Meta introduced immediately that it’s elevating the worth of its Quest 2 digital actuality headsets as a consequence of elevated manufacturing prices. Beginning on August 1st, the Meta Quest 2 will price $399.99 USD for the 128GB model, which is a $100 enhance from the present $299.99 price ticket. The 256GB model will price $499.99, up from the present $399.99 price. The corporate has additionally warned that it’s growing the worth for Meta Quest 2 equipment and refurbished models.
“Individuals have spent over $1 billion on Meta Quest apps, serving to to gasoline builders’ companies as they ship the video games and experiences that make VR nice,” the corporate stated in a weblog publish. “On the identical time, the prices to make and ship our merchandise have been on the rise. By adjusting the worth of Quest 2, we are able to proceed to develop our funding in groundbreaking analysis and new product improvement that pushes the VR business to new heights.”
Meta is making an attempt to melt the blow of the worth hikes by including a suggestion to obtain the favored VR rhythm sport Beat Saber without spending a dime if you buy a brand new headset. The corporate explains that individuals who purchase a Meta Quest 2 between August 1st and December thirty first and activate the machine earlier than January thirty first of subsequent 12 months utilizing an account that doesn’t have already got Beat Saber enabled will have the ability to obtain Beat Saber without spending a dime for 14 days following activation.
The corporate says it has an “bold” VR {hardware} roadmap forward, beginning with the launch of its high-end Venture Cambria headset, which is rumored to be named the Quest Professional, later this 12 months.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg just lately confirmed off the machine’s mixed-reality capabilities in a demo video. The Quest 2 has greyscale passthrough cameras, which assist customers see their real-world environment with out eradicating their headset. However the Quest Professional may have full-color, extra sensible passthrough functionality, plus depth sensors that assist to precisely place digital objects into bodily house. If leveraged appropriately, the Quest Professional could possibly be poised to provide some fairly refined AR experiences, however Meta received’t be with out competitors.
A latest report from Bloomberg signifies that the headset will price greater than $1,000. Some leaks have advised that the headset will retail for round $1,500. By growing the worth of the Quest 2, Meta is probably going seeking to to slim the worth hole between the Quest 2 and Quest Professional.
The discharge of the Quest Professional will mark the corporate’s first new piece of VR {hardware} since rebranding to Meta final 12 months. Meta says it additionally plans to ship new generations of the Meta Quest after that.
