Despite investing billions of dollars into its VR division, Meta is yet to turn a profit on this new arm of its business. This is expected with newer technology, and it hasn’t stopped the social media giant from continuing to push forward.

Now adopting a new approach, Meta has announced a monthly subscription plan for both their Quest 3 and Quest Plus VR headsets. These plans would include the headset, access to a range of software, and an extended warranty. Best of all for users, the total cost of this package is lower than purchasing the separate components outright. So, what could users do with this technology, and could this new approach really pay off?

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A New Vantage Point on Existing Tools

Rather than relying on newer apps, some of the most appealing parts of VR headsets is how they engage with existing content in newer ways. This could be illustrated in online entertainment such as when players jump into Paddy Power bingo for free. By loading up our browsers within the Quest systems, players could enjoy daily free bingo just like they can on mobile and desktop. They could even open 3D environments in the background to inspire new feelings in these classics.

What Meta truly hopes for, however, is that users of their devices will use them to engage with the Metaverse. In case you’ve forgotten, this was Meta’s so far underwhelming attempt to combine their social media platforms with the virtual reality space. Meta is betting big on the future of communication being in VR, and with so much money to play with, they don’t mind burning a little cash to try to be the first.

What Holds Users Back

Meta isn’t the only company to invest so heavily in VR or AR tech, with other giants like Apple making some significant strides with the impressive Apple Vision Pro. Some of these products are even beginning to reach the promise made by science fiction decades ago, yet despite the impressive tech, they’re yet to reach the mainstream.

The fundamental reason for this lack of success comes down to purpose. Displays are in a similar place now to where computer mice were decades ago. The early computer mouse was already a practically perfect design, and while it has been updated and iterated on, the basic functionality remains the same. Trackballs and gimmick controllers might have caught our attention, but they never surpassed the original.

Essentially, too much of what VR and AR headsets do is akin to reinventing the wheel. A phone screen or desktop display is proven technology, and until VR or AR is cheaper and offers enough killer apps to stand out, most users simply aren’t willing to invest.

“Daydream View VR Headseet Made By Google” (CC BY 2.0) by Maurizio Pesce

Make no mistake VR like what the Quest produces is becoming more impressive, cheaper, and better supported by a greater range of apps. Whether it could soon offer enough to reach the ubiquity enjoyed by other forms of displays, that much remains in question. Maybe in ten years, but for most of us, it’s just not useful enough today.

Author

Tristan

Tristan has a strong interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence and creative expression. He has a background in computer science, and he enjoys exploring the ways in which AI can enhance and augment human creativity. In his writing, he often delves into the ways in which AI is being used to generate original works of fiction and poetry, as well as to analyze and understand patterns in existing texts.

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