Meta Platforms, which has invested massive funds in the metaverse (extended virtual world) business, launched a virtual reality (VR) subscription service on the 26th (local time). Through a subscription service that allows users to enjoy new games every month at a relatively affordable price, the company aims to secure a stable VR revenue base while once again accelerating the popularization of the metaverse.
According to Meta, the newly unveiled 'Quest Plus' is a subscription-based service priced at $7.99 per month or $59.99 annually, allowing users to access two new VR games each month. It is compatible with Meta's VR devices Quest 2, Quest Pro, as well as the upcoming new product Quest 3.
Meta plans to introduce carefully selected new games for subscribers on the first day of each month. In July, Cloudhead Games' 'Pistol Whip' and the arcade adventure 'Pixel Ripped 1995' will be released. In August, users can expect a unique and engaging VR experience with Mighty Coconut's 'Walkabout Mini Games' and weapon crafting and shooting action in Terrible Posture Games' 'Mothergunship: Forge,' the company confirmed. Quest Plus is available exclusively on the Meta Quest Store.
This VR subscription service launch is interpreted as a move focused on profitability. Meta stated, "Subscription services are a great way to generate more revenue since the blockbuster era," emphasizing that "Meta Quest Plus combines reasonable pricing with the convenience of curated experiences." The Meta Reality Labs division, which has invested heavily but has yet to show visible results in revenue generation or popularization, also needs to create a turning point with this subscription service launch. The Meta Reality Labs division, responsible for VR and related areas, recorded nearly $4 billion in operating losses in the first quarter alone. Last year's losses amounted to $13.7 billion.
Notably, this launch came shortly after Apple unveiled its mixed reality (MR) headset, Vision Pro. There is growing anticipation that Apple's new product could reignite interest across the extended reality spectrum, including the metaverse sector, which had been somewhat stagnant. Earlier, Deloitte released a report stating that the metaverse's extensive use in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, entertainment, and defense could increase the United States' annual gross domestic product (GDP) by 2.4% by 2025.
Reports have also emerged that Apple has already begun developing the second-generation Vision Pro. At the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held earlier this month, Apple first unveiled Vision Pro, a device worn on the head like ski goggles that enables computing functions in three-dimensional space, with a planned release early next year. Bloomberg reported that development of the second-generation version has started, and that both high-end and low-end models are being developed. Apple defines this product as "spatial computing."
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