New Quest Store and App Lab apps will no longer be allowed to support the original Oculus Quest after April 30, as Meta continues to phase out support for the older headset. The company stopped selling the Quest 1 upon launching Quest 2 in 2020, and developers using newer SDK versions are already unable to support Quest 1. While existing apps can still release updates for Quest 1, the user base for the older headset is small, and security updates will end in August. Quest 1 owners can continue to use their headset and existing apps, but will no longer have access to new releases after April 30.
Valve has released a free Steam Link app on the official Quest Store, allowing Meta Quest users to stream SteamVR games from their gaming PC to their Quest headset over Wi-Fi. This app provides an alternative to the built-in Air Link feature and third-party apps like Virtual Desktop, offering a direct connection to SteamVR with only Steam and SteamVR required on the PC.
The Quest Store is offering up to 40% off on various games, including a rare discount on Beat Saber and its DLC tracks, until November 28. The sale requires entering the code BFCM23 at checkout. Additionally, Meta is providing a $50 credit after purchasing a Quest 2, effectively valuing the headset at $200 when combined with a recent price cut.
Meta's Quest Store has generated over $2 billion in revenue from games and apps, but the momentum has slowed over the past year. Despite the impressive figure, it is overshadowed by Meta's significant spending on its Reality Labs division. The company reported a quarterly loss of nearly $4 billion in Q2 2023, with a 39% decline in revenue due to lower Quest 2 sales. Since the launch of Quest 2 in 2020, the Quest Store has only generated $500 million in the past 12 months, indicating a decline in sales. The upcoming Quest 3 will be crucial in filling the gap left by Quest 2, with expectations for it to meet or surpass its predecessor's success. Meta is subsidizing its XR hardware to make software sales more appealing and will need to continue releasing successful first-party titles to maintain revenue growth.
Meta reports that 40 out of 500+ titles on the Quest Store have grossed over $10 million in revenue, with the number of titles at the $20-million mark doubling year over year. Top game genres include multiplayer competitive, physics combat, horror adventure, fitness and workout, social collaborative, and shooters. Meta Director of Content Ecosystem and Head of Third-party Games, Chris Pruett, notes a "giant correlation between quality and sales" and believes increased revenue potential on the platform will drive quality.
