Meta is set to discontinue one of its most popular devices

Meta has announced that it will no longer support the Meta Quest 1 headset.
Fans have been warned that the headset will no longer keep their data safe

Meta fans are outraged as the company announces plans to end support for one of its biggest products.

In an email sent to customers, the tech giant said it will no longer provide software updates for the original Meta Quest 1 VR headset – previously called Oculus Quest.

The headset, which launched in 2019, was one of the first to offer head tracking and six degrees of motion, but will now no longer be available in Meta’s ever-expanding VR offering.

The most loyal fans will still be able to play and download apps, provided the app developers support them, but Meta warns that this could have serious security implications.

Outraged customers took to social media to plead with Mark Zuckerberg to reconsider the decision, which will go into effect at the end of August.

Meta angered its fans today by announcing the end of support for its popular Meta Quest 1 headset (pictured)

Fans of the headset reacted with outrage on social media to the news that they will no longer receive support from Meta

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On Reddit, one angry customer wrote: “A great tragedy happened today.”

Another wrote: “This is really sad – I’m still using my quest, I see the new ones are much better but I can’t afford a new one.”

The Reddit user continued: “I think Meta should at least do the bare minimum and fix security for older hardware.

“I’m only a little over five years old at this point.”

Meta had previously announced the end of work on the Meta Quest 1, announcing in January last year that it would no longer release new apps or features for the device.

However, the removal of the security update for the outdated headset came as a surprise to many fans.

In its email, Meta wrote: “We would like to inform you that as of August 31, 2024, we will no longer be providing bug fixes or security updates for Meta Quest 1 headsets.”

Many gaming fans were surprised to hear that they would no longer receive security updates or patches for their devices.

In an email sent to original customers, Meta announced it would no longer provide software or security updates for the headset.

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In the email, Meta added: “You will still be able to download new apps and use existing ones, provided they are supported by the developer.”

This means that original customers will still be able to use games and apps purchased from the Meta Store.

However, some developers, such as the creators of Beat Saber, have already announced the end of support for Meta Quest 1.

While customers will still be able to use their existing headsets, Meta also issued a stark warning about the dangers that come with doing so.

Meta wrote: “If any security flaws are discovered in the future, private data directly stored on and accessed from the device will be exposed.”

Originally released in 2019, Meta Quest won was one of the first headsets to offer a wireless VR experience. Angry fans took to social media to ask Mark Zuckerberg (pictured with an Oculus Rift VR headset) to reverse his decision

Customers will still be able to use games and apps purchased for their headsets. However, some developers, such as the creator of Beat Saber (pictured), have announced that they will no longer support older headsets

Many cybercriminals operate by exploiting vulnerabilities in old or outdated software, as known security weaknesses are often widespread on the Internet.

Without regular updates to address these issues, Meta Quest 1 headset owners could be putting their personal data at risk when using it.

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However, VR fans still have hope as the announcement comes amidst rumors of a new headset being released.

In the same email, Meta wrote: “We are excited about the future of Meta Quest and can’t wait to bring you more groundbreaking MR (mixed reality) experiences.”

Last October, Meta launched a more advanced virtual and mixed reality headset, the Meta Quest 3.

At launch, Meta claimed the headset would merge physical and digital reality, allowing customers to “play a virtual piano on your coffee table” or “open a portal in your living room.”

However, the Meta Quest 3’s $499 (£479) price tag may have been too high for many customers.

End of support for Meta Quest 1 (pictured) comes amid rumors of a Meta Quest 3S release

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It is currently widely believed that Meta is preparing to release the Meta Quest 3S, a cheaper and lighter alternative to the Meta Quest 3.

The Quest 3S name appeared on a digital software store run by Meta, and CTO Andrew Bosworth likely accidentally showed off the headset in a recent video.

The abrupt end of support for Matter Quest One also coincided with a decline in sales of the Meta Quest 2 device, as the device is no longer available in many areas of the Meta website.

If the rumors turn out to be true, there is a high probability that VR enthusiasts will be willing to replace the Meta Quest 1 with a cheaper and much more powerful model.