Project Cambria is set to be Meta’s next best VR headset that’s fuelled by metaverse ambitions, but it won’t replace the Oculus Quest 2. The company says the mixed reality device will cater to more than just gaming, even going as far as to claim it could replace your work PC or laptop. While this suggests the device will be all work and no play, there’s reason to believe it’ll still be a great option for VR games, even if the Oculus Quest 3 ends up being the company’s actual next-gen VR gaming gizmo.
We suspect that Project Cambria is the new title for the previously rumoured Oculus Quest Pro, but rumblings of an enhanced Oculus Quest 2 Pro are now making the rounds. At the company’s debut Meta Connect conference in October 2021, CEO Mark Zuckerberg described its mixed reality device as a “completely new advanced and high-end product.” The Facebook boss has since emphasised the difference between Quest and the new metaverse goggles in a Facebook post, claiming they aim to “seamlessly blend virtual reality with the physical world.”
Zuckerberg’s description is perhaps more fluffy than helpful, but we’ve collated everything we know about Project Cambria in an effort to decipher the Meta headset’s potential price, release date, and specs.
Here’s everything we know about the Meta Quest Pro:
META Quest Pro release date
Project Cambria doesn’t have a solid release date, but Meta says the new headset will release in 2022. Mark Zuckerberg says we can expect the headset to arrive later this year while stating that more information will be available in the “coming months”.
Of course, the ongoing pandemic and component shortages could impact Project Cambria’s arrival date, so it’s best not to treat any release date predictions as gospel. There’s also the fact that the device looks to be a completely different beast from its predecessors, and its current ‘project’ label caveats potential changes and delays.
Meta Quest Pro Price
Meta hasn’t revealed Project Cambria MSRP, but Zuckerberg places it “at the higher end of the price spectrum.” This suggests the headset will cost more than the Meta Quest 2, which retails for $299 USD.
Meta Quest Pro specs
Just like the Meta Quest 2, Project Cambria will be a wireless, standalone headset. Despite its standalone capabilities, you’ll likely be able to plug it into your gaming PC for increased fidelity and performance, and you might still be able to cut the cord using Meta Air Link.
Project Cambria also boasts eye-tracking, a feature that provides users with another method of input. The tech also allows developers to implement foveated rendering, an adaptive scaling technique that reserves high resolutions for the player’s line of sight while scaling down everything else. Not only does this make everything you’re seeing in the virtual world super sharp, but it also ensures none of the device’s processing power is going to waste.
Face tracking is another Project Cambria trick worth talking about, as the device’s sensors can replicate facial expressions in real-time. Naturally, this could play a role in making the Metaverse a reality, and adds another layer of communication and expression within virtual spaces.
Augmented reality is another part of the Project Cambria experience, as the headset will feature an external camera feed that isn’t limited to black and white. While the feature’s implementation probably won’t stack up against the likes of Microsoft’s Hololens, a device with transparent displays, the Meta Quest Pro has an expanded field of view on its side.
Meta Quest Pro controllers
We’ve not been given an official glimpse at the Meta Quest Pro’s controllers, but leaked screenshots from an alleged Facebook Workplace video conference have popped up online. Shared by YouTuber Basti564, the image depicts two familiar-looking disc-shaped controllers that have infrared tracking cameras built-in, rather than tracking rings.
There’s no way of currently telling whether the controllers in the leaked screenshot are fake, prototypes, or a final revision. Nevertheless, hand tracking would make for a more reliable and accurate experience, an ambition that fits Project Cambria’s high-spec VR agenda.
