Meta announced today that it is launching a new account system for its line of virtual reality headsets.
The move follows a pledge the company made last year that it would require most users to log into its VR headsets using a Facebook account. But beginning in August, Meta accounts will roll out to new and existing Quest users.
As noted in the latest blog post, if you have used a Facebook account with your Quest headset or you merged your Oculus and Facebook accounts, you will be required to create a Meta account and Meta Horizon profile to use the headset moving forward.
You asked, we listened. pic.twitter.com/dSKRB0oFBw
— Meta Quest (@MetaQuestVR) July 7, 2022
However, Meta notes that users that have been logging into its VR headsets using just an Oculus account will be allowed to continue to do so until January 1st, 2023.
The announcement is no surprise, as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg promised it would remove the Facebook account requirement last year. Meta initially set a precedent in 2020, noting that it would require a Facebook login for its VR headsets beginning in October of that year, angered a significant portion of the user base.
Some cite the requirement a major drawback for purchasing a Quest 2.
Within the last year, Meta has been making a significant shift from being a social media giant into becoming a tech company that is dedicated to building metaverse technology. The latest press release further supports that direction noting that the company intends to extend the Meta account service to its other devices down the road, allowing you to use your Meta account across all of the company's in-house products.
While the Quest ditches a Facebook login in favor of mandating a Meta account seems less than ideal, it should address the issues some may have been locked out of their headsets because they were suspended or banned on Facebook.
Yet, Meta's requirement to use any account to log in is still a lot stricter compared to its competitors on the market. Still, of course, the drawback for its competitors like, say, the Valve Index or the upcoming PSVR2 is that these VR headsets are tethered to other devices, like a gaming PC or a game console.
Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.