According to a detailed report by The Information, Meta plans to release no fewer than four new virtual reality headsets between now and the end of 2024, as the Facebook parent company aggressively pursues founder Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the Metaverse.
An internal roadmap seen by The Information suggests the first headphones will be released around September of this year. Codenamed Project Cambria, it’s a high-end VR and mixed reality standalone device that will be sold as a remote work tool rather than a gaming tool. During last week’s earnings call, Zuckerberg said Cambria’s focus is “ultimately replacing your laptop or work setup.”
The key to making this happen is very high-resolution image quality, which will make it easy to read (and write) text in the headset. Cambria also uses outward-facing cameras to view the user’s real-life environment, enabling mixed reality rather than a full virtual reality experience. These features, combined with its relatively low onboard processing power, differentiate the Cambria from other high-end headsets like the Vive Pro, which are primarily designed for gaming and require a powerful PC to run. Insiders at Meta’s Reality Labs are calling the device a “facial laptop.” The Cambria reportedly costs $799 or more.
The next after the Cambria, in 2023, will be a new version of Meta’s lower-end Quest headset, which currently starts at $299. Then, in 2024, both Cambria and Quest will be updated with more new versions. At least, that’s Meta’s plan. According to a report by The Information, the social networking company is struggling to adjust to life as a maker of hardware and operating systems, which, combined with supply constraints, has led to frequent delays in its planned forays into VR and augmented reality glasses. are developing in parallel.
Zuckerberg asked us all to attend work meetings through VR goggles in Meta’s Horizon Workrooms app, among many other challenges. One is the compatibility of Meta’s custom VR operating system with common workplace software. Another reason is that public interest in VR has so far been unproven, or that Zuckerberg sees virtual worlds as an immersive, ubiquitous VR internet where people can work, socialize and use virtual reality Image shopping. But the Meta CEO has a long-term view. On a recent earnings call, he said Meta is “laying the groundwork for what I expect to be a very exciting 2030.”