably also on the cards, as the firm will most likely want to take advantage current haptick feedback technology that is found in gaming consoles, in an effort to improve he VR experience.

The technology entrepreneur also highlighted some challenges to the Quest delivering an even more seamless immersive experience, that the firm was focusing on with subsequent models. Varifocal, and HDR displays. Unlike the mobile phones – with a single display screen – VR has been battling with fine tuning the display experience for one focal length. . “So your eyes try to focus [when looking at close objects] and you can’t because they’re just projecting one distance. That’s something that needs to get solved…” Mark eloborated.

While it may take a bit before the next iteration of the Oculus Quest sees the light of day, Mark Zuckerberg also shed some light on the internet firm’s XR glasses, Facebook smartglasses – due later this year. The Facebook founder also divulged some details about a wrist worn device the firm has been running through Research, & Development. He did say his company was bullish on the tech. 

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Launched on October 13th of 2020, the Oculus Quest 2 isn’t just 10% less weighty than the previous headset in the Quest family, but also a hundred dollars cheaper, at a $299 price point. The device also marks a new direction for the firm behind the Quest headset line, Oculus, as the firm will discontinue all other headsets in their stable, in order to focus on making a single, comfortable, gateway device for new entrants into the VR gaming world. As such, the firm has departed from their trademark, black and have opted for a more distinct, white – making the Oculus 2 easier to distinguish from other VR headset offerings.

Like its forebear, the Quest 2 features Oculus’ proprietary Oculus Insight motion tracking system, but seeing as the Quest 2 is intended to usher in a new era in VR – enabling developers to throw together enhanced VR experiences – the firm has pulled out all the stops regarding hardware capabilities. The Quest 2 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon™ XR2 processing unit, allowing for added AI functionality.

Oculus have also added 6 Gigabytes of RAM to the 503g Quest 2 (the original quest weighed in at 371g), along with increased display resolution, at 1832 × 1920 pixels per eye – second only to HP’s Reverb headset which, it is said, will deliver a 2,160 × 2,160 pixel display to each eye. In addition to offering a 50% more vivid display than its predecessor, the Oculus Quest 2 also processes graphics at 90Hz (no upgrade required), making the headset capable of running system applications; Oculus TV, the Oculus Home Environment, App Store and Browser. Oculus will allow developers to full 90Hz soon, the company says.

Now for the controllers. This area is usually a bone of contention with users. Understandably so, seeing as VR is a fledgling industry, and both hardware, as well as software, developers in the field are still figuring the interface element out. Oculus’ Quest 2 headset comes with a set of freshly minted Touch controllers, which are designs with ergonomics in mind. The company even went as far as forgoing a built-in rechargeable battery, for a standard AA battery – optimised to last four times longer than previous Oculus model’s controller, mind you – because they couldn’t figure out a charging position that wasn’t “awkward”.

VR For The People

From weight distribution, to hardware performance, and design, right down to the price, the Oculus Quest 2 was constructed with the aim of positioning the device as the go-to VR device for new adopters of the technology. It is, essentially, the first of a new generation of VR headset geared towards mass-adoption. A 10% weight reduction to improve portability is one attestation to that fact, but a more obvious one is likely the fact the Quest 2 comes with a built-in  IPD (interpupillary distance) adjustment mechanism.

Along with support for a new range of accessory options designed to enhance the duration of headset use, as well as overall comfort, the Quest 2 comes with a Fit Pack; offering interchangeable “facial interfaces” – designed to fit wide and narrow face types

The Future Is Quest

The VR firm have also announced that, following the launch of the Quest 2, they will be putting all their weight behind stand alone VR offerings and essentially sang their PC-connected headset offering – Oculus Rift – a sweet requiem. All games requiring a PC can still be enjoyed through the Oculus Link USB cable, using a Quest.

Global sales of the first Quest headset also ceased with the Quest 2 going on sale, however this does not mean that support for the device has been cancelled. On the contrary, developers will still be able to release titles for the original device.

“Our goal with the original Quest was to bring standalone VR to as many people as possible. We’re doubling down on that goal with Quest 2. It combines the performance gamers want with the flexibility people need, all at a price significantly lower than similarly featured headsets on the market. Quest 2 is more than just the next step in all-in-one VR.” – Oculus

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When looked at through the eyes of the everyday consumer, VR goggles can be a little intimidating, or even unnecessary. This can – in part – be blamed on people’s general aversion to complexity. The Oculus Quest – nestled between it’s stable mates, the  PC powered Oculus Rift and the self contained Oculus Go – combines the best of both to provide console-like ease of use.

What’s All The Hype About?

Since it was launched last year, the Oculus Quest has shown a lot of promise. As the third offering from Facebook’s virtual reality development wing, the Oculus Quest marks the company’s first shot at combining their experience in the development of VR headsets and software into one offering. It offers a more up to date experience than the Oculus Go, while offering greater ease of use than the Oculus Rift.

Apart from the $400 (in its simplest format) price tag, the Quest has done a wonderful job of breaking the barriers to entry. Facebook’s third generation VR headset does not need a PC, there is no need to install tracking sensors around the room, the Oculus Quest does a great job of tracking the user with its own cameras.

Upon powering it up in a new room you wish to play in, the Quest will display a real time feed of the room in black and white. You will then be required to use the handheld controller to mark the “safe area” you would like to play in. This should make travel arrangements for the device a lot easier.

Under its skin, the Oculus Quest runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor. Though Facebook likely could have opted for the more up to date 845, or even the 855, it is quite likely that retail price targets had a role to play in the final decision.

Another feature that might not feel satisfactory for a device of the Quest’s calibre is that it only has 4GB of RAM at disposal. Some users are of the view that this limits the abilities of the Quest’s multitasking features.

Whether that is the case or not, it is a little disappointing when you consider the fact that the Oculus Quest uses the very same LPDDR4 RAM that has become a standard in most smartphones. A little more shouldn’t be too costly for a company of Facebook’s scale to acquire.

That said, the Oculus Quest features two 1400×1600 resolution Pentile OLED displays for each eye to view your virtual world of choice through.

The Quest is still made available in two formats, the $399 64GB and the 128GB version that goes for $499. Both ship with the headset and two handheld controllers. When taking the supply shortage into consideration, it is not very likely that the price will come down anytime soon.

Other Notable Features

One of the Quest’s new features is hand-tracking. Although it is not unique to the Oculus Quest and doesn’t help with much more than navigating a few simple apps and the Quest’s user interface, it has a lot of potential as it offers developers the option of building games that use hand tracking as opposed to the handheld controllers.

As much as the Oculus Quest is marketed as a full stand-alone VR experience, users who have access to a high-end PC can really maximise the Quest’s VR experience with the help of a Oculus Link USB-C cable. Yes, it can be tethered to a PC to run a game like Half-life Alyx for example.

Overall?

The Oculus Quest is quite a well rounded product, however, there might be some room for improvement on the internal hardware front. That is something that a later model could and probably will address. For now, one could summarise it as being very close to magic.

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