Meta drops Facebook account requirement for Quest VR hardware

Meta will no longer require Meta Quest owners to create a Facebook account to use its VR hardware.

Starting in August, it will be possible to create a new Meta account that can be used with the company's range of VR headsets. According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the move will give "everyone more choice about how you show up in the metaverse."

Providing more details on social media, Meta explained that a Meta account will let people log in to Meta VR devices, while a Facebook account will let them use Facebook. 

It will be possible to add both Meta and Facebook accounts to Accounts Centre to access connected experiences -- such as Messenger in VR -- but people will no longer be forced to access their device via Facebook.

The company also noted that anybody who's been using an Oculus account to log into older devices such as the original Quest and Oculus Rift will be able to do so until January 1, 2023. After that, they'll need to update to a Meta account to continue using their devices.

Users who've already merged their Facebook and Oculus accounts will also have the ability to remove Facebook altogether as part of the Meta account creation process.

What's more, once a user has created a Meta account, all of their existing VR information including apps, achievements, and friends will be migrated over.

"Just make sure you're logged into your current account first before you update to the Meta account to ensure everything is transferred over," added Meta, explaining how the process will work.

Facebook rebranded as Meta in October last year to position itself as a metaverse company and has been investing heavily in the concept. Earlier this year, the company revealed it burned $2.96 billion on its Reality Labs division, which creates products and experience such as Horizon Worlds.