Facebook Messenger Now Available on Oculus Quest

Facebook Highlights VR Progress and New Features for Quest 2

During their most recent quarterly earnings discussion, Facebook dedicated a significant amount of time to detailing their achievements in the realm of Virtual Reality. They specifically highlighted the successes experienced by developers and their own positive results from sales of the Quest 2 VR headset.

Limited Third-Party App Support

A continuing challenge for the VR platform is the limited support from third-party developers for applications extending beyond gaming. Despite being a capable device, the headset has a scarcity of VR ports for mobile applications. Even streaming services like Hulu and Netflix have received minimal updates, attributable to the relatively small user base.

Integrating Facebook Features into the VR Experience

Facebook, itself a substantial app developer, has been navigating a complex situation. They aim to integrate the functionality of their core services into the headset without deterring users who may be hesitant about a product overtly branded by Facebook.

Following the implementation of mandatory Facebook login last autumn, the company has now announced that Quest and Quest 2 users will have access to Messenger chats directly within the app. This allows users to send pre-written messages, type using the in-VR keyboard, or utilize the headset’s voice-to-text capability.

Balancing Social Connectivity and User Preference

This update may further discourage those concerned about Facebook’s increasing control over the VR platform. However, users seeking a more social VR experience, or those wanting to avoid complete disconnection while using the headset, will likely find the new feature beneficial.

Introducing App Lab for Wider Content Access

In addition to the Messenger update, Facebook announced the rollout of App Lab. This feature functions similarly to TestFlight, enabling Quest users to download content outside of the official Oculus Store.

This addresses growing concerns that Facebook has restricted access for emerging game developers. Users can locate titles within App Lab by name or through direct links. This new functionality directly competes with SideQuest, a startup already providing a platform for experimental Quest content.