First Encounters: Exploring the Potential of Mixed Reality on the Meta Quest 3
In a short demo called First Encounters, Meta’s latest mixed reality (MR) headset, the Quest 3, showcases its potential and guides users through the setup process. Although the setup is reminiscent of drawing VR boundaries on the floor, the Quest 3 takes it a step further by allowing users to place flat panels to block out furniture. Once set up, users are treated to an impressive invasion of alien puffballs, breaking through walls and ceiling, revealing exotic terrains beyond. However, the actual game experience itself is a simple score-rank shooter lasting only a few minutes.
During the review period, it is challenging to find substantial applications for MR, as several apps promised by Meta were not available for testing. However, two notable examples stand out. One is Rube Goldberg Workshop, which enables users to create elaborate contraptions in their living spaces. The app accurately overlays rails, tracks, gears, and more, creating a network of interconnected objects that react realistically to create chain reactions. The other notable example is Zombies Noir: Mixed Reality, a shooter game where players gun down undead enemies in their own rooms, with elements of pulp fiction layered over the environment. While the former could make better use of mixed reality by incorporating real-world objects into the creations, both experiences showcase the potential of MR.
While productivity and office work have limited applications in MR, the Quest 3 offers virtual meeting and communication features. The Quest store offers various 3D painting apps that allow users to draw wireframe models in the air, providing potential for design work. However, these applications only scratch the surface of what MR could offer in the future.
Despite the improvements in visuals and hand tracking for interaction, the challenge lies in the lack of interest and participation from users. Meta’s much-hyped shared world and creation platform, Horizon Worlds, feels like a ghost town with empty digital spaces. Even popular games like Super Rumble struggle to attract more than a few players at a time. This lack of engagement raises concerns about the future of the metaverse and whether the Quest 3 can breathe new life into it.
Quest 3: Struggling to Modernize
Despite the hardware improvements of the Quest 3, the operating system (OS) and user interface (UI) remain outdated. Navigation is messy, and the organization is subpar. All apps, whether installed or not, are listed in the App Library tray based on recent usage, with no option to sort alphabetically or categorize them by installation status or other criteria. Advanced features such as app grouping into folders are also missing.
While the Quest 3 enhances the overall experience of navigating virtual environments with its improved visuals, precise hand tracking, and built-in mic and speakers for communication, the question remains whether these improvements are enough to revive the ailing metaverse. Perhaps the Quest 3 serves as a stepping stone, gradually introducing users to the concept of bridging the real and the virtual in hopes of revitalizing the metaverse.
In conclusion, the Quest 3 demonstrates the potential of mixed reality through its impressive features and capabilities. However, its limited applications, sparse user engagement in the metaverse, and dated OS and UI raise concerns about the future of MR and the Quest 3’s ability to revive it.