While there's a continued conversation regarding the role that virtual reality plays in the future of the video game industry, the success of Meta's Quest VR headset can't be denied. 2022 is going to be a big year for the Meta Quest 2 headset, formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2. Meta, once Facebook, announced on Wednesday that it is planning its next event. The second annual Meta Quest Gaming Showcase is planned for April 20.According to the initial announcement for the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, there are plans for new game announcements, exclusive game footage reveals, status updates for previously announced projects, and surprises beyond. Now specific game names were said, however. VR enthusiasts will have to find out what will be featured at the show by watching when it officially begins on April 20 at 10:00 AM PT. The show in 2021 ran for around 25 minutes, though the length of this year's show hasn't been confirmed yet.While Meta has yet to confirm any games that will be in the show, there's a healthy list of titles currently in development that fans will likely want to see. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas VR is one of the most highly anticipated VR games currently announced, as are Ubisoft's Splinter Cell VR and Assassin's Creed VR titles. Then there are action games like Star Wars: Vader Immortal and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, too. Meta's largest challenge is picking a chosen few games to focus on.
The Meta Quest Gaming Showcase appears to be focused on games and software, but there's always a possibility that Meta could share some hardware news, too. Rumors have been swirling that Meta could soon unveil its next VR headset, named the Meta Cambria, which would launch in Q2 2022. The Meta Quest 3 is expected to be further down the road, but a proper announcement would certainly build some excitement, too.
As some Quest 2 headset owners may have noticed, the Oculus branding for the headset has largely been abandoned. Going forward, Meta is using its new branding for all of its VR hardware, storefronts, and other related marketing. Last year's show was also named the Oculus Gaming Showcase, referring to the line of Oculus VR hardware rather than just a single headset. That's perhaps some insight into what meta thinks of the Oculus Rift line of headsets.
Things are changing at Meta and there are always questions revolving around virtual reality and its role in the video game industry. The April 20 Meta Quest Gaming Showcase should offer a look at what VR in 2022 will look like.