Is Meta Quest 3S Losing Steam with PC Gamers?
The latest Steam Hardware Survey has ignited speculation about the adoption rate of Meta’s newest virtual reality headset, the Quest 3S. While the headset launched in mid-October, it’s conspicuously absent from the November survey data, prompting analysts to piece together its performance through indirect clues.
The survey, which gathers data from a random sample of Steam users each month, provides a glimpse into the VR headset landscape. Interestingly, the November data shows a significant rise in the usage share of the original Quest 3, coupled with a notable increase in the "Other" category, which lumps together headsets not individually listed.
This unexpected trend has led experts to believe that Quest 3S usage is likely hiding within these two categories. Virtual Desktop developer Guy Godin confirmed that headsets using his software report to Steam as "Quest 3", explaining, “There’s no reason" for him to change this, as developers see the Quest 3 and Quest 3S as functionally identical. He added that for those using Quest Link or Steam Link, the headset appears correctly as "Quest 3S" in the "Other" category. "
Historically, new headphone releases have triggered similar jumps in the "Other" category. Valve has a pattern of adding dedicated categories for these devices within a few days or in the following month’s survey. However, this won’t capture the full picture of Quest 3S adoption as Virtual Desktop users will continue to be categorized as "Quest 3".
Comparing Quest 3S’s performance to its predecessor reveals a potentially concerning trend. By November 2023, the original Quest 3 had already captured 5.2% of SteamVR usage, while current estimates place Quest 3S at a significantly lower 3.64% even if all the observed "Other" category growth is attributed to it.
This discrepancy could be explained by the target audience for each headset. The Quest 3, with its superior precisely adjustable pancake lenses, traditionally attracts tech-savvy PC gamers willing to pay a premium. In contrast, the more budget-friendly Quest 3S caters to a broader, potentially more casual user base, who may be less inclined to utilize its PC VR capabilities.
As we await Valve’s update to the survey, the full picture of the Quest 3S’s adoption on PC remains hazy. Only time will tell if this latest addition to the VR ecosystem can rival the success of its predecessor among PC enthusiasts.
