In a move that has sparked disappointment among Oculus Quest users, Meta (formerly Facebook) has announced their planned obsolescence for the Quest 1 virtual reality headset. Starting from May, new apps released in the Quest Store will no longer be playable on the Quest 1, as developers will be unable to upload them and players will not be able to see them.

The decision to render the Quest 1 incompatible with new apps is not due to a lack of power on the headset's part. Rather, it is part of Meta's strategy to encourage users to transition to the newer Quest 2, which was released a mere 18 months after its predecessor. This move is reminiscent of the planned obsolescence seen in console generations, where older hardware is phased out in favor of newer iterations with enhanced features and performance.

However, the Quest 1 is just five years old, causing some users to express their dissatisfaction with Meta's decision. Unlike traditional console generations that typically span longer periods of time, the Quest 1's lifespan appears considerably short. The lack of clear value proposition for consumers, who are essentially being compelled to upgrade to a newer headset, has raised concerns among the VR community.

It is important to note that these changes only apply to new apps, and existing apps that currently support the Quest 1 will continue to do so. Meta had previously announced its intention to wind down support for the Quest 1, with security updates and bug fixes coming to an end in August of this year. Users have already experienced the loss of certain social features, and the Oculus SDK stopped supporting the Quest 1 in April 2023.

Critics argue that this deliberate scuttling of the Quest 1 raises questions about the longevity and investment value of VR hardware. While console generations often offer graphical upgrades that justify the shift to newer hardware, the decision to make the Quest 1 obsolete appears to be primarily driven by Meta, rather than developers' choices.

As VR enthusiasts digest this news, it remains to be seen how the VR market will respond to Meta's planned obsolescence strategy. For now, users of the Quest 1 will have to contend with the fact that their device's compatibility with new apps is coming to an end, while those already using the Quest 2 will have access to an expanding ecosystem of virtual reality experiences.