Meta is moving forward with its plans to release more VR headsets and AR glasses in the coming years, but there seems to be some financial pressure on the teams working on these projects. A recent report suggests that Meta has instructed its VR/AR teams to reduce spending by 20%. Despite this, the company is still anticipating the launch of the Meta Quest 4 headset, a Quest Pro sequel, and new AR glasses within the next three years.
While Meta is shifting its focus towards AI, it has not abandoned its VR/AR-centric Reality Labs division. The division has previously incurred significant losses, with $3.85 billion posted in the last quarter alone. To address this, Meta is looking to cut costs within the division. The company’s CFO, Susan Li, reportedly informed staff that the division has lost $55 billion since 2019.
Although there have been recent layoffs within Meta, particularly affecting the Reality Labs division, the company remains committed to its metaverse ambitions. Despite the financial constraints, there are still new products in development, including a pair of AR glasses that are expected to hit the market next year. These glasses will not carry the Ray Bans branding, as the conglomerate behind Ray Bans, Essilor Luxottica, was not in favor of the design.
Looking ahead to 2026, Meta is planning to release the sequel to the Meta Quest 3, as well as a new version of the Quest Pro in 2027. The Quest Pro, priced at $1,500 upon its initial release, faced challenges in terms of consumer adoption due to its high price point. Meta is aiming to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which has also struggled to gain traction in the market.
The competition in the VR market is intensifying, with Meta and Apple vying for dominance. Both companies are investing heavily in the metaverse space, despite challenges related to pricing and consumer interest. As the landscape evolves, it will be interesting to see how Meta navigates its financial constraints while continuing to innovate in the VR and AR space.
