Metaverse Inflation Theory Confirmed

Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook) has confirmed that it is inflating the price of Quest 2 VR headsets by $100 on August 1. As far as I can tell, you can still find both models at the lower prices, but time is running out and the price to enter the observable Zuckerverse will soon inflate.

Zuck is extending a bit of an olive branch. New purchases will include a free download of Beat Saber, a very popular VR app. It’s a nice gesture, but it doesn’t offset the $100 upcharge. Beat Saber is a $30 game with in-app purchases.

According to Meta, “The costs to make and ship our products have been on the rise. By adjusting the price of Quest 2, we can continue to grow our investment in groundbreaking research and new product development that pushes the VR industry to new heights.”

That sounds great, except the price hikes will likely put Quest 2 headsets out of reach for many. I’m not sure how you grow a nascent industry by making the gear more expensive.

Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.

About Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.

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