META is ending support for a beloved virtual reality tool — and users are begging the company to reconsider its decision.
In an email to owners of the original Meta Quest, the company informed that the headset will no longer receive bug fixes or security updates as of August 31st.
Users will still be able to download new apps and continue to use existing apps as long as the developer supports them.
Meta accompanied the email with a grim warning to customers: continue using at your own risk.
“However, if any security flaws are discovered in futurePrivate data that is directly stored on or accessed from the device would be at risk of compromise,” the email said.
Confusion and outrage erupted across social media as customers continued to receive alerts.
As one Reddit user said, “A great tragedy will happen today.”
“I understand bug fixes, but no security patches? Come on,” lamented another Redditor.
“This is really too bad – I still enjoy using my Quest, I can see how the new ones are much nicer, but I can’t afford a new one. I feel like the meta should at least do the bare minimum to fix the security holes. older hardware.”
Meta first hinted that support would end in January 2023 when the company announced it would stop releasing new function and headset applications.
Meta Quest debuted in 2019, originally known as Oculus Quest.
The headset was the first of its kind to offer position tracking and six degrees of freedom.
The term describes the number of ways an object can move in three-dimensional space. Earlier VR headsets were generally limited to three degrees of freedom.
The original Quest isn’t the first VR tool Meta has abandoned. The company discontinued the headset’s predecessor, the Oculus Go, in 2020, but continued support until 2022.
And newer products keep pouring into the market. This includes Meta Quest 3, a mixed reality headset released in October 2023.
The reality-bending Quest 3 allows users to “play a virtual piano on the coffee table” and “open a portal in your living room,” seamlessly blurring the lines between the digital and the physical.
The announcement may 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 swirling rumors. The name “Quest 3S” appeared in a digital software store and CTO Andrew Bosworth demonstrated it in a video, seemingly by accident.
The company appeared to be hinting at an upcoming development in the email.
“We’re excited about the future of Meta Quest and look forward to bringing you more ground-breaking 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 “augments” (or adds) computer-generated elements
- This means you will be able to see computer images superimposed on your real world
- For example, you can wear glasses that overlay the direction of the road ahead
- 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