This week, reports are emerging that Meta is continuing to drop Quest 1 support, following the firm’s slow drop in technical support for the landmark headset in previous months.
Meta’s transition to dropping official support for the classic headset feels natural at this point in the firm’s history. However, Meta’s dropping security support for the headset in an upcoming Quest 1 update could prove to be the final nail in the product’s coffin.
The drop in support could be fatal for the device’s use in enterprise settings, as it could make the Quest 1 range incompatible with today’s workplace confidentiality expectations, especially in spaces that handle and deal with sensitive data and environments.
Despite the halt of official security support, Meta Quest 1 users can still download new applications, but only if the developer chooses to continue supporting the hardware.
New Security Concerns for Businesses
According to an official email from Meta, the firm will release security and bug fixes for the legacy device until August 31st, 2024 – at this point official support will disappear. Moreover, Meta explained in the email how Quest 1 devices that contain sensitive user or business data are now open to hackers who may leverage emerging security vulnerabilities.
The email read:
We’d like to let you know that starting August 31, 2024, we will no longer provide bug fixes or security updates for Meta Quest 1 headsets. You will still be able to download new apps and continue using your existing apps as long as they are supported by the developer. However, if any security vulnerabilities are discovered in the future, private data that is directly stored on the device or accessible from it would be at risk of compromise.
A Slow Drop of Quest 1 Support
The news comes after Meta stopped its support for new apps on the original Meta Quest headset, which started on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Developers are now no longer able to upload new apps and updates for Quest 1 to the Meta Store. Meta will block the developers’ attempts to continue supporting users of their legacy headsets. This decision aims to focus Meta’s support and attention on the Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro variants.
The move started on the mentioned date, and developers cannot upload builds for new apps that exclusively support Quest 1. However, they can upload builds for new apps that support other Quest devices along with Quest 1, where the support for Quest 1 can be blocked. New apps will not be listed in the catalogue of Quest 1 apps in the Meta Store, and Quest 1 users cannot search for or purchase new apps following the April 30, 2024 date.
However, the changes on April 30 do not seem to affect the most recent Meta email. The most recent email Meta highlights that “you will still be able to download new apps and continue using your existing apps as long as they are supported by the developer,” perhaps suggesting that developers and users can still leverage the device outside of the Quest store channel.
Meta officially announced on March 5, 2023, the first drop of support for its Quest 1 VR headset. Last year’s move terminated Meta Quest 1 user access to Horizon, the Menlo Park-based firm’s Metaverse service, whereby Meta will no longer add new features to its legacy device, and users cannot create parties.
Meta Connect is coming up soon. At the event, meta is expected to reveal new products, including rumoured smart glasses. As Meta discovers new horizons, it is natural for the firm to move away from older products. However, what is the value of headsets such as the Meta Quest 1?
Will these headsets gain dust in the future? Will they see continued niche usage? Are there environmental discussions about unused headsets that require a great deal of investment and natural resources to create? Time will tell as the market’s continued innovation will see many firms drop hardware in favour of the following big product.