Meta addresses reports on Quest Pro line suspension; CTO Andrew Bosworth responds

According to a recent report, tech giant Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is rumoured to be suspending the development of its high-end XR (Extended Reality) hardware, particularly the Quest Pro line. It is speculated that the company has halted orders for new components for the Quest Pro from its suppliers, leading to uncertainties about the future of this premium VR headset.

While the current Quest Pro may continue to be sold until stocks last, speculations around a potential second-generation Quest Pro have raised concerns among XR enthusiasts.

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth disputes claims, hints at ongoing XR prototyping

In response to the reports, Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, took to Instagram Stories to address the speculations surrounding the Quest Pro line. Bosworth refuted the claim that the Quest Pro 2 has been permanently cancelled and asserted that his team is actively working on multiple prototypes for all their XR projects.

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— Boz (@boztank) July 21, 2023

Although he did not explicitly confirm the status of the current Quest Pro, he hinted at the possibility that the reports may have been influenced by a disgruntled employee whose project was discontinued.

Here’s Bosworth’s statement in full:

“I have to explain this every year. There is no Quest Pro 2 headset until we decide there is. What I mean by that is there are lots of prototype headsets—lots of them—all in development in parallel. Some of them, we say, “that’s not the right one,” and we shut it down. Some of them, we say, “that’s the right one,” and we spin it up. What you need to understand is, until it goes out the door, it doesn’t get the name. So, there might be a Quest Pro 2, there might not be. I’m not really telling you, but I will say don’t believe everything you read about what’s been stopped or started. A lot of times it comes from someone who’s unhappy that their particular project got cut when there are other projects that did not get cut.”

Andrew Bosworth, Meta CTO

The Quest Pro, originally launched at a price point of $1,500 in October 2022, saw a significant price reduction of $500 merely a few months after its release, now retailing at $1,000. Meanwhile, its sibling product, the Quest 2, also experienced several price adjustments, fluctuating between $300 to $400 for the 128GB variant.

In light of these developments, the XR community remains curious about Meta's future plans for its premium VR hardware. While the fate of the Quest Pro line hangs in the balance, Bosworth's assurance of ongoing XR prototyping offers a glimmer of hope for innovative and cutting-edge XR experiences in the future.

As the industry eagerly awaits further updates, it's evident that Meta's dedication to advancing XR technology remains at the forefront of their endeavours.