Meta is reversing its stance to address the issues with the packaged Meta Quest headset.

The recent software update has caused many Meta Quest headsets to brick (become non-functional). Initially, Meta downplayed this issue and refused to fix the problem with Quest 2/3/3S models outside of warranty.

It was expected that Meta would kill their products and then buy new ones.

When I tried to update on December 5th, my headset crashed and wouldn't turn on. After contacting Meta support and performing troubleshooting, they informed me that the headset is faulty and I need to purchase a new one.

"Others have pointed out that Meta's behavior of only considering their own interests is pointless."

The unit cost me ¥20,000. In Q3 2024, Meta posted over $15 billion in profit. That's just shy of $2,000 per second!

"If 1,000 devices were to brick during the warranty period and Meta valued each device at $100, replacing all of them would only affect their profit by about 50 seconds."

"They spent time discussing and negotiating with support cases, consuming people's time/money. Alternatively, replacing devices in bulk was faster to avoid PR confusion."

Especially if the issue affected models that many people purchased as Christmas presents.

• Meta Quest headsets were considered popular Christmas presents, causing apps to rise to the top of the App Store

The company seems to have realized the foolishness of their previous stance and is now working on repairs.

The issue was discovered with software updates, leading to non-responsive state and inability to start. We are actively working on solutions for all users. Most cases, devices can be used normally.

"If you have a device that is not responding yet, we will assist you. For Quest 3S owners, click the link for the next step. For Quest 2 or 3 users, please contact support if needed. Thank you for your understanding."

Photo: Adrià García Sarceda, Unsplas