What you need to know
- The latest v50 Quest OS update adds more natural direct touch gestures for navigating menus using hand tracking.
- It also brings “in-game multitasking,” previously exclusive to Quest Pro, to Quest 2.
- You can open 2D apps like Instagram and Oculus Browser without leaving your current Quest 2 game.
Compared to other video game consoles, the Quest 2 may have received the most post-launch feature updates we’ve seen so far, with major software tweaks with each new version. With the v50 milestone, Meta added his one of the most requested features. Ability to open 2D apps within the headset. without it Quit the Quest 2 game you are currently playing.
In that announcement post (opens in new tab) On Tuesday, Meta explained how you can “check your Instagram feed” or “do a little work” in your browser while waiting in the game lobby. His 2D app library on Quest 2 is a bit limited compared to what we expected when we first announced the feature, but you can access just about any site via a web browser.
2D multitasking is something the Quest Pro can do, but I wasn’t sure if the Quest 2 had enough memory to handle multitasking this way.
You should test this feature to see its limits. Many Quest 2 owners have longed for the option to stream Spotify and YouTube playlists while playing VR games, but weren’t sure if the browser could be pinned in-game or required to be closed when done. The latter seems more likely, but we’ll see when the update rolls out.
Additionally, the Quest 2 v50 update adds direct touch to experimental settings. Previously, you could use hand tracking in menus, but you had to use a pinch gesture to select. This isn’t the most natural thing to do, but it ensures that you only pick something when you mean it.
Meta now offers users a more natural touchscreen emulated UI with improved tracking and the ability to tap to select objects, swipe through options, and type with a virtual keyboard if you enable direct touch. I feel that I can provide This is very similar to the Minority Report-like experience we wanted to offer with Hand Tracking.
Additionally, Meta adds more robust hand-based movement, allowing you to use simple pinch or pointing gestures to move your character to new locations. You can try out new tools with the App Lab hand tracking demo First Hands. (opens in new tab)hopefully this feature will be introduced to other hand tracking enabled games soon.
Finally, especially for Quest Pro Touch controller owners, Meta has reduced the time it takes for the self-tracking controller to send its location to the headset with the v50 update, making it ideal for most Quest Pro or Quest 2 owners. promises to alleviate the annoying delays experienced by customers. .
Get the most out of VR with Meta Quest 2, an all-in-one headset that works like a console and doesn’t require a phone or PC. Attach a strap and start playing today!
