Thinking Of Buying An Oculus Quest 2? Here’s All You Need To Know

Image credit: FACEBOOK

What’s To Love About The Oculus Quest 2?

Quest 2 — Facebook’s fifth headset in the last four years — is arguably its best headset yet. Compared to the original, Quest 2 has 50% more pixels, 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB, and the highest resolution display of any Oculus headset. The new display can support 90 Hz refresh rates, plus it is 10% lighter than its predecessor. The best bit? You get all this at a lower price than the original: $299 and $399, respectively, for 64 or 256GB (the original was priced at US$399 for the 64 GB version, and US$499 for the 128 GB version).

What Do I Need To Know Before I Buy?

The Quest 2 is the first headset that will require a Facebook sign-in, rather than allowing users to keep totally separate Oculus accounts. According to Facebook, this controversial move is all about enabling its VR headsets to be more social — a linked account lets Oculus users find Facebook friends in VR.

Which Model Should I Buy?

There are two models of the device. The cheapest model costs $299 and comes with 64GB of storage. The more expensive model is $399 and has quadruple that storage, with up to 256GB. Other than storage, the headsets are identical.

The extra storage will enable you to have more games and apps on your device. Currently, Quest experiences are quite small — ranging from under 1GB to 3GG — but VR content is expected to get larger as it gets more sophisticated. For example, The Walking Dead, a Quest 2 launch title takes up 9GB and this will increase to 12GB with updates.

What Accessories Should I Get?

Straps

The Oculus Quest 2 comes with two official head strap add-ons, the Elite Strap (£49) and the Elite Battery Strap (£119). The Elite strap is a rigid ergonomic strap with counterbalance which increases balance and support with a quick twist of the fit wheel. This certainly isn’t a necessity, but for hardcore VR fans it will make those long hours in VR much more comfortable.

The Elite battery strap is, you guessed it, the Elite strap with a built-in battery to make your Quest 2 adventures last twice as long, according to Oculus. For serious VR sessions, this will really make a difference.

Facial linings

The Quest 2 comes fitted with a foam faceplate which is perfectly comfortable for moderate use. However, if you’re really into your gaming and plan on spending a good chunk of time in VR, then you might want to invest in a replacement faceplate covering. VR Cover is the industry leader in this area, and they have the perfect wipeable PU leather cover which includes air vents to keep your face cool when slicing blocks in Beat Saber! Just so you know, original Quest faceplate replacements won’t work with the new Quest 2 due to differences in shape, so make sure you get the right cover for your model.

Google Chromecast

Quest 2 can natively stream to a Google Chromecast, a device that plugs into any TV or monitor with an HDMI port and can stream content onto a screen. This means you’ll be able to show others what’s happening inside your headset while playing. Perfect if you want to include people in the fun, but don’t want to share your headset for health and hygiene reasons.

What Is An Oculus Link USB Cable? Do I need one?

An Oculus Link cable is a high-speed fibre optic cable that connects your compatible gaming PC to your Quest 2. It essentially turns your Quest into an Oculus Rift and gives you access to the enormous Rift games library, with the flexibility to unplug when you want to take the experience elsewhere. For a casual user, you don’t need the Oculus Link cable, the Quest is great without it. But for hardcore gamers and VR enthusiasts, we think it’s well worth the money for the games it allows you to play. You can pick up an official cable here for £89.

Do I Need A Case?

Anyone who owns the existing Quest will know that once you try it, you’ll want to show other people how incredible standalone VR is. If you decide to take your new Quest 2 out and about with you to show off to others (in a socially distanced way, of course), we highly recommend getting a case to keep your tech safe. You can buy this official one from Oculus directly, or there are plenty of unofficial ones around you could choose from. Just bear in mind that some cases won’t be compatible with Quest 2 measurements, so double-check before you part with your cash. As a bonus, if you buy the Elite Battery strap (£119) mentioned above, it comes bundled with the case, so that’s a win-win.

Image credit: FACEBOOK

What About Content?

Where to start?! Here are the top recommendations from the REWIND team.

Red Matter 

Set during a fictitious cold-war, this retro-inspired puzzle adventure game challenges you to navigate Saturn’s moons to uncover a top-secret research project. In Red Matter, you play as Agent Epsilon, a super-spy astronaut, and you are equipped with various hi-tech tools to decipher hidden messages and investigate the facility.

The graphics in this game are simply stunning and every tiny detail has been executed beautifully. It’s also been specifically optimized for Quest 2, so it looks even better than before. The gameplay is excellent too, the puzzles are unique to their environment and make you think, but are not too hard. The story is multi-layered with a number of twists, with the biggest at the end. Download it here for £18.99.

Image credit: RED MATTER / VERTICAL ROBOT

Mission ISS

This free experience is right up there with the top educational and entertaining titles available for the Quest. Breathtaking visuals allow you to live the life of an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. You can take spacewalks, dock a space capsule, and be guided through the station by real NASA astronauts. This experience is an absolute must-have for any Quest owner — it really sets the standard for how incredible virtual reality can be.

Image credit: MISSION ISS / MAGNOPUS

Beat Saber

It’s hard to write a ‘Top VR Games’ article without mentioning Beat Saber, and for good reason. The title has topped the Best Seller lists and sold an incredible two million copies since its release in 2018.

If you haven’t heard of this title before, Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game where you slash the beats of adrenaline-pumping music as they fly towards you, surrounded by a futuristic world. You can also enjoy songs from your favourite artists including Timbaland, Imagine Dragons, and BTS.

Beat Saber has introduced a new multiplayer version which was released alongside Quest 2. This allows up to five people to take part at once! If you already own a Quest the update is available now.

This game is an absolute must-own and well worth the price of £22.99.

Superhot VR

Superhot VR is like no other game you have ever played. The passing of time is controlled by your movements in the game — time only moves when you move. Red geometric enemies emerge from all angles until you are outnumbered, and then you have to dodge the hurricane of slow-motion bullets aimed your way. It can take a bit of time to master the game, but you’ll be toning your arm muscles in the process!

If you’ve dreamed of channelling your inner Neo from The Matrix and manipulating time, Superhot VR is the game for you. It’s also been given a graphics boost for Quest 2 to make the best use of the new upgrades, so download it here for £18.99.

Image credit: SUPERHOT VR

Splinter Cell & Assassins Creed

Okay, so these games haven’t technically been released yet, but the promise of made-for-VR AAA games is just too exciting not to mention. It speaks volumes that Ubisoft is confident enough in the immersive technology to continue its long-standing franchises in VR, and it paints a positive picture for the future of AAA games in virtual reality.

Both games are set to be Quest exclusives and we cannot wait to see how they look and perform on the new headset. If you’re a fan of the original franchises, these games are likely to be a smash hit.

Image Credit: OCULUS / UBISOFT