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The Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality (VR) headset is considered by many to be one of the best on the market today. Just over a month since the launch of the second-generation device, Facebook’s Oculus division is gearing up to roll out its first major update.
It includes two notable features that make the headphones more immersive and useful. On the one hand, users will be able to experience refresh rates of 90Hz that make the viewing experience sharper. Another feature is the new Oculus Move Fitness Dashboard that serves as an activity tracker in various VR fitness apps.
Early update
It’s quite common for companies to roll out major updates for new products shortly after launch. This provides an opportunity to troubleshoot release issues and gives developers more time to polish certain features.
Before the Oculus Quest 2 launch, the company told consumers that it would support 90Hz refresh rates. However, that capability was not available when the headphones were released last month. Instead, it was equipped with a base refresh rate of 72Hz.
All system-level applications on the Oculus platform will now support 90Hz by default. That should lead to a cleaner experience that users will appreciate.
Of course, not all VR apps will appear at ultra-smooth 90Hz. Developers should integrate support for a faster refresh rate into their titles. Popular games and apps like “Beat Saber”, “Superhot”, “Echo VR”, and “Racket: Nx” should update fairly quickly.
Meanwhile, users who connect their headphones to a PC with an Oculus Link cable or a USB 3.0 cable will also be able to access refresh rates of 90Hz. A new interface has been created that allows users to adjust their graphics settings and toggle the refresh rate between 72Hz, 80Hz, and 90Hz.
All of this comes as part of the v23 software update that is available starting Friday.
Move
Although Oculus Quest 2 users can now watch things at 90Hz, the company isn’t done with its first wave of major updates. Next week, it will launch Oculus Move.
The system-level fitness tracker allows users to monitor their activity levels while wearing the headphones. Anyone who has used virtual reality knows that it can be much more intense than it seems.
Some apps are specifically designed for exercising. Others make you move naturally. Now, whether users are actively trying to exercise in virtual reality or just burning extra calories on the go, the Oculus Quest 2 will keep track of their spending. The new feature works in all games and apps, which is a good part of perfect engineering by Oculus.
Oculus Move will track how many calories users burn and how long they are active while wearing the headphones. Although those metrics are pretty simple compared to things like modern smartwatches, it is an interesting addition that is specific to the VR exercise.
The company says Move will be rolled out gradually. Users should expect to start seeing it in the near future.
