September 16, 2020 – Facebook has today announced the Oculus Quest 2 all-in-one virtual reality headset. The Quest 2 comes with redesigned all-in-one form factor, new Touch controllers, and the company’s highest-resolution display ever. The Quest 2 starts at USD $299 — USD $100 less than the original Quest device. Pre-orders are open now, and Quest 2 ships October 13, 2020.
Buyers can pre-order today at oculus.com, as well as from Facebook’s global retail partners, including: Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart in the US; Currys PC World and FNAC Darty in the UK and EU; and Amazon worldwide. The company has announced that it is also bringing Oculus products to Japanese retail stores for the first time with Quest 2, including Bic Camera, Yamada Denki, Yodobashi Camera, and GEO.
Processor
Facebook states that the Quest 2 brings with it a suite of innovations to power the next generation of VR games and experiences. This includes a multi-generational leap in processing power with the debut of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Platform, offering higher AI capability, and 6GB of RAM. The new display features 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye—the company’s highest resolution display yet with 50% more pixels than the original Quest.
Display
Quest 2 also comes with increased graphics processing power, and the new display is capable of supporting 90 Hz. Furthermore, users will be able to run system applications at 90 Hz on day one by opting in via Experimental Features. The company added that it will open up 90 Hz to all developers soon after launch.
Controllers
Quest 2 comes with new Touch controllers built to offer better ergonomics—inspired by the original Touch design—with the same controls that translate gestures directly into VR for hand presence in virtual environments. Facebook has also optimized its controller tracking to make it more efficient, delivering battery life that can be up to four times longer than Quest’s Touch controllers, according to the company.
Games
Quest 2 will offer users access to the full breadth of the Quest content library, which will also include upcoming titles such as Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Myst, Jurassic World Aftermath, Warhammer 40,000 Battle Sister, Pistol Whip: 2089, The Climb 2, Rez Infinite, and more. Quest 2 is also compatible with Oculus Link, so users can enjoy the best of PC VR gaming too.
Design
Facebook has redesigned the headset to achieve a slimmer profile, cutting over 10% of the weight from the original Quest so it’s more portable and easier to wear. The Quest 2 also includes a built-in IPD adjustment mechanism with three settings, letting people adjust lens position for visual comfort.
Accessories
Quest 2 will support a new line of optional accessories, including the ‘Elite Strap with Battery’, which delivers double the playtime with increased balance and ergonomics for longer play sessions. There is also the ‘Fit Pack’, which provides swappable facial interfaces to fit wider or narrower face shapes. Other accessories include gaming headphones from Logitech and a carry case.
Facebook stated in its announcement that “With a higher resolution panel and the ability to reach a higher refresh rate than Rift S, all in a lighter form factor and at a lower cost, Quest 2 brings a leveled-up PC VR gaming experience to enthusiasts.” The company added that it has also been working to improve the performance, stability, and third-party cable compatibility of Oculus Link. As a result, and after months of testing and community feedback, Oculus Link will exit beta this fall with improved fidelity and support for 90 Hz coming soon.
On top of this, next year the company will debut a unified system experience that taps directly into the Quest user interface, allowing users to find their PC games and Quest games all in the same spot.
With today’s announcement also comes the news that Facebook is going to focus solely on standalone VR headsets moving forward. As a result, the company will no longer pursue PC-only hardware, with sales of Rift S ending in 2021. That being said, the Rift Platform isn’t going anywhere (for now), and Facebook stated that the platform will “continue to grow while offering high-end PC VR experiences”.
Sales of the original Quest will also end as Quest 2 arrives with retailers worldwide. But this too will continue to receive support from Facebook. Original Quest devices will continue to be improved, with more new features and gaming experiences being delivered moving forward, according to the company.
With today’s news, Facebook is doubling down on its goal of bringing standalone VR to as many people as possible. The new Quest 2 device will combine the performance that gamers want with the flexibility people need, all at a price significantly lower than similarly featured headsets on the market.
Image / video credit: Facebook / Oculus / YouTube
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About the author
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.