Meta has confirmed it is engaged on a brand new higher-end VR headset than the favored Quest 2, which can launch later this yr. Nevertheless, earlier than you get too excited, Mark Zuckerberg has mentioned the brand new machine, codename Challenge Cambria, is “extra targeted on work use circumstances”. Rattling it, Mark.
Zuckerberg confirmed the brand new headset throughout Meta’s earnings call, which he reiterated in a Facebook post.
“On the {hardware} facet, Meta Quest 2 continues to be the main digital actuality headset. Later this yr, we’ll launch a higher-end headset, codenamed Challenge Cambria, which shall be extra targeted on work use circumstances and finally changing your laptop computer or work setup. This premium machine could have improved ergonomics and full colour passthrough combined actuality to seamlessly mix digital actuality with the bodily world.”
“We’re additionally constructing in eye monitoring and face monitoring in order that your avatar could make eye contact and facial expressions, which dramatically improves your sense of presence. It is also instance of why we’re growing {hardware} along with the social platforms,” Zuckerberg continues.
Meta is pushing its ‘metaverse’ idea fairly laborious, and it feels like Challenge Cambria could have rather a lot to do with that. This is hoping it isn’t that unhealthy at gaming, too, as what else are you going to do within the metaverse if not play digital ping pong? Working in a digital workplace? Come on now.
Information of Challenge Cambria arrives simply as Meta dismantles much more of the Oculus model. The Quest 2’s devoted web site has now been redirected to the new Meta store, which does not bode too effectively for the way forward for the corporate’s VR push in gaming.
That mentioned, the Quest 2 has discovered success as a VR headset amongst gaming audiences, shortly rising to develop into the most well-liked VR headset on Steam with 47% of VR customers proudly owning the headset, in response to the Steam Hardware Survey. The headset additionally receives pretty common updates with new options, so we’re not essentially crying out for a next-gen unit, however we all know that Meta would not plan on releasing a brand new Quest till the ‘pro’ version (Project Cambria) is available.
So it could possibly be some time till PC avid gamers hear information of a brand new Quest headset, or no matter Meta decides to rebrand its VR merchandise to subsequent.
