Tech News
Oculus sales are booming despite stock shortages
As you might expect, the coronavirus pandemic and the fact so many people are stuck inside has helped spur VR usage, but it seems, more so than anything else, the Oculus Quest, which came out last May, has been the biggest contributor to Facebook’s other revenue category. In fact, CEO Mark Zuckerberg lamented the fact…
As you might expect, the coronavirus pandemic and the fact so many people are stuck inside has helped spur VR usage, but it seems, more so than anything else, the Oculus Quest, which came out last May, has been the biggest contributor to Facebook’s other revenue category. In fact, CEO Mark Zuckerberg lamented the fact Facebook couldn’t manufacture the headset at a faster clip.
“I wish we could make more of them faster during this period,” he said during the company’s investor call. “It’s possible that [the pandemic] accelerates some of the trends around virtual or augmented reality, but I’m not sure what will happen there long term.”
Even without factoring in the pandemic, Quest sales have been consistently strong. Following the first fiscal quarter in which the device was available, Zuckerberg told investors the company was selling the headset “as fast as we can make them.” Since then, coronavirus-related supply constraints have made it even more difficult to track down Oculus Quest units, with stock selling out almost as soon as its available in a lot of circumstances.
The company didn’t cite it, but the recent release of Valve’s Half-Life: Alyx may have also helped push demand for the device. With an Oculus Link cable (and a PC that meets the game’s system requirements), the Quest is one of the VR headsets you can use to play the medium-defining game. Valve has similarly had trouble meeting demand for its Index headset. What’s clear is that while it may have taken a while, a confluence of factors has created genuine demand for consumer VR devices.
In this article:
gadgets, oculus, vr, virtual reality, oculus quest, oculus vr, coronavirus, covid-19, earnings, half-life alyx, news, gear, gaming, entertainment
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Comments
Real Life. Real News. Real Voices
Help us tell more of the stories that matter
Become a founding member
91
Shares
Subscribe to the newsletter news
We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe
