As October rolls out the door and we’re on the horizon of a new month, it is time to reflect back at what has happened on the Quest over the past 31 days.
The big headline this month was the pending Facebook Connect event, and what hardware and games would come out of it. Well, the fallout from the event felt bigger than the build-up. At first, nothing major was expected, however more recent leaks and data found in the newer firmware unearthed a very likely headset announcement. Otherwise, why have tutorial steps for eye and face recognition, and CGI animations showing new headsets and controllers built into the headset’s newest firmware if it wasn’t coming out soon, right? No…
I am sure existing owners sold their Quest 2 headsets ahead of this announcement, it felt like a sure thing. But alas, this didn’t happen, much to the disappointment of eager gamers’ want and desire for some new VR tech from Oculus, now Meta. Especially when PSVR 2, HTC, and Valve are creeping up on Facebook’s coattails as their hardware offerings build.
Instead, we were left with an event that Zuck soon dismissed at the very start as one without any hardware announcements. Instead, we got a few small teases of information, a very shallow look ahead of games coming to Quest next year, and a name – Project Cambria – the headset I am certain we may have seen revealed if it wasn’t for the switch of focus towards justifying the rebrand of Facebook to Meta.
The game showcase felt heavily-reduced like they couldn’t confirm or say anything about any upcoming games, other than the big distraction announcement that GTA San Andreas is being ported to the Quest 2 in 2022. Other than that, we’re left waiting for an Oculus Gaming Showcase event (now said to be coming in early 2022), that wasn’t even dated. Assassin’s Creed, Splinter Cell, and Boneworks developer fans were left hanging – like a handing skeleton hanging in a science lab cupboard.
Then there was the knock at the door, a Facebook/Meta exec enters through Zuck’s front door with a development kit suitcase, a clear indication of new hardware was exchanged. Yet minutes later, we were soon moved on from that topic, and not a single mention of that said dev kit box being opened or revealed – like the whole announcement was swiftly left on the cutting room floor.
So Project Cambria will become a new high-end VR headset, releasing next year (likely in May or in Oct 2022), that will sit alongside and accompany the Quest 2 as a kind of separate high-end VR device from Meta – note I didn’t say Oculus, as soon the Oculus Quest 2 will be renamed Meta Quest and the Oculus App will be Meta App for Quest.
This new branding certainly doesn’t roll off the tongue. What a total letdown overall.
Other VR Highlights:
- After the Fall will release 9th December
- PC favourite Blade and Sorcery is coming to Quest
- Soon you will be able to customised your room in Horizon Workrooms
- Beat Saber passed $100m in revenue
- Horizon Home will replace Oculus Home on Quest, better social interactions
- A new world and lots of updates coming to new In Death Unchained update
- Great SideQuest title Tea for God gets an official demo
- Squid Game is a thing, and now you can take part in its first game on Quest
- Lone Echo II is great! Buy it now if you have PCVR
- Quest 2 exclusive Resident Evil 4 finally released to much praise and reviews
YouTube Channel
In October, I got my hands on some new accessories for Quest 2. The first was VR Covers new lens protectors for anyone wishing to protect their lenses from glasses wearers. I then looked at the free Silicone Covers from Oculus, and compared them to what you can get from VR Cover. If you’re looking for a comfy halo strap, then check out my review for the Tyasoleil Halo Strap. VR Cover then dropped a new facial interface, aimed at fitness, but it is their best facial interface yet – very much recommended. And finally, AMVR released new hand controller grips that simplify how you can get knuckle straps on your controllers without adding bulk and materials, whilst also giving you easy access to the battery compartment.
You can check out these and more of my reviews for Quest on the OQPlay OQPlay YouTube channel.
A little more mention of our YouTube Channel. We managed to reach 2,429 subscribers at the end of this month. I continue to appreciate all the great questions and comments that you have sent in on the Channel. I hope to continue to bring fresh new accessories and gameplay content to the channel. If you’ve not yet subscribed, please do, as it will really help the Channel grow stronger and give me the opportunity to bring you more unique VR content.
Quest Game Releases & Updates in October
October featured something for everyone. At the beginning of the month, we had VR survival game Song in the Smoke. The crazy party game Loco Dojo Unleashed finally got its release on the official Oculus Store. Ragnarok and Unplugged were released for budding music game lovers. Spacefolk City filled the gap in VR for SimCity fans. And finally, Resident Evil 4 recreated in VR brings a scary full-sized horror release title to the Quest, just in time for Halloween.
Top 20 Top-Selling
So let’s look at this week’s top 20 chart positions on the Oculus Quest Store.
- Resident Evil 4 (New Entry)
- Beat Saber (1)
- SUPERHOT VR (3)
- Job Simulator (2)
- Arizona Sunshine (Re-Entry)
- Onward (4)
- A Township Tale (7)
- Virtual Desktop (6)
- Vader Immortal: Episode I (8)
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (5)
- The Trill of the Fight (11)
- Unplugged (New Entry)
- POPULATION: ONE (10)
- Five Nights at Freddy’s (Re-Entry)
- Drunkn Bar Fight (17)
- Warplanes WWI Fighters (9)
- GORN (12)
- Eleven Table Tennis (14)
- Stride (13)
- Richie’s Plank Experience (15)
The number in the (bracket) is the app’s previous month’s position.
Tune in at the end of next month as we look at the movers and shakers of the Oculus Store Top-Selling.
