Discussion

• @metaquestvr @metaquestvr on x

  In order to continue investing in moving the VR industry forward for the long term, we are adjusting the price of Meta Quest 2 headsets to $399.99 (128GB) and $499.99 (256GB) starting on 8/1/22.

• @id_aa_carmack John Carmack on x

  This is a weird framing that isn't going to do much good. Still, there are some potential consumer upsides to not heavily subsidizing the headsets; the arguments internally around the necessity of maximizing store revenue occasionally conflict with third party business models. ht…

• @munster_gene Gene Munster on x

  $META is raising the price of Quest 2 by 33% to $400. 1) It's a sign that AR/VR wearables are still a niche market, years away from mass adoption. 2) It's a twinkly of hope that Meta is getting more serious at controlling Reality Labs costs.

• @stevekovach Steve Kovach on x

  $100 price increase for each model. This comes after Zuckerberg spent most of 2021 blasting companies like Apple for making expensive hardware and limiting access to new technologies. And Meta's next headset is gonna cost ~$1,000. https://twitter.com/...

• @uploadvr @uploadvr on x

  The price for a new Quest 2 is jumping to $399 as Meta says “the costs to make and ship our products have been on the rise.” https://uploadvr.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x

  Hard to overstate how wild it is for a two-year-old product to go *up* in price. By any amount. Let alone a significant percentage. https://twitter.com/...

• @metaquestvr @metaquestvr on x

  An offer to download Beat Saber, one of the most popular Quest apps, at no additional cost will come with every new headset purchase for a limited time. Ends 12/31/22. Terms apply: https://www.oculus.com/...

• @neiltwitz Neil Shah on x

  @Vuzix ... 2/ @meta has done well to bring $500 hardware to mainstream for some time & with the level of tech involved & experience warranted one should not think about good XR experiences at $200 price point hardware for atleast next 3-5 yrs.

• @stevencmutter Steven Mutter on x

  $399 is still incredibly cheap compared to the cost of a PC VR setup. I paid $399 for my Quest 1 at launch - an absolute steal for the quality. Plus they're throwing in Beat Saber for free through the end of the year. https://twitter.com/...

• @id_aa_carmack John Carmack on x

  This will be a very important data point. I have always contended that price of entry is very important, while others are more excited about adding new capabilities at higher prices. Seeing what happens now and with the next headset will say a lot about price elasticity.

• @ramzzy_ Mr. Beachezzzzzz on x

  Why raise the cost of entry for hardware by $100 for tech that's still new? 😒 https://twitter.com/...

• @cixliv @cixliv on x

  The news today that the Quest 2 is raising its price $100 MSRP. The Quest 2 was being sold $200-300 under cost. Even now with the price raise it's still being sold under manufacturing cost. The Qualcomm XR2 Reference design is over $600 per unit.

• @gartenberg Michael Gartenberg on x

  Two year old tech usually doesn't go up by $200 but Zuck has to make up the $10b Apple cost him when it gave users the ability to opt out of ad tracking. He's also asked employees to check under chairs, couch cushions for spare change. Every penny helps https://www.theverge.com/.…

• @ethangach @ethangach on x

  Help Meta, a company that made $7 billion in profit last quarter, subsidize its VR research. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @caseynewton Casey Newton on x

  @JoannaStern i think it's fairer to say that it wants to lose less money on hardware

• @ethangach @ethangach on x

  Imagine your boss lowkey roasting you for asking about days off as the company prepares to ratchet up metrics to cull low performers, despite still making billions

• @karlbode Karl Bode on x

  they can't innovate, they're violently unpopular with the kids, the FTC has finally wised up to their anti-competitive acquisitions, they've eroded all public trust, and nobody in tech actually believes in their hokey gatekeeper vision for the future

• @mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x

  Things must be rather grim, otherwise why not eat the cost? Maybe because while the higher end next gen is closing in (for a rumored much higher price tag, like Apple's entrant), this will be here a while and is unsustainable in new economic order? Best guess?

• @kentbye Kent Bye VoicesOfVR on x

  Meta has likely been subsidizing the hardware cost of the Quest for a long time, and they're upping their prices by $100 starting August 1st. Certainly not a popular move 2 years into a release. Their earnings call tomorrow may provide some interesting context on any headwinds. h…

• @mingchikuo @mingchikuo on x

  The more-affordable price had been a critical competitive advantage for the Quest 2 vs. competitors. Since Meta's VR ecosystem is still insufficient to attract users, the price hike of Quest may hurt the demand and its hardware supply chain shipments. https://twitter.com/...

• @nathievr @nathievr on x

  Crazy to realize that Meta has increased the price of a VR headset that has already had a life cycle of almost 2 years.

• @anshelsag Anshel Sag on x

  I think @Meta's price increase for the Quest 2 is going to give everyone else a little more breathing room.

• @gartenberg Michael Gartenberg on x

  Apple to raise prices of iPhone 12 by $100 in August.

• @id_aa_carmack John Carmack on x

  This information will be somewhat diluted by the removal of Facebook login as a requirement — we will lose many on price, but pick up some never-Facebook users that have been standing by. I wish the two forces could have been tested independently.

• @mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x

  It would be an interesting tactic to spur sales. But you would give more than 5 days if that was the intent. Implies it was selling too cheaply before (undoubtedly — it was a great deal), but that was to spur demand? Apple sells overpriced devices, remember?

• @dcseifert Dan ‘Thoughtful Grunge’ Seifert on x

  tech products don't go up in price over time. but the Quest 2 is jumping 33 percent next month for the same hardware you got at launch. it's weird and speaks to Meta's inexperience in building hardware: https://www.theverge.com/...

• @anshelsag Anshel Sag on x

  While I think many people will be upset by this, it also points to @Meta wanting this business to be sustainable and that the $299 price point wasn't sustainable, especially with inflation. I also don't think $299 vs. $399 will change many minds, other than those buying multiple …

• @joannastern Joanna Stern on x

  Hmm, maybe, Meta wants to make some money on hardware after all. https://twitter.com/...

• @karlbode Karl Bode on x

  So @Meta 's big plan to save itself from irrelevance is price hikes and being a dick to employees that don't drink the Kool-Aid with enough vigor? Do I have that right? https://twitter.com/...

• @neiltwitz Neil Shah on x

  @Vuzix ... 3/ $Meta having also experienced it's difficult to build a good s/w platform OS for XR needs to have a longer term strategy and this move is the step in right direction to have some margins to reinvest in R&D. https://twitter.com/...

• @neiltwitz Neil Shah on x

  @Vuzix ... 1/ This is a good move to “condition” users to a newer “anchor pricing” which will help @Meta bring better hardware to the next iteration & users wont have a bigger price shock. But it proves, with rising macro headwinds it's difficult to sustain a “subsidised” h/w biz…

• @futterish Mike Futter on x

  Increasing costs at this point in the life cycle sure is a choice... https://twitter.com/...

• @mikeisaac Rat King on x

  $100 price increase on two of its VR headsets the day before earnings is interesting. positions as long-term thinking. must have been difficult to keep (possibly) subsidizing hardware at or below cost for sales purposes https://twitter.com/...

• @paultassi Paul Tassi on x

  I'm sorry Meta is *raising* Quest prices? Good luck with that metaverse bro https://twitter.com/...

• @paul__armstrong Paul Armstrong on x

  This will really help them fly off shelves. https://twitter.com/...

• @robertflorence R L Florence on x

  Still worth every penny. https://twitter.com/...

• @yelix @yelix on x

  hiking the price by $100...three years after launch...this is insane? why? https://twitter.com/...

• @futterish Mike Futter on x

  Also... really weird timing given the PSVR2 info drop today. This is brain dead strategy. This is taking a 5% shot in XCOM, having your soldier panic, and watching them toss a grenade at the rest of the squad. https://twitter.com/...

• @maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x

  I guess they couldn't sustainably sell it at a major loss. https://twitter.com/...

• @toadsanime @toadsanime on x

  The affordability of Quest VR is its main appeal and what ultimately has led to millions of impulse purchases. Huge loss for Meta, big win for the upcoming PS VR2. https://twitter.com/...

• @prez_vr @prez_vr on x

  Quest just increased in price Good thing for VR Possible sign of the times though https://twitter.com/...

• @nexusben Ben Schoon on x

  That is DRASTIC The Quest 2 was almost too good of a deal at $299, but $399 is way too high. Plus, increasing prices with no value-add is just cruel. Should have at least done a “reboot” with Elite strap as default. https://twitter.com/...

• @nexusben Ben Schoon on x

  I love my Quest 2, and in fact own two of them. But I'm quite confident I would not have purchased it as impulsively at $399 “Moving the VR industry forward” requires users. Meta is making enough back with the obscene rates it charges game devs to leave the Quest price alone

• @harrisfoster @harrisfoster on x

  My theory is that this price point was set as a loss-leader in the hopes of selling more games but everyone is just using their Quest to watch 3D grown-up movies

• @harrisfoster @harrisfoster on x

  This is NUTS I don't think I've ever seen the MSRP on any single gaming product ever *increase* https://twitter.com/...

• @tristanacooper Tristan Cooper on x

  A price *increase* on two year-old hardware. This is buckwild https://twitter.com/...

• @teennickoficial @teennickoficial on x

  @Wario64 Awesome I love paying more for less

• @patrickklepek Patrick Klepek on x

  “adjusting the price” = “arbitrarily increasing the price by $100” https://twitter.com/...

• @sadlyitsbradley Brad Lynch on x

  Meta is raising the price of the Quest 2 from 300 to 400 dollars 😅 https://www.oculus.com/...

• @fbbagholder @fbbagholder on x

  WTF, WHO SAW THIS COMMING. Even after this price increase, it is the best deal in VR. Maybe it actually covers costs now https://twitter.com/...