It also revealed two blockbuster franchises – Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell – were being developed for the platform.
The firm has been unable to meet demand for the first Quest in recent months.
But one industry-watcher suggested it is likely to remain a “niche” product.
The launch comes 16 months after the original Quest’s release.
The all-in-one machine distinguished itself by offering users six degrees of freedom – meaning they could walk around virtual worlds in a limited space as well as look up, down, left and right – without needing separate external sensors or to have its software run off a PC.
The new model features higher-resolution displays, which now offer “almost 2K” per eye. The firm says that represents 50% more pixels than before, and they have been arranged so that the gaps between each pixel are less apparent.
Facebook suggest one benefit is that text will be easier to read.
However, the trade off is that it has moved from using OLED to LED screen technology, meaning the blacks may be less deep than before, affecting contrast.
Other improvements include:
use of the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor, which is capable of handling higher-resolution 360-degree videos as well as more complex graphics
a 10% lighter body with redesigned straps for a more comfortable fit
longer battery life
Many of the details had leaked in advance.
However, the price has proved to be a surprise.
Experts the BBC spoke to ahead of the launch expected it to be anywhere from the same price as the original quest up to about a third more.
Instead, Facebook has cut the entry level price from £399 to £299 for version with 64 gigabytes of storage. A second version costs £399 and provides 256GB of storage.
That could help drive interest at a time when many gamers are focused instead on the forthcoming launches of new PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
“At this price, we believe the device is a loss-leading product, demonstrating Facebook’s desire to simultaneously drive greater adoption of virtual reality and capture a larger share of the market,” said Leo Gebbie from the consultancy CCS Insight.
“We fear that rivals like HTC will not be able to keep pace with Facebook’s aggressive approach.”
But another industry-watcher had doubts that this represented VR’s breakthrough moment.
“The upgraded image quality is important, but this is still a stepping stone, an incremental step towards mass adoption,” commented Kevin Joyce from the VR consultancy Tiny Brains.
“The Quest still needs to come further down in size and weight, and the graphics are still what you would have got from a console two generations ago.
“But Facebook is steadily paving the way for VR to go mainstream with what is a very calculated effort.”
One challenge facing the firm is that it remains difficult to convey the appeal of VR until a person tries it, which is challenging at a time Covid-19 prevents stores putting out headsets to test.
Another is suspicion of Facebook itself after a series of privacy scandals.
A number of existing owners have suggested they will ditch the platform because of its insistence they use Facebook logins with the headsets rather than a separate system.
Ubisoft tie-up
Oculus Quest headsets have sold out within hours of coming into stock for most of 2020.
But while the coronavirus pandemic may have made the tech more appealing to consumers living under lockdown, it also constrained Facebook’s ability to order more from its suppliers.
“Shipment volumes across the VR sector are still extremely low compared to many other categories, and for now gaming is still the only category driving sales of the products,” commented Francisco Jeronimo from the research firm IDC.
A deal with Ubisoft to create made-for-VR entries in the Assassin’s Creed and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series that will run natively on the Quest should add to its appeal.
Until now, many of the games on offer have been from smaller independent studios working with relatively low budgets.
Facebook said it would also soon release a multiplayer version of its rhythm-based game Beat Saber, which is already one of the Quest’s most popular titles, along with an expansion pack featuring the K-pop band BTS.
It also showed off the latest footage from Population: One – a Fortnite-like battle royale shooter designed for VR, which has already been years in development.
Facebook said that it was also continuing to work on augmented reality glasses, which will overlay graphics over a view of the real world.
It now calls the initiative Project Aria and said a few hundred of its staff would soon be equipped with prototypes to collect data while moving within their homes, Facebook’s offices and in public spaces.
Analysis
By Simon Hancock, BBC Click’s Editor
Unboxing the previous Quest was the first time I really had the feeling that VR was at last ready for consumers.
A sleek looking bit of kit, from top to bottom everything just worked. All it needed now were some users.
While the second generation’s improvements in processor, storage and display resolution will be appreciated by those already active in the area, it is the pricing – the cost of a low-end smartphone – and blockbuster gaming tie-ups that Facebook hope will win it new eyeballs.
In the year of big console launches the question is whether even this ultra-aggressive pricing strategy will turn enough heads.
But if any supply chain issues beset the PS5 or new Xbox series, you can be sure the Quest 2 is ready to make some very real in-roads into the gaming market.
Two of the world’s most high-profile technology billionaires – Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg – have agreed to fight each other in a cage match.
Mr Musk posted a message on his social media platform Twitter that he was “up for a cage fight” with Mr Zuckerberg.
Mr Zuckerberg, the boss of Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta, then posted a screenshot of Mr Musk’s tweet with the caption “send me location”.
“The story speaks for itself,” a Meta spokesperson told the BBC.
Mr Musk then replied to Mr Zuckerberg’s response with: “Vegas Octagon.”
The Octagon is the competition mat and fenced-in area used for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts. The UFC is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mr Musk, who turns 52 later this month, also tweeted: “I have this great move that I call “The Walrus”, where I just lie on top of my opponent & do nothing.”
He also tweeted: “I almost never work out, except for picking up my kids & throwing them in the air.”
Meanwhile, 39-year-old Mr Zuckerberg has already been training in mixed martial arts (MMA) and has recently won jiu-jitsu tournaments.
Twitter did not provide a statement when contacted by the BBC for comment.
The exchanges have gone viral with social media users debating who would win the bout, while others have posted memes including mocked up posters advertising the fight.
Earlier this month, Meta showed staff plans for a text-based social network designed to compete with Twitter, sources have told the BBC.
It could allow users to follow accounts they already follow on Instagram, Meta’s image-sharing app.
It could potentially allow the company to bring over followers from decentralised platforms such as Mastodon.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that the platform was in development.
The text-based network – which has a working title of P92 – could turn out to be a greater rival to Elon Musk’s Twitter than either BlueSky or Mastodon.
Spain’s competition watchdog, the ‘Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia’ (CNMC) has opened a disciplinary case against Google for alleged anti-competitive practices affecting publishers and Spanish news agencies, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
CNMC said it was investigating whether Google had abused its dominant position in the Spanish market. The proceedings involve Google LLC, Google Ireland Ltd, Google Spain, SL., and the overall parent company Alphabet Inc.
The alleged practices also include distorting free competition and imposing unfair conditions on press publishers and Spanish news agencies, CNMC said.
The watchdog’s investigation was sparked by a complaint from the Spanish Reproduction Rights Centre (CEDRO).
CNMC will investigate the case over the next 18 months, during which both sides can present their arguments.
According to RTVE, Spain’s national broadcaster, Google will analyse the file and respond to the ‘doubts’ of the CNMC. They said that Google ‘works constructively with publishers in Spain and Europe’ and would ‘need time to analyse the details … as the nature of the claims is still not clear’.
It is not the first action by the Spanish competition regulator against Google, nor the first in which its dominant position in the media sector stands out. In 2021, CNMC already warned that this company and another technology giant, Amazon, monopolised 70% of internet advertising in Spain.
Other lawsuits in the Netherlands and the UK have previously accused the technology company of abusing its dominance in the digital advertising market to harm its competitors. France also fined Google in 2021 for not negotiating in good faith compensation for the media for using its news content.
Technology has dramatically changed the way we read and write in the 21st century. From e-books and online articles to social media and instant messaging, technology has made reading and writing more accessible and convenient. However, it has also brought about new challenges and concerns.
One of the biggest benefits of technology is the increased access to information. With just a few clicks, people can access an endless supply of books, articles, and other written materials from all over the world. This has made reading and writing more accessible for people who may not have had the opportunity to do so in the past. It has also allowed for greater collaboration, as people can now share their writing and receive feedback from a global audience.
Technology has also made writing and reading more interactive. Social media and blogs have made it possible for people to engage with written content in real-time, sharing their thoughts, opinions, and experiences with others. This has led to a more dynamic and engaged reading and writing community, with people able to communicate and connect with each other in new and meaningful ways.
However, there are also concerns about how technology is affecting our ability to read and write. One of the biggest concerns is the decline of attention span. With so much information available at our fingertips, it can be difficult to stay focused and absorb what we are reading. Many people find it difficult to concentrate on longer written works, and are instead drawn to shorter, more bite-sized pieces of content.
Additionally, technology has led to an increase in informal writing. The widespread use of text messaging and instant messaging has led to the widespread use of shorthand and abbreviations. This has created concerns about the impact it may have on people’s writing skills, as well as the way they communicate with others.
Another concern is the rise of “fake news.” With the ease of publishing content online, it has become increasingly difficult to differentiate between credible and unreliable sources. This has led to a decline in trust in the media, and has created a need for critical thinking and media literacy skills.
Despite these concerns, technology has also provided new opportunities for writing and reading. E-books and online platforms have made it easier for people to self-publish their work, giving them greater control over the distribution and promotion of their writing. This has created a more democratized publishing industry, and has made it possible for voices and perspectives that may have previously been excluded to be heard.
In conclusion, technology has had a profound impact on reading and writing. While there are certainly challenges and concerns, the increased access to information, the ability to connect and engage with others, and the opportunities for self-publishing have all made reading and writing more accessible and dynamic. As technology continues to evolve, it will be important to address the challenges it presents and embrace the opportunities it provides.
