History of Meta Quest 3 in Timeline

The Meta Quest 3 is a standalone VR headset developed by Meta's Reality Labs, succeeding the Quest 2. Unveiled in June 2023 and released in October, it represents the third generation of the Meta Quest line. The Quest 3 delivers a mixed reality experience, blending virtual and real-world elements for enhanced immersion and versatility. It features improved visual fidelity and processing power compared to its predecessor. Its standalone nature means it doesn't require a connection to a PC or game console for operation.

September 2022: Quest 3 Schematics Shared by Brad Lynch

In September 2022, virtual reality analyst Brad Lynch shared files, including schematics, on the Quest 3.

February 2023: Meta's Quest 3 roadmap revealed

In February 2023, a roadmap obtained by The Verge revealed Meta's plans for the Quest 3, internally codenamed "Stinson", to be released later that year.

May 28, 2023: Hands-on demo of Quest 3 prototype

On May 28, 2023, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reported from a private event where he received a hands-on demo of a Quest 3 prototype codenamed "Eureka".

June 1, 2023: Meta Quest 3 Unveiled

On June 1, 2023, the Meta Quest 3, a standalone virtual reality headset developed by Reality Labs (Meta Platforms), was unveiled. It succeeds the Quest 2 as the third generation of the Meta Quest line.

September 28, 2023: Meta Quest 3 Pre-Orders Begin

On September 28, 2023, pre-orders for the Meta Quest 3 became available, with orders shipping the following month. The 128 GB model was priced at US$499.99 and the 512 GB model at US$649.99. All pre-order units were bundled with Asgard's Wrath 2, and the 512 GB model also included six months of Meta Quest+.

December 2023: Xbox Cloud Gaming App Release for Meta Quest 3

In December 2023, Meta announced during Connect that Xbox Cloud Gaming would be available as an app for Meta Quest 3.

December 2023: API additions for body tracking and mixed reality rendering

In December 2023, an API was added for inside-out body tracking on Meta Quest 3, which uses computer vision and the headset's side cameras to track upper body and arm motions. A depth API was also added to improve the quality of mixed reality rendering.

September 25, 2024: Meta Unveils Quest 3S, Adjusts Pricing

On September 25, 2024, Meta unveiled the Quest 3S as a new entry-level model to replace the Quest 2, priced at US$299.99 for a 128 GB model. The 128 GB Quest 3 was phased out, its price lowered to US$429.99 while stock remained, and the 512 GB model was reduced to US$499.99. New Quest 3 and 3S purchases will include Batman: Arkham Shadow through April 30, 2025.