The original Quest VR headset will no longer receive software upgrades from Meta, and users of that hardware will soon lose access to some social functions.
The updates for the $400 standalone headset were made known in an email from Meta with the subject line "Upcoming Changes for Quest 1," Upload VR writes.
The VR Headset Will Continue Receiving Security Patches Nonetheless
Journalist Janko Roettgers and a number of other people on Reddit and Twitter have shared copies of an email stating that the firm would stop adding new capabilities to the Quest 1 and that some functionality will be removed.
However, until 2024, the headset will continue to receive essential bug fixes and security updates, according to The Verge.
Users will not be able to start or join parties, according to the email, but the original Quests will continue to function.
Before announcing that it will no longer be providing new features for the headset, Meta initially expressed gratitude to its devoted Quest 1 users in an effort to lessen the impact.
It then states that from March 5 of this year, those who now have access to the social features of Meta Horizon Home would no longer have access to them.
The capability to visit someone else's home or arrange for someone to visit the user's home appears to be among these functions.
It's typical practice for most types of products to stop providing support for a product after a set period of time, but eliminating elements that are already part of the experience is a bit of a small hit.
It is important to note that the headset was first unveiled by Meta in September 2018, and delivery began in May 2019.
In late 2020, Quest 2 replaced the original Quest with a vastly improved XR2 CPU and a more streamlined overall appearance.
In contrast, the Snapdragon 835/Kryo 280 platform, which is a chipset from 2017, powers the original Quest, Upload VR noted.
Read More: Meta Quest Pro Releases New Update Including Mixed Reality Screen Recordings
Meta Is Still Launching Quest 3 Despite Its Winding Support For Previous Models
The statement comes as no surprise given that the original Meta Quest's support seemed to be waning recently, according to IGN.
It is likely that Meta is struggling to create additional features that are compatible with the platform's capabilities.
Along with cutting costs and firing employees, it appears that the corporation does not want to continue investing in outdated hardware, or that Qualcomm is ceasing its support for third-party development.
The most notable instance occurred in July of last year when BigBox VR, a Meta subsidiary, announced that it was discontinuing Quest 1 support for its highly regarded VR battle royale title Population One.
Despite claims of significant losses as the business concentrates on the Metaverse, Meta is still all-in on its VR arm even as Quest 2 support is coming to a close.
It will be fascinating to see how long it takes before support for the Quest 2 starts to wane in light of the release of the Quest Pro last year and the announcement that the Meta Quest 3 will debut this year.
Related Article: Meta Quest, Quest 2 Upcoming Update Includes 'Mountain Study' Environment
