Quest 2's Install Base Confirmed as "About 4 Million" Due to Face Rash Recall - UPDATE: 4M May Refer Only to US-Based Quest 2s

Update, 7:18pm PT: While a Facebook spokesperson says this recall impacts Quest 2 owners "globally", it's unclear if "about 4 million" refers to the total install base worldwide, or just US-based owners. In a discussion on this post among VR developers (ironically on Facebook), Adam Frisby estimates the total Quest 2 install base worldwide to be around 5 million.

Last April many VR enthusiasts were seriously skeptical when I estimated that Facebook had sold about 3-4 million Quest 2 sets (extrapolating from Facebook's extremely coy revenue reports). Today we have official confirmation that this install range estimate is accurate, due to the most hilariously ironic turn of events --Facebook gave people a face rash:

Facebook says it is “participating in a voluntary recall of the Quest 2 removable facial interface in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).” The CPSC said about “4 million” facial interfaces are affected by the recall, plus 172,600 in Canada, sold between October 2020 and July 2021 — the interfaces come with each headset sold as well as sold separately for $20 or for $40 as part of a Fit Pack...

[A Facebook spokesperson said:] "That is why we started our voluntary facial interface replacement program in December, and are now rolling out the silicone cover for all Quest 2 and Quest 2 Fit Kit owners globally.”

Well, not so hilarious if you're one of the Quest 2 owners now with dealing with a face rash. (Pro-tip: Target has a good deal on hydrocortisone cream.)

4 million is relatively good install base for a VR product only on the market since late last year -- but is still far from Zuckerberg's 10 million install base goal. (Which is still many tens of millions less than the install base for current video game consoles, but leave that go for now.)

Now that we know this, perhaps Facebook will be more open about their Quest sales in future shareholder reports.

But even if they insist on being coy, we can now be even more confident that the "Other Revenue" mentioned in the company's earning calls refers to Oculus sales... and that so far, those sales aren't super.

Face rash image from Facebook product via Upload VR.

Comments

[Matthew]

Total headset sales is more likely 6 Million +.

Oculus should hit 9-10 Million by end of the year.

Google trends show a gradual increase in interest for "Oculus Quest" over the past few months (worldwide) - to a level that's similar to release day for Quest 2.

I think you've actually tended to more often than not underestimate how successful FB would be with Quest 2.