Is Meta's Quest 4 Still Alive? Despite Rumors, Meta CTO Hints at Its Survival
In a recent interview with tech journalist Alex Heath, Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, dropped a tantalizing hint that suggests the highly anticipated Quest 4 is still in the works. But here's where it gets controversial: this comes amidst a wave of Meta's recent VR-related cuts and shifts, leaving many to wonder if the company is truly committed to its VR future.
Back in June, reports surfaced claiming the cancellation of two potential Quest 4 prototypes, codenamed Pismo Low and Pismo High, slated for 2026. This fueled speculation that Meta was abandoning its VR headset ambitions. However, leaked internal memos in December painted a different picture, revealing plans for a gaming-focused headset, rumored to be a significant upgrade over the Quest 3, albeit likely at a higher price point due to the absence of subsidies. And this is the part most people miss: these memos also mentioned an ultralight mixed reality headset with a tethered puck, expected to launch in the first half of 2027.
Meta's CFO, Susan Li, further fueled the flames of hope by reaffirming the company's "optimism in the future of VR" and its ongoing development of "future headsets." While this statement didn't explicitly confirm the Quest 4, Bosworth's recent comments seem to fill in the blanks.
When asked about the metaverse's future during his Davos interview, Bosworth alluded to two exciting devices on Meta's roadmap. He cleverly referenced the leaked December memos, strongly implying that the gaming-focused Quest 4 is still on track. However, he remained tight-lipped about release dates, leaving us with the enigmatic "a period of time" when pressed for specifics.
Based on leaks and industry insights, the ultralight headset is expected in early 2027, with the Quest 4 potentially arriving later that year. Interestingly, firmware sleuth Luna has uncovered a potential codename for the Quest 4: "Griffin." Meanwhile, the ultralight headset has been associated with names like "Puffin," "Loma," and "Phoenix."
Here's the catch: Meta's hardware plans are notoriously fluid, with projects frequently being shelved or delayed. While the Quest 4 seems to be surviving for now, its future remains uncertain.
What do you think? Is Meta truly committed to VR, or is the Quest 4 destined for the same fate as other canceled projects? Let us know in the comments below!
