Meta Quest’s Mixed Reality Headset Now Canceled—But Why?

After the Quest 3's arrival, Meta Reality Labs once planned to create a premium version of its mixed reality headset that could possibly rival the Apple Vision Pro. However, new reports now claim that the company has already canceled this wearable and asked its employees to stop working on its development.

This apparently took place after a product review meeting earlier this week. Meta previously surprised the tech industry when it announced an XR wearable called the Quest 3 and went as far as to release it earlier than Apple could release its Vision Pro. t.

Meta Headset Set to Rival the Vision Pro Now Canceled

According to the latest report by The Information, Meta has now announced to its employees that all the development and work done on its supposed Vision Pro rival is now canceled. The company has asked all of its employees who were assigned to the premium mixed reality headset's development to stop their work on this new wearable.

Per the report, this is because Meta acknowledged that the device would be expensive and the company had doubts it would sell well with the general public. Given this announcement, the public will no longer get a chance to see this new mixed reality headset.

Meta's Development on 'La Jolla,' a Premium XR Headset

It was further revealed in the report that this premium mixed reality headset from Meta's Reality Labs was internally called the "La Jolla." The company has reportedly been working on it since November of last year.

Supposedly, the device will be under a long development phase as Meta was targeting 2027 for its launch.

Meta's Quest and Its Foray Into Mixed Reality

For the longest time, the social media company previously known as Facebook, has focused greatly on virtual reality (VR) headsets with its famed Quest lineup. The company previously launched original Oculus Quest that was succeeded by the Oculus Quest 2, which was later known as the Meta Quest 2.

Lastly, there is also 2022's Quest Pro, the more premium and powerful VR wearable from Meta, which was thrice the price of its regular headsets and its most expensive at $1,499.99.

It was not until 2023 when Meta first ushered in its mixed reality experiences on its headsets when it introduced the humbly-priced Quest 3. The device was priced at only $499.99. Meta previously said that this device can make the mixed reality experience more available to the general public.

The company, it seemed, was not fazed by the more premium Apple Vision Pro as it also boasted of capabilities like 'spatial video' and more. Meta eventually went on to begin developing a direct competitor for the Vision Pro. With the latest update, however, it seems that no finish product will ever come up of that development any longer.