Meta Oculus VR App Downloads Surge

Oculus App Downloads Surge After Holiday Season

Globally, Meta’s Oculus app, designed as a mobile companion for Oculus VR devices like the Quest 2, has experienced approximately 2 million downloads since December 25th. This data originates from independent app intelligence companies, Apptopia and Sensor Tower.

Significant Increase in Installs

Prior to this surge, indications suggested the Quest 2 was a popular holiday present. The Oculus app reached the number one position in the Apple App Store on Christmas Day for the first time. Simultaneously, it became the most downloaded free application on Google Play within the United States.

Data from Sensor Tower reveals a 517% week-over-week increase in Oculus app adoption in the U.S. between December 23rd and 29th, culminating in 1.5 million installs.

Post-Christmas Download Trends

The following week, from December 30th to January 5th, saw a 77% decrease in installs, totaling 345,000. However, this number remains 42% higher than the week preceding Christmas 2021.

It is probable that these recent downloads represent individuals who received an Oculus device as a gift but had not yet completed the setup process.

Global Distribution of Downloads

While the U.S. contributed the largest portion of post-Christmas installs, estimates suggest a total of around 2 million global installs across both the App Store and Google Play since Christmas Day.

Sensor Tower provides a slightly more conservative estimate, reporting approximately 1.8 million global installs between December 31, 2021, and January 5, 2022. Apptopia, conversely, indicates 2.189 million worldwide downloads from Christmas to the present.

U.S. Market Dominance

Of these 2 million-plus installs, roughly 79% – equivalent to 1.727 million – originated from U.S. consumers, according to Apptopia’s findings.

Historical Download Comparison

These recent figures are noteworthy when considered alongside the app’s historical download numbers. The 2021 holiday install figures are comparable to the total number of yearly downloads the app received in its initial years.

The Oculus app launched in April 2018, accumulating 1.2 million downloads in its first year. This number increased to 2.4 million in 2019.

Growth Trajectory

Adoption accelerated in 2020, with 4.4 million global consumers installing the app. The launch of the Quest 2 in late 2020 further propelled growth, resulting in 10.62 million installs in 2021.

The U.S. accounted for 7.218 million of these 2021 installs, representing 68% of the total.

Data Consistency

Sensor Tower’s data indicates slightly lower numbers, reporting a little over 8 million worldwide downloads in 2021. Nevertheless, both firms concur that the Oculus app has gained approximately 2 million additional downloads in the days following Christmas.

Meta’s Response and Quest 2 Shipments

Meta has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these third-party estimates. However, Qualcomm, the chipset provider for the Quest 2, reported in November 2021 that Meta had shipped 10 million Quest 2 units to date.

Focus on the Quest 2

While the Oculus app supports older products like the Rift and Rift S, the recent surge in downloads is primarily attributed to the Quest 2. Introduced in October 2020, the Quest 2 has been the company’s primary VR offering for over a year, aiming to make VR more accessible with its $299 starting price.

Facebook’s rebranding to Meta and its vision for the “metaverse” may have also sparked increased consumer interest in VR, contributing to the recent growth in app installs.

Downloads as an Adoption Indicator

Although app downloads don’t directly equate to real-world adoption, they provide valuable insight into the number of consumers who may have recently purchased – or received as a gift – a new Oculus VR device.

The app is essential for downloading VR applications and games and connecting with other users in VR, making it a standard installation for most Quest 2 owners.

Current App Store Ranking and Engagement

As of January 5th, the Oculus app’s ranking in the U.S. App Store has decreased, considering both installs and download velocity. It currently holds the 111th position overall and ranks 10th within the Entertainment category.

Apptopia also reports strong engagement from new users, estimating 2.41 million daily active users – exceeding previous levels. This suggests that users are actively exploring the VR environment after installing the app.