Is Meta Quest Plus VR Subscription Worth it? An Enthusiast’s In-Depth Perspective

As an early adopter who has owned multiple VR headsets and gaming PCs over the past 6 years, I’ve had the benefit of experiencing first-hand how consumer VR technology and content ecosystems have rapidly advanced. I’ve also invested thousands of dollars into buying VR games and apps across platforms like SteamVR and the Meta Quest Store.

So when Meta announced their new Meta Quest Plus subscription service last year, I was intrigued but also skeptical. As an avid VR gamer, I’m always looking for more affordable ways to access premium VR experiences. However, as a power user, I have particular needs and standards as well.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll analyze whether the Meta Quest Plus VR subscription service is worth it for a passionate VR enthusiast and power user like myself. I’ll also aim to equip you with all the background and data you need to decide for your own needs.

Meta Quest Plus VR Subscription Overview

First, let’s recap what exactly this new subscription option includes:

$14.99 per month recurring charge
Access to 2 new Oculus Quest games per month
Ability to redeem titles from monthly selections for permanent ownership
Play previously redeemed titles after canceling subscription
Potential for future full body tracking support

At first glance, getting 2 brand new VR games for just $15 seems like a good value compared to buying titles outright at $20-$30 each normally. However, the lack of choice in which games you receive gives me pause about whether every month’s selections would match my interests.

And while the service technically lets you redeem titles to keep, losing access to unredeemed games as soon as you cancel the subscription poses a risky burden as well. You’d need to be diligent about redeeming anything you might want long term access to.

Let’s take a deeper look at what hardware these games will actually run on along with some alternative subscription models before determining if Meta Quest Plus a good fit or not.

Oculus Quest Headset Comparison

Since Meta Quest Plus requires their standalone Oculus Quest line of headsets, evaluating the differences in specs and capabilities is important context. Here is a breakdown:

Specs	Meta Quest 1	Meta Quest 2	Rumored Meta Quest 3
Release Year	2019	2020	Late 2023
Processor	Snapdragon 835	Snapdragon XR2	Snapdragon XR3
Resolution (per eye)	1440 x 1600	1832 x 1920	2500 x 2500
Refresh Rate	72 Hz	90 Hz	120 Hz
RAM	4 GB	6 GB	12 GB
Storage	64 GB or 128 GB	128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB	256 GB & 512 GB
Tracking	3 DOF + 6 DOF	6 DOF	6 DOF
Body Tracking	None	None	TBA

Evaluating technical specifications makes it clear that streaming PC VR games wirelessly to an Oculus Quest headset today provides a lower fidelity experience than using a headset directly connected to a high-end gaming PC.

However, convenience is also important – avoiding cables while having the freedom to easily move around a large play space in room scale VR adds considerable immersion. This portability is the main advantage of the all-in-one Quest headsets compared to being tethered to a gaming PC.

Rumors point to the next generation Meta Quest 3 headset releasing in late 2023 with expected upgrades like a higher resolution display, eye tracking capabilities, and up to 12 GB of RAM for better graphics. This should close the performance gap with PC VR further, but still likely won’t match the quality of a $1500+ gaming PC powering premium headsets like the Valve Index.

Keep these hardware technicalities in mind as we analyze the value of accessing Quest-exclusive titles via a subscription versus alternative options.

Analysis of Meta Quest Plus Game Library Value

To better understand the long term value proposition of the Meta Quest Plus offering, let’s walk through some sample scenarios using real data points on popular titles.

The recently launched Walkabout Mini Golf currently costs $15 to purchase outright. Top titles like Beat Saber and Resident Evil 4 VR retail for $30 each normally.

If Meta Quest Plus subscribers received just one of those premium titles worth $15+ over a 6 month subscription period and redeemed it, that would effectively reduce the average monthly access fee to under $10.
Receiving two $15 titles over 6 months reduces the average further to around $7 per month
Accessing four $30 titles over 12 months brings the average down to $5 per month

However, keep in mind:

These redemption tactics require disciplined commitment to maximize value
You may not receive the most desirable titles each month
Smaller indie titles offered may not provide as much retained value

Factoring in those risks and the need to proactively redeem titles before canceling, this analysis shows Meta Quest Plus can provide strong value but highly depends on consistently receiving and redeeming appealing games.

Let’s compare now to some alternative subscription models that provide more content control and ownership assurance.

Alternative Subscription Models Comparison

While the all-you-can-eat buffet style approach of Meta Quest Plus offers particular advantages like discovering new genres and developers you may overlook otherwise, other subscription access models provide their own pros and cons.

Here is a comparison table summarizing key differences:

Comparing these offerings shows the value in evaluating your specific gaming habits and priorities:

Apple Arcade wins on overall game library breadth at the lowest monthly cost
PlayStation Plus Premium provides the most bonus perks beyond games
Meta Quest Plus offers a middle ground with a focus on discovering new VR-exclusive titles

There is no unambiguous “best” option – each service caters to different needs. Choose based on your budget, preferred platforms, value of permanent ownership versus temporary access, and willingness to experiment with unknown games versus playing familiar franchises.

Current State of Full Body Tracking Technology

While hypothetical future advancements like included full body tracking could improve Meta Quest Plus’ value, what capabilities exist today for interested VR enthusiasts?

The most common approach is mounting VIVE Trackers from HTC to various body parts along with wearing a headset and controllers from a SteamVR compatible system. Each VIVE Tracker costs $99, so a typical 3 tracker setup with units on your waist, feet, and chest costs nearly $300 before even factoring in the VR hardware itself.

The benefit provided by full body tracking includes:

Natural movement like leaning, crouching, and twisting
Precision hand and finger tracking
Life-like avatars in supported social VR apps
Enhanced realism and immersion in active games

However, the upgrade costs involved limit adoption to hardcore enthusiasts only. And wearing multiple tracking pucks calibrated precisely is certainly cumbersome compared to a hypothetical single head mounted solution. But for those seeking the most cutting edge VR experiences possible today, multi-tracker full body rigs provide that extra level of freedom and realism thanks in part to community hackers and tinkerers.

Future Evolution of XR Ecosystems

While the currently imperfect state of VR technology leaves room for improvement, massive private and public investment continues accelerating innovation year after year. What does the future hold in 5-10 year horizons for extended reality tools and ecosystems?

Both Facebook/Meta and Apple have staked strategic bets on augmented reality hardware and software plays to compliment their VR offerings. Apple’s anticipated AR glasses and Meta’s “Project Nazare” neural interface wristband point to a mixed reality future interleaving our physical and virtual worlds simultaneously.

And all indications point to continued performance improvements across graphical capabilities, wireless freedoms, comfort factors, and control schemes for headsets, wearables, and accessories. Cloud gaming and computing will also unlock web-based delivery of experiences without local hardware limitations.

As both AR and VR hardware, software, and cloud infrastructure matures in the 2020s, subscriptions granting access to ecosystems of content and services may replace one-time digital purchases as the norm. The success and evolution of early mover offerings like Meta Quest Plus provides an initial glimpse into how these market dynamics may play out.

While limitations still cause frustration today, the pace of ongoing progress in expanding what’s possible virtually gives me optimism that services incentivizing creation of innovative experiences will unlock more value over time.

Final Verdict: Promising but Constrained Start to VR Subscription Models

Given my first-hand experiences spanning years as an early VR enthusiast and Meta ecosystem user specifically, I think their Quest Plus offering shows initial promise but retains key constraints limiting appeal to only certain consumer profiles.

As my comparative analysis and usage scenario breakdowns illustrated, technically savvy VR power users will still prefer investing in cutting-edge gear for the highest fidelity experiences possible today. Meta Quest Plus doesn’t yet provide enough control or advanced capabilities to satisfy that demanding audience.

However, for more casual VR gaming fans without hardcore simulator setups the affordability and potential breadth of Quest Plus delivers genuine value, assuming the monthly title selections appeal to your interests. It can serve as an approachable entry point for navigating the still maturing VR landscape.

In conclusion, Meta’s latest monthly subscription does achieve its goal of reducing financial barriers to VR gaming on accessible all-in-one hardware like Quest 2. But growth potential remains constrained by content and technology restrictions inherent in closed console-like platforms. As software and hardware innovations enable more open, multi-vendor ecosystems interconnecting environments, services and experiences, the value will continue increasing.

But for now, Quest Plus merits a “good start, room for improvement” verdict for bridging mainstream consumers to immersive worlds, even if hardcore enthusiasts require more control and capabilities. It will be exciting to watch how this market develops in coming years to determine if subscriptions truly represent the future of consumer VR and AR technology access.