A typical situation. You read the news on GAMERGEN.COM and regularly come across news about a new update Meta Quest bringing new features (like here). So you hasten to turn on your headphones to test everything and there is the drama. Your headphones indicate that you are already on the latest update, when you know full well that you are not! And you don’t know why you’re going to have to wait for you to get it…
A survey was therefore carried out in order to answer the 2 questions that many owners of Meta Quest ask themselves: “How are updates distributed? and “How to get them quickly?” »
How are updates delivered?
The updates of Quest are released gradually by group and randomlyunderstand that Meta does not trigger a global update of all headsets simultaneously. Zuckerberg’s firm activates a limited number of devices that can accommodate the update, and this number is increasing day by day. This method, even if it makes more than one user cringe, is put in place in order to guarantee a certain security. Thus, in the event of a problem with the first group which receives the update, Meta can interrupt the distribution while correcting flaws and bugsin order to prevent millions of users from Quest to have far more problems with their helmets than they probably already have. Although the approach seems intelligent, wouldn’t it be better for the updates to be fewer and better finished rather than to be the eternal guinea pigs? We will leave you alone judges of this decision. There is always that obtaining an update will only be done if your helmet is included in such or such activation group.
Each group is not tied to a specific geographic region (USA, Europe, Asia), this allows developers to quickly know if the update is compatible with all languages. Also, tell yourself that just because you were able to download the new version very early does not mean that the next one will be delivered to you just as quickly. It is better that you are part of the last group of the update in question than the first. Why is that ? Whoever will be the first to install the last firmware will be more likely to benefit from a buggy version and will have to wait for the next iteration (or the deactivation of certain features) to correct the situation ; unless it is part of the first group of the next update and it is also buggy (bad luck’s fault).
Finally, you may have been able to install the latest update, but without having the features (eg: hand tracking 2.0). Meta reserves the right to activate or not the advertised features! So you have indeed, and in a factual way, the functionalities installed on your helmet, but a red light (located in the servers of Meta) prohibits you from using them until the group you belong to has been authorized. This also works both ways, an enabled feature can be disabled if Meta believes that there are still a lot of things to correct. Remember, at the exit of the Meta Quest 2, we could connect a hard drive or a USB key to our device in order to stream its content. But the device was removed later, before being put back then deactivated again, then put back, but allowing copy/paste and not streaming. But how do you know if a particular feature has been activated or deactivated? Currently, there is no mainstream or independent software to find out, the only tools and software that can do this are in the hands of Meta.
In general, the deployment of updates takes between 3 and 5 daysalthough it may last longer in case of problems or in front of the difficulty of implementing a large feature. If you are eager to receive the new features before the others, and we know how many of you are in this case, you can join the TPC (Public Test Channel) by following the following instructions:
- Launch the Oculus mobile app;
- Make sure that your Oculus mobile application is in V136 or later (by pressing the “Menu” button, you will see your version number at the bottom of your screen);
- Make sure your headset is connected via Bluetooth with the app;
- Still from the Menu, press “Devices”, then “Advanced Settings”;
- Tap Public Testing Channel (PTC Translation) and toggle the switch on;
- Your headset is now ready to preview the next updates.
Remember that the beta channel is only open to a handful of participants. So, once in the advanced settings, if you see the following message: “The public test channel program is full”, it means that you will have to wait for places to become available. This distribution channel works in the same way as the official updates, ie by group and in a progressive way, but in any case, you will receive them much faster than those who are not registered there. Note, the risk of encountering bugs increases with this system, since it is used precisely to test whether there are any or not (see here for the V39 beta, for example). To do only if you are not anxious by nature.
That’s it, you now know how to receive updates faster and especially why and how Meta deploy them. Do not hesitate to share this news around you so that the good word can spread, whether on forums or social networks.
If you haven’t taken the plunge yet, you can treat yourself to a Meta Quest 2 at the house of Bakerthe Fnac, Darty Where Amazon for €349.99.