With Meta Connect 2024 just around the corner, speculation is rife about the potential announcements. This event, known for its focus on cutting-edge XR technology, promises to bring exciting reveals.
Here are five key announcements that many enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating.
Meta Quest 3S revealed
This is less of a ‘what I want to see’ and more of a ‘what we definitely will see unless Meta is playing a big joke on us.’ That’s because the Meta Quest 3S has not only been teased by external leakers sharing details about the project, but Meta itself has leaked its existence through apps and accidentally shown it off in unrelated videos from its CTO.
Based on everything we know, the Quest 3S will boast the Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, but a bulkier body and lower-spec displays so it can target a lower price tag. This would be an ideal headset for anyone who doesn’t want to be left behind by VR software now that Meta Quest 3 exclusives are on the way, but isn’t ready to spend a large sum on a VR headset.
Non-Meta VR headsets finally shown off
The Quest 3S might not be the only Horizon OS VR headset we see this September. Back in April, Meta announced that its operating system – Horizon OS – will be coming to other headsets from Asus, Lenovo and Xbox, and many believe it’s time we finally see one of those headsets in action.
Horizon OS is a clean, intuitive, and feature-rich standalone VR operating system. Other headset manufacturers gaining access to this OS would allow their hardware to shine without being let down by comparatively lackluster software.
Since the announcement, however, we’ve not heard much. Hardware development takes time, but at Meta Connect 2024, it would be exciting to see a sizzle reel showcasing these third-party headsets – or even just one of them.
Meta AR glasses teaser
Meta, and the industry at large, has steadily shifted focus from VR headsets to MR headsets to AR glasses.
We know Meta is working on something blending AR and AI, Mark Zuckerberg has suggested as much, but we have yet to get a proper look at what these glasses might look like – ignoring the stylish non-AR smart glasses Meta has developed in partnership with Ray-Ban.
A launch this year or even next year seems unlikely. However, we could get a sneak peek at a prototype AR glasses model at most. It would be intriguing to finally get a good look at what Meta has been developing, even at this in-development stage. Given that Meta uses Connect to showcase long-term projects, an AR glasses segment is quite possible for Meta Connect 2024.
Meta AI’s wider rollout and upgrades
Enough about hardware, let’s talk software. It’s been the buzzword of 2024 and Meta AI will likely have plenty of time devoted to it. There are particularly two announcements many would want to see.
The first is a wider rollout. Officially, Meta AI on the Ray-Ban smart glasses and the Meta Quest 3 is only available in the US and Canada. Some users have been able to access it regardless, but there should be a reliable way for people outside North America to use Meta AI.
The second would be to see Meta AI achieve better parity with Apple’s upgrades and perhaps some unique features. This could include integration with a wider selection of apps, better speech recognition, AI image editing and generation tools, or a service that lets users conjure up virtual objects while using their Quest headset in a mixed reality sandbox.
A mini Quest Gaming Showcase
For the final entry, there is a desire for a mini Quest Gaming Showcase highlighting some new and exciting VR titles.
This year, there was no proper Quest Gaming Showcase, so it would be great to see some Quest titles shine on a big stage at Connect 2024.
Saying that, one particularly exciting announcement would be the revival of GTA: San Andreas VR following it being labeled as ‘on hold indefinitely’ by a Meta spokesperson back in August. While this is about as likely as hearing about Silksong during a Meta presentation, it would certainly be a thrilling surprise.
Summing Up the Expectations
Meta Connect 2024 is shaping up to be an event filled with potential breakthroughs in XR technology. From the expected announcement of the Meta Quest 3S to the anticipated teasers for AR glasses and third-party VR headsets, there is much to look forward to.
Whether it is the broader rollout of Meta AI or the hopes for a mini Quest Gaming Showcase, this year’s event promises to keep fans and tech enthusiasts engaged and excited about the future of XR and AI technologies.
Meta Connect 2024 promises to be a landmark event with announcements that could redefine XR and AI technologies.
With significant reveals anticipated, tech enthusiasts around the globe eagerly await the innovations that Meta may unveil.
Source: Techradar