Meta introduced a lot at its Join 2024 convention that you could have missed a few of it.

However by no means concern! This is a quick abstract of each vital Meta Join 2024 announcement. For full context and particulars, click on the articles linked.

Headsets & Equipment

Meta launched a brand new headset, simplified its Quest 3 lineup, discontinued Quest 2 and Quest Professional, and launched new official equipment.

A New Headset: Meta Quest 3S

After months of leaks, Meta lastly introduced its new headset: Quest 3S.

Successfully, Quest 3S is a less expensive Quest 3 with a bulkier design, inferior lens readability, and decrease decision.

Quest 3S has the identical Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and colour passthrough combined actuality capabilities as Quest 3, however makes use of the outdated fresnel lenses and glued single panel from Quest 2 to realize a beginning value of $300.

All purchases of Quest 3S till Could will include Batman: Arkham Shadow.

Quest 3 128GB Gone & 512GB Worth Reduce

Meta is discontinuing the 128GB base mannequin of Quest 3 and chopping the opposite 512GB mannequin to its $500 value.

Meta Cuts 512GB Quest 3 To $500, Will Discontinue 128GB Mannequin

Meta is discontinuing the 128GB Quest 3 and chopping the 512GB mannequin to $500. The 128GB mannequin is now $430 “whereas provides final”.

Till inventory is gone, the 128GB mannequin is on clearance sale for $430.

Like with Quest 3S, all purchases of Quest 3 till Could will include Batman: Arkham Shadow.

Quest 2 & Quest Professional Discontinued

Quest 2 and Quest Professional will not be accessible when inventory runs out or on the finish of the yr, whichever comes first.

Meta Is Discontinuing Quest 2 & Quest Professional

Quest 2 and Quest Professional will not be accessible when inventory runs out or on the finish of the yr, whichever comes first.

Quest 2 was the primary mainstream VR headset and Quest Professional was an progressive failure.

Quest 3S will take Quest 2’s place in Meta’s lineup. However there is not any direct substitute for Quest Professional. When it is gone, Meta will not supply a headset with eye monitoring or face monitoring.

Quest 3 Open Facial Interface

One facet of Quest Professional that Meta will supply a substitute for is its open periphery design, as a result of it is releasing an official Open Facial Interface for Quest 3.

Meta Releasing Official Open Facial Interface For Quest 3

Whereas Quest Professional is being discontinued, Meta is launching an official Open Facial Interface for Quest 3 – with a unusually distinctive design.

As a substitute of being a halo strap, the official Open Facial Interface nonetheless presses in opposition to your face. However the area between the interface and the headset itself is empty, permitting you to see the actual world.

Quest 3S Breathable Facial Interface

Quest 3S is getting its personal unique facial interface accent.

Quest 3S Has “Breathable” Facial Interface Accent

Meta is promoting a “Breathable” Facial Interface for Quest 3S, which makes the tradeoff of not being opaque to “aid you maintain cool whereas understanding or enjoying intense video games”.

The “Breathable” Facial Interface makes the tradeoff of not being opaque to “aid you maintain cool whereas understanding or enjoying intense video games”.

Meta’s Simplified Lineup

When Quest 2, Quest Professional, and the 128GB Quest 3 are gone, Meta’s headset lineup shall be simplified to:

• Quest 3S (128GB): $300
• Quest 3S (256GB): $400
• Quest 3 (512GB): $500

New Horizon OS Options & Apps

YouTube Cowatching

Official YouTube cowatching will lastly launch as a beta subsequent week.

YouTube Cowatching On Quest Will Lastly Arrive Subsequent Week

Official YouTube cowatching on Horizon OS will lastly launch as a beta subsequent week, greater than two years after it was first introduced.

YouTube cowatching will happen in Horizon Dwelling, which means you will see different individuals as their Meta Avatar alongside you.

Horizon Hyperscape: Photorealistic Scenes On Quest 3

Quest 3 house owners within the US can attempt photorealistic scenes by way of Meta’s new Horizon Hyperscape demo app.

Meta Horizon Hyperscape: Photorealistic Scenes On Quest 3

Meta’s Horizon Hyperscape demo exhibits photorealistic 6DoF scenes on Quest 3, however is just accessible within the US.

UploadVR’s Don Hopper tried Horizon Hyperscape and located it to be considerably increased high quality than Gracia, with a “stark distinction” in visible readability.

New Amazon Prime Video App With Downloads

Amazon launched an all-new Prime Video Quest app that helps passthrough and downloads.

New Amazon Prime Video Quest App Helps Downloads

Amazon simply launched an all-new Prime Video Quest app that helps downloads for offline viewing.

Prime Video is the primary main streaming service formally accessible on Horizon OS to help downloads, making it excellent to be used on airplanes with the Journey Mode Quest headsets now have since Could.

Computerized Pairing With Home windows 11 Laptops

Quest headsets will have the ability to lengthen Home windows 11 laptops by simply taking a look at them, with out putting in any software program, later this yr.

Meta says this shall be potential due to a partnership with Microsoft.

Quests Can Quickly Lengthen Home windows Laptops By Simply Trying At Them

Quest headsets will quickly have the ability to lengthen Home windows 11 laptops by simply taking a look at them, and with out putting in particular software program.

Your laptop computer’s display screen will flip off and get replaced by a large digital display screen, and you’ll spawn fully digital additional screens.

New Meta Avatars

The brand new Meta Avatars system with overhauled graphics will launch on Tuesday.

The New Meta Avatars Launch Subsequent Week

The brand new Meta Avatars system will launch on Tuesday, that includes overhauled graphics and deeper customization.

And a while subsequent yr, Meta will enable customers to generate a brand new outfit by typing, leveraging generative AI.

In Horizon Worlds, Meta says it would additionally help “fantastical avatars”, non-human kinds which customers can unlock in particular worlds.

Passthrough API

In a shock announcement at Join 2024 at this time, Meta revealed that it’ll give builders entry to the passthrough cameras of Quest headsets by way of a brand new API subsequent yr.

Quest Builders Will Get Entry To The Passthrough Cameras

Meta says Quest builders will have the ability to entry the passthrough cameras subsequent yr, unlocking fully new capabilities.

Meta hasn’t but mentioned whether or not there will be any restrictions to the Passthrough API, however we’ll maintain a detailed eye on the corporate for any additional particulars of this thrilling upcoming functionality, which may unlock fully new use instances for Quest headsets.

AI NPCs In Horizon Worlds

Meta says Horizon Worlds creators will have the ability to add AI NPCs to their worlds subsequent yr.

These AI NPCs will have the ability to “interact in conversations, assist individuals out, and even compete in video games”, 

Meta Horizon Worlds Is Getting AI NPCs You Can Discuss To

Horizon Worlds creators will have the ability to add AI NPCs to their worlds subsequent yr, and also you’ll have the ability to speak to them along with your voice.

“Whether or not it is a pleasant fishing fanatic or a fantastically evil boss, it is possible for you to to customise NPCs utilizing our avatar and voice tech, and it is all multiplayer prepared.

We’ll additionally help world understanding and sophisticated motion chaining, so NPCs is usually a actually wealthy a part of the world you created.”

“The Future Of Horizon OS” Tease

Meta teased “the way forward for Horizon OS”, exhibiting an idea of a whole redesign.

Meta Teases “The Future Of Horizon OS” With New Design

Meta teased “the way forward for Horizon OS” at Join at this time, exhibiting an idea of a whole redesign.

Meta did not give even a tough timeline for the brand new Horizon OS interface, and what was proven seems to be an idea.

Two New Video games & Supernatural Multiplayer

Triangle Technique VR Port

Triangle Technique, a turn-based tactical RPG from Sq. Enix, is being tailored for VR this yr on Quest.

Acclaimed Tactical RPG Triangle Technique Will get VR Port Subsequent Month On Quest

Triangle Technique, a turn-based tactical RPG from Sq. Enix, is being tailored for VR this yr on Quest.

On Quest, Triangle Technique’s VR adaptation guarantees a “complete new look” throughout the battlefield, letting you attain out to models and problem instructions immediately. 

Dwelling Sports activities

Dwelling Sports activities is a brand new combined actuality multi-sports sport that rolls 5 sports activities into one assortment on Quest 3.

Dwelling Sports activities Is A Combined Actuality Multi-Sport Recreation For Quest 3

Dwelling Sports activities is a brand new MR multi-sports sport from Demeo’s studio that rolls bowling, hockey, and extra into one assortment on Quest 3.

A precise launch date stays unconfirmed. Decision states Dwelling Sports activities “shall be launching quickly” for the Meta Quest 3 household.

Supernatural Multiplayer

Supernatural Collectively is a brand new growth that provides group-based exercises to the health app on Quest.

Supernatural Collectively Provides Group-Based mostly Exercises To The VR Health App

Supernatural Collectively is a brand new growth that provides group-based exercises to the health app on Quest.

Workforce Exercises characteristic particular Problem Zones and Victory Tunnels that “require teamwork and coordination to finish.”

Horizon Retailer & App Growth

2D Android Apps On Horizon Retailer

Meta Horizon Retailer, the app retailer on Quest headsets, will enable builders to submit 2D Android apps.

Quest’s Retailer Now Accepts 2D Android Apps

Quest’s Meta Horizon Retailer now accepts 2D Android apps, which may carry extra apps and companies to the platform.

Meta shall be hoping this brings among the most helpful and entertaining apps from the Google Play Retailer. Nonetheless, the dearth of Google Play Providers will make it difficult for some apps to be ported.

Meta Spatial SDK

Meta Spatial SDK lets builders simply construct apps for Quest’s Horizon OS with conventional cellular growth instruments, with no sport engine.

Meta Spatial SDK Lets Builders Simply Construct Quest Apps

Meta Spatial SDK lets builders simply construct apps for Quest’s Horizon OS with conventional cellular growth instruments, with no sport engine.

It offers rendering, optionally available passthrough, controller and hand monitoring, help for flatscreen and immersive media playback, physics, and spatial audio.

The Ray-Ban Meta sensible glasses are getting a swathe of latest software program options, in addition to new transitions lenses types.

Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Getting Stay Translation & Extra

Ray-Ban Meta glasses are getting a swathe of latest options, together with dwell translation, reminders, QR code scanning, and voice-controlled Spotify.

New Software program Options

The next options are coming “quickly”:

• Meta AI Reminders
• Extra Pure Visible Meta AI
• Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart Controls
• QR Codes & Cellphone Numbers

And these options are coming “later this yr”:

• Stay Translation
• Meta AI Video Imaginative and prescient

New Transitions Kinds

Additional, EssilorLuxottica and Meta launched new fashion choices with Transitions lenses:

• Skyler Shiny Black with Amethyst Transitions
• Headliner Shiny Caramel with Sapphire Transitions
• Headliner Low Bridge Match Shiny Black with Sapphire Transitions
• Headliner Matte Black with Grey Transitions
• Wayfarer Matte Black with Graphite Inexperienced Transitions

Orion True AR Glasses Prototype

Meta confirmed off built-in prototype AR glasses with a area of view that is outstanding given their kind issue.

Meta’s Prototype AR Glasses Have Exceptional Discipline Of View

Meta confirmed off prototype true AR glasses at Join, codenamed Orion, with a outstanding 70-degree area of view.

Nonetheless, the Orion glasses will not be offered as a product, as Meta admitted every prices on the order of $10,000 to supply. The corporate mentioned Orion shall be used as a demonstrator and inside growth package, describing it as “a time machine that lets us dwell sooner or later”.