Last October, Meta promised to allow users of the Quest 2 VR headset to log into the device using an account that is not their personal Facebook account. (opens in a new tab). We’re still waiting for that change today, and a Facebook account is still required when first starting the VR headset, but a spokesperson for Meta tells me that this long-awaited policy change should be coming “soon.”
“We shared on Connect that we are working on making it possible for you to log into Quest with an account other than your personal Facebook account. We are making good progress with this work and will have something to share soon,” says Meta. .
This will be a welcome change from the current login requirement for a personal Facebook account; Not only does this lock out non-Facebook users, but it also raises privacy concerns regarding how data was used from the headset in conjunction with a connected Facebook account.
I know a few people who decided against buying a Quest 2 due to the Facebook login requirement, and clearly many more were against the login requirement when it first rolled out in 2020. (opens in a new tab). Some then completely bypassed it (opens in a new tab). This controversial decision did not prevent the headset from becoming the most popular VR device of all time on Steam (opens in a new tab)yet.
The Quest 2 did not require a Facebook account when it launched. This requirement was added at a later date, and it doesn’t seem to bring much functionality to the table. Users were told they had until 2023 to link their device to their personal Facebook account or lose “all functionality” of the headset, although it would still work. It didn’t go too well for a bunch of reasons, and that’s understandable.
Now, it looks like we may have an alternative before that crucial date passes.
But the form that alternative connection Meta is not yet clear. Meta has carefully formulated its promise to mention “an account other than your personal Facebook account,” and does not indicate that it will completely remove the connections. Hopefully it is at least possible to use a Quest 2 free Facebook account, or a connection to one of his brothers services under the aegis of Meta, because that is what has caused headaches for social media users and business users.
Meta sells a Quest 2 for businesses that don’t require a personal account to log in (opens in a new tab)at a premium, and it’s not like the Quest 2 still requires a Facebook account login, so I’m not sure exactly what’s taking so long for it to roll out to the rest of its devices.
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