Mark Zuckerberg reveals new Quest Pro VR headseton October 11, 2022 at 6:33 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Facebook-owner Meta has revealed a new VR headset as part of its continued metaverse push.

Mark Zuckerberg poses with the Meta Quest ProImage source, Meta

Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled a new VR headset, the Quest Pro, at an online event held for developers.

With a price tag of $1,499 (£1,499), Quest Pro is almost four times the price of Meta’s current headset, the Quest 2, which starts at $399.

It boasts thinner lenses, a curved battery around the head strap at the back, and controllers which self-track.

The headset also allows users to see their real environment around the periphery of the screen.

Quest Pro has mixed reality capabilities, unlike its predecessor – meaning digital content can be viewed overlaid on the real world.

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg said mixed reality was “the next major step for VR”.

Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen said the high launch price made it a device more suited to “high-end, enthusiast and potentially enterprise users” than mass-market.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also announced that the office platform Windows 365 will be available on it, as Meta seeks to position mixed and virtual reality as a work tool as well as a form of entertainment.

A close up shot of the new Meta Quest Pro

Image source, Meta

The firm Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is betting its future on the creation of a metaverse – a virtual world in which people can both conduct their everyday lives, in the form of avatars, and explore fantasy virtual spaces.

Many tech firms are building their own metaverses but it is likely to be several years before any exist.

Meta’s existing virtual reality world, Horizons, has received mixed reviews so far, and there have been reports of avatars carrying out violence and sexual assault within it.

Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth has also admitted that “it will be a while before there are enough headsets out there”.

Paolo Pescatore from PP Foresight said it felt like the tech was being “fast tracked” into people’s hands. “There’s no demand, why rush,” he said.

VR apps

There was much talk about virtual reality apps during the event, some of which have proved very lucrative for their developers, like the VR version of the video game Resident Evil 4, which made $2m in revenue in its first 24 hours.

New VR gaming titles announced included Iron Man and Among Us, as well as an upcoming partnership with Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming. However there was no update on the long-awaited VR Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which some gamers had anticipated.

Andrew Bosworth said that one of the most popular apps on the Quest store was YouTube VR.

“The ultimate goal for the metaverse is to feel like any other social experience, great and small,” said Vishal Shah, Meta’s vice president of the metaverse.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

PFL World Championship 2022: Brendan Loughnane wins $1m titleon November 26, 2022 at 6:29 am

Britain's Brendan Loughnane beats Bubba Jenkins for the featherweight title at the PFL World Championship in New York.Britain's Brendan Loughnane beats Bubba Jenkins for...

Briton feared for life in Singapore otter attackon December 10, 2021 at 1:40 pm

Graham George Spencer was left with more than 20 wounds after he was bitten by the animals.

Kate Bush says the ‘world has gone mad’ after going back to number oneon June 22, 2022 at 9:40 am

The singer gives a rare interview after going to number one thanks to the hit show Stranger Things.Image source, Getty ImagesSinger Kate Bush has...

Under-strength Spurs lose at Vitesse in Europa Conference Leagueon October 21, 2021 at 7:49 pm

Tottenham pay the price for leaving their star players at home as Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem earn a deserved win in the Europa Conference...

FF7 actress’s nervous wait for fan reactionson March 9, 2024 at 1:43 am

Briana White talks about waiting for the world to react to your role in a pivotal rewrite of gaming history.Briana White talks about waiting...