Meta is trying to apply a little ointment by offering those who will buy the headset between August 1 and December 31, 2022 the ability to download the popular Beat Saber for free, but the announcement of the price hike has to be recognized in the video game world Uncommon, especially for a device that will celebrate its 2nd anniversary in October. Still, the industrial world has been sailing for months under certain circumstances.
“The cost of manufacturing our products has increased“, thus imploring Meta in its press release, considering this price increase is necessary”Continuing to invest in ways that will help move the VR industry forward”which Meta describes as a booming industry, with more than $1 billion in total spend on the Meta Quest Store earlier this year.
“Even with these price changes, the Meta Quest 2 remains the most affordable VR headset on the market, and we will continue to invest in regularly bringing new software features and games to the platform to expand the types of experiences people can use the Meta Quest 2“, added the press release.
The price hike, which also involves accessories, was not enough to cover the financials of Meta’s Reality Labs campaign, of which virtual reality was a part, which lost $4.5 billion in 2019, $6.6 billion in 2020, and more than $10 billion in 2021, while It lost another $3 billion in the first quarter, starting in 2022. The loss was attributed to the cost of investing in the famous Metaverse construction, for which Mark Zuckerberg even renamed his Facebook company Meta.
Meta has invested billions of dollars to nurture and grow a thriving VR ecosystem. We’re adjusting the price of the Meta Quest 2 headset so that we can continue to invest in advancing this increasingly competitive industry for consumers and developers alike.
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Meta insists it intends to double down on its investment in the virtual reality market. In 2023, the company will release its next-generation high-end helmet, Project Cambria, primarily for professional use. “We plan to release a new generation of Meta Quest after that“, we can read. But beware, if Meta Quest 2 seems to have carried the market on its shoulders for almost 2 years, the virtual reality gaming industry may find a new lease of life with the release of the PlayStation VR2, possibly next year.