Electronic gadgets often go down in price as time goes by, but that's not quite the case with the Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset. Despite its release in 2020, the cost of the Quest 2 is going up by $100. How often do you see that, especially in the gaming industry?

Technology is ever-evolving, and the VR space has progressed rapidly over the past few years. This means the Quest 2's value should drop two years after its release, right? So, why did Meta decide to hike the price of its best-selling VR headset? Let's find out below.

Why Is Meta Hiking the Price of Quest 2?

Meta Oculus Quest-2 with controllers

According to Meta (formerly Facebook), the price hike would allow the company to invest more in the future of virtual reality. As stated in a post on the Oculus blog:

Now, we’re making a change that will help us continue to invest for the long term and keep driving the VR industry forward with best-in-class hardware, action-packed games, and cutting-edge research on the path to truly next-gen devices.

So, does this mean that the VR industry is in trouble? Well, not quite. We already know that Meta is going all-in on the metaverse. The whole Facebook rebrand speaks for itself. However, the company needs the resources and money to research and develop cutting-edge virtual reality hardware. Meta is currently working on a high-end mixed reality headset, codenamed Project Cambria.

When Is Meta Hiking the Price of Quest 2?

Meta Quest 2 VR headset

Starting from August 2022, Meta's Quest 2 VR headset will cost $399.99 and $499.99 for the 128GB and 256GB versions, respectively—$100 more than its launch price. However, Meta is trying to soften the blow by offering one of the most popular VR games, Beat Saber, free of cost. Considering the game costs $29.99 on the Oculus Quest Store, this isn't technically a bad deal, but that doesn't justify the price hike for two-year-old hardware.

Should You Still Buy the Meta Quest 2?

The original Oculus Quest headset launched in 2019, whereas the Quest 2 launched over a year later in late 2020. Considering it has been roughly two years at the time of writing, a successor to this best-selling VR headset is likely on the horizon.

Therefore, it doesn't make sense to pay an extra $100 for hardware that'll get outdated soon unless you badly want to get your hands on it.

Also, if you're looking for a high-end VR headset, Meta's Project Cambria (also known as Quest Pro) is expected to arrive in late 2022. Don't forget that Sony is also working on its PlayStation VR2 headset. So, you'll have more options if you have the patience to wait. But if money is no object for you, we won't stop you from buying the Quest 2.