With 20 million Quest headsets, predominantly Quest 2, sold during the pandemic’s peak, Meta enjoyed a temporary surge as consumers sought digital escapism. However, the giant’s rebranding around the metaverse concept now demands a more tangible and compelling offering to justify its vision.
As Meta is poised to release its $500 Quest 3 headset, expectations are sky-high. Despite the promising hardware specifications making Quest 3 seemingly superior – lighter, more powerful, enhanced depth sensing, and improved haptic feedback – its price tag mirrors that of gaming powerhouses PS5 or Xbox Series X. Thus, games will be an essential component for Meta to truly shine.
Meta’s history with gamers has been riddled with disappointments. Early adopters were disillusioned when Meta transitioned from gaming PCs connected to high-end corded headsets to the predominantly wireless Quest. Further dismay ensued as Meta removed a major game from the Quest platform, followed by the abrupt termination of the flagship launch title, Echo VR, and the unexplained discontinuation of three other titles.
Meta’s Quest 3 enters the market at a pivotal moment. With formidable competitors in the gaming industry, Meta must offer more than just advanced hardware. Engaging game titles and regaining the trust of the gaming community will be crucial. The headset war is gearing up, and for Meta, the time to truly prove its metaverse vision is now.
