Is this Really the Next Generation for Oculus Quest?
- Christian Wolfe
- Sep 18, 2020
- 7 min read
Welcome to another blog!
Much like others in the gaming fandom who are in gross anticipation of the next generation of console gaming, virtual reality (VR) users have been desperately waiting for the next big leap in VR technology that does something unique from the rest and distinguishes itself as true "next gen." Thus far, we have received a Valve Index that is superior to other HMD's in all regards, even down to the controller scheme. However, the hefty price tag is frightening and does not do well in bringing in new VR users - Valve even stated their intention to target the "hardcore" VR crowd. The Oculus Quest, however, was reasonably priced and sold as a more affordable alternative while simultaneously being a clear leader in VR by making the first standalone wireless experience (it later received Oculus Link capabilities making it a cheaper alternative for PCVR gaming). Since its launch in May 2019, VR adopters old and new have been on the edge of their seat waiting for an upgrade to this wonderful HMD. However, we did not expect anything new for a few years. Surprisingly, only a year later, we received leaks of a possible Quest S or Quest Pro, and some even speculated it would be the Quest 2. In September 2020, fans got their announcement that a Quest 2 will be available to purchase in quarter four of the same year. But is the Quest 2 really a generational leap like what we see in console gaming? Today, I am going to avoid heavy discussion around the specifications of the Quest 1 and 2, but I will mention them to clarify positions of opinion. What I want to focus more on is the business decisions Facebook is making to push their new HMD into the market, and the potential impact it could have on the future of the Oculus brand.
Along with the announcement of the new Quest unit, users and potential new adopters were informed that there will be a 100% integration of the Facebook social media application with the Quest software. This means any user identification through Oculus will become obsolete as of January 2023, and those who choose not to integrate their Facebook account (or lack thereof) would have limited and restricted access to all new features available for those who choose to integrate their accounts. This immediately caused confusion and fans erupted in disapproval of this course of action. With no clear unit specifications being announced at the time of the announcement, the business decision alone was enough to start pushing people away from the Oculus brand. As more information rolled out about the upgraded or enhanced specifications, greater intrigue was had about what the Quest 2 had to offer. With an improved Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processing unit designed specifically for immersive experiences, and the implementation of a single LCD screen to replace the two OLED found in its predecessor, fans bent their ear. But will it be enough to convince those opposed to the Facebook integration to reconsider?
Upload VR does a great job objectively pointing out the pros and cons of their experience with the Quest 2, and you will find similar accounts made by Adam Savage's Tested Norman Chan. The visual, audio, and performance enhancements make it worth our while to, at the least, give this second generation a gander (article and YouTube links below). However, there are notable concerns with Facebook's confidence in this new HMD - more specifically, their decisions to discontinue production of the Quest 1 and Rift S! That is correct; Facebook is so confident in their product that they are willing to sacrifice a line of PCVR technology and focus solely on the Quest 2 as their standalone and tethered VR unit. This pigeonholes their consumer base to purchase a lesser quality unit that is marketed as a standalone headset, not a PCVR (currently there is very little marketing around the Oculus Link which will be compatible with the Quest 2). Though focusing solely on one product is logical from a business perspective, it is not consumer friendly and ignores the success of the Rift S, a still highly preferred option in the PCVR competitive market.
It is with this news that the comparable downgrades of the Quest 2, as it relates to the Quest 1 and Rift S, are more obvious. Unlike the Quest 1 and Rift S, the Quest 2 will be sporting a questionable elastic fabric headband similar to that of the Oculus Go, rather than the halo band made popular by the PSVR and found on the Rift S. The only adjustment to this elastic fabric strap is the clip based slider on the back, and a Velcro strap on top; not the improvement in comfort people were expecting. The design choice for the headband was intended to make transport of the HMD easier, but this convenience only matters for a critically low percentage of users. Yes, they will be offering an "Elite Strap," but for an additional $50! If you want a battery pack to go along with that, add another $100 to the price and you will be looking at a near $500 unit. Not to mention, the battery pack is fairly essential as the Quest 2 battery life expectancy is 131 minutes, approximately 40 minutes less than the first generation and that is without using the streaming feature - this reduces the lifespan of the battery to approximately 120 minutes. Furthermore, the inter-pupillary adjuster is more mechanical than ever requiring users to forcefully move the lens by pushing them into one of the three presets spaced at 5mm intervals (58mm to 68mm). This will inevitably result in blurred images for some as IPD will not be in their sweet spot and may induce nausea. There is a means to fine tune the adjustment with the use of software, but this will be locked behind administrative access and not accessible for consumer use (perhaps this will change in time).
The concerns pile up as we discuss the standard refresh rate at launch. Though advertised as standardized 90hz, this will only be available for user interface (UI) and web browsing at launch. One could argue this is still better than the flat 75hz offered by Quest 1, but the first generation gets a pass as it was working with older technology AND it was the first of its kind. Taking those precautions made sense then, but they do not make sense now. Facebook would fare better delaying the launch to insure 90hz is standard for all applications rather than patching it in later. Furthermore, using the Oculus Link still compresses the application to be displayed on the Quest 2, giving the user a lesser quality image and performance than using a local device; those veterans of VR will notice this, but not so much new adopters. Personally, I am less concerned about the Link but it is poignant to the argument that the Quest 2 is not "next gen" if it cannot eliminate the compression that is a result of using the link; if this is not possible, then discontinuing production of the Rift S will have more catastrophic consequences than they predict.
The controllers have also seen an "upgrade." Based on reviews, opinions on the controllers are positive as the upgrade feels better than the Quest 1 version. The design sports a thicker ring, button pad, and grip along with an extended battery life. No longer are there issues with the AA battery loosening during intense swinging of the controller, as they have reinforced the spring to firmly hold the battery in place during aggressive movements and the cover has been better secured reducing instances of sliding it off accidentally. Ring sensors are the same in number, but positioned differently to improve efficiency, but this has not changed overall tracking or occlusion issues felt in the original model. Overall, the new designed was intended for enhanced ergonomics and battery life expectancy and to reviewers, they have done a decent job. But with no improvements to tracking, they are simply offering consumers a new design. There is some question whether the Quest 1 controller will be compatible with the Quest 2, as some may find the new design uncomfortable and the resting place for the thumb on the button pad pointless. I will stay vigilant with the news regarding the backwards compatibility, but I highly doubt this will be considered.
In the context of marketing, there is not much to sell here other than an upgrade in visual clarity, a physically lighter HMD (arguably lighter until you add the Elite Strap), and reasonably upgraded controllers. Hardware is of course important to VR users but so is accessibility and software integration, and the choice by Facebook to remove any semblance of an Oculus platform is jarring and the optics to integrate Facebook accounts is disorienting. This has a strong potential to split their consumer base and in a niche community, retention is critical. Discontinuing the Rift S will shut out and discourage the PC community from using future products, pushing them to consider a different platform. This is, of course, if they did not already jump ship after hearing about the Facebook account integration. Announcing this new product as a "second generation" is risky and a misrepresentation of what the product actually is. If anything, the Quest 2 is to Quest 1 as the PS4 Pro is to the PS4 - an improved unit with greater performance, but not much else to offer.
My Final Thoughts
After the initial hype of the Quest 2, I am sour and dissatisfied with the direction they are taking Oculus. The misrepresentation as a second generation is poor marketing, and whether you agree with me or not, it will result in a loss of trust in the brand. What hurts the most is the forceful nature in which Facebook is eliminating the Oculus brand; it is an insult to the legacy of Mark Cerny and the Oculus team regardless of their current involvement. That being said, I am still going to purchase the Quest 2. If history dictates the future, I am certain that future software patches will give us the base 90hz and improved Link compression necessary to consider this HMD a suitable upgrade. I am by no means a casual VR player; I am invested in the growth of the medium and invested in what gaming will become within this medium. The Quest 2 is not the leap in technology that is synonymous with a new generation of hardware, but it is progress so I will invest.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog; it was a bit more opinionated and concise than usual, but it is a heated topic of which I do have strong opinions about. I am sure you do to and I am interested to hear what they are! Please be sure to share them in the comments below, or open discussion on our discord channel!
Many finer details about the Quest 2 are not represented in this blog. To learn more about the hardware and software changes, consider checking out the links below. Thanks again and I'll see you in the next blog!
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