Meta fans were outraged as the company announced plans to end support for one of its biggest products.
In an email to customers, the tech giant said it will no longer provide software updates for the original Meta Quest 1 VR headset — formerly called the Oculus Quest.
The headset, which was released in 2019, was one of the first to offer head tracking and six degrees of movement – but it will now be phased out of Meta’s growing VR line.
Die-hard fans will still be able to play and download apps as long as developers continue to support them, but Meta warns that this could have serious security implications.
And on social media, outraged customers begged Mark Zuckerberg to reconsider the decision, which will take effect at the end of August.
Meta outraged fans today when it announced the end of support for the popular Meta Quest 1 headset (pictured)
On social media, fans of the headset reacted with outrage to the news that they would no longer be receiving support from Meta
On Reddit, one furious customer wrote: ‘A great tragedy will happen today.’
Another wrote: ‘This is really 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.’
The Reddit user continued: “I feel like Meta should at least do the bare minimum to fix the security loopholes for older hardware.
“He’s just over five years old at this point.
Meta previously signaled the end of Meta Quest 1 when it announced in January of last year that it would stop releasing new apps and features for the device.
However, the removal of security updates for the now-outdated headset surprised many fans.
In their email, Meta wrote: ‘We would like to inform you that as of August 31, 2024, we will no longer provide bug fixes or security updates for Meta Quest 1 headsets.’
Many gaming fans were surprised by the news that they will no longer receive security updates or patches for their devices
In an email sent to original customers, Meta announced that it will no longer provide software or security updates for the headset
In an email, Meta added: ‘You will still be able to download new apps and continue to use your existing apps as long as the developer supports them.’
This means that original customers will be able to continue using any games or apps they purchased through the Meta store.
However, some developers, such as the makers of Beat Saber, have already announced that they will end support for Meta Quest 1.
Although customers will be able to continue using their existing headsets, Meta has also issued a stark warning about the dangers this could pose.
Meta wrote: ‘If any security flaws are discovered in the future, private data that is directly stored on the device, accessible from that device, will be at risk of compromise.’
Originally released in 2019, the Meta Quest won was one of the first headsets to provide wireless VR experiences. Furious fans took to social media to ask Mark Zuckerberg (pictured using an Oculus Rift VR Headset) to reverse the decision.
Customers will still be able to use games and apps purchased for their handsets. However, some developers, such as the maker of Beat Saber (pictured), have announced that they will no longer support the older headset.
Many cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in old or outdated software because known security weaknesses are often widely shared on the Internet.
Without constant updates to fix these issues, Meta Quest 1 owners could be putting their personal data at risk by using the headset.
However, there is still hope for VR fans as this announcement comes amid rumors of a new headset release.
In the same email, Meta wrote: “We’re excited about the future of Meta Quest and look forward to bringing you more ground-breaking MR [mixed reality] experiences.’
In October of last year, Meta released a more advanced virtual and mixed reality headset, the Meta Quest 3.
When released, Meta claimed the headset would bridge physical and digital reality, allowing customers to “play a virtual piano on your coffee table” or “open a portal in your living room.
However, at $499 (£479), the Meta Quest 3 may prove too expensive for many customers.
The end of support for Meta Quest 1 (pictured) comes amid rumors of a Meta Quest 3S release
Meta is now widely believed to be preparing the release of the Meta Quest 3S, a cheaper and lighter alternative to the Meta Quest 3.
The Quest 3S name popped up on a digital software store run by Meta, and CTO Andrew Bosworth casually showed off the headset in a recent video.
The sudden removal of support for quest 1 also coincides with the drop in sales of Meta Quest 2, as the device is now sold out in many areas on the Meta site.
If the rumored version is true, it could be a gamble that VR enthusiasts might be tempted to upgrade from the Meta Quest 1 to a cheaper and much more powerful model.