Quest Pro VR Headset Adds Unusual Tracking Feature
Meta Quest Pro headsets now support tongue tracking, expanding the hardware's capabilities for player expressiveness in VRChat and other apps.
Meta Quest Pro headsets now support tongue tracking
In a fun and unusual update, Meta Quest Pro headsets now support tongue tracking. While the addition might sound a bit bizarre, the Meta Quest headsets previously haven't been able to track tongue movement, limiting player expressiveness in apps like VRChat. The update expands upon the hardware's head, eye, and hand-tracking capabilities within the Meta Quest Pro.
Despite the Meta Quest 3 being the newer piece of hardware, the update is currently only offered for the Meta Quest Pro headset. While Meta Quest 3 reviews have largely praised the hardware, calling it the best VR headset currently available, the Meta Quest Pro has carved out a niche as a piece of premium mixed-reality technology for creative collaborators. Because of this, the Meta Quest Pro largely focuses on body and face tracking to make meetings more immersive.
Limited support for tongue tracking in VR apps
In an effort to make collaboration within VR seem more natural, a Meta Quest Pro update has added support for tongue tracking. ALVR developer korejan has even taken to social media to showcase the new technology. As fun as the update is, support for this feature within various apps is currently lacking. Tongue tracking isn't currently available for Meta avatars and the Quest version of VRChat doesn't yet support the update either. However, various workarounds such as using Steam Link or Virtual Desktop allow for tongue tracking in VRChat. Still, most apps and games have yet to support any sort of form of face tracking or body tracking.
Because so few apps and games support face and body tracking, the Meta Quest Pro headset has been relegated to being a rather niche piece of hardware. The Quest 2 is officially the budget option for those interested in VR, while the Quest 3 is seen as the best all-around headset. As the most expensive headset of the bunch, the Meta Quest Pro received a massive price drop after retailing for $1,499.99.
Additional updates and recent releases
Tongue-tracking technology isn't the only update worth checking out. Meta Quest headsets added Xbox Cloud Gaming support earlier this month. In addition to having an impressive library of exclusive games, the Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest Pro headsets now all have access to Xbox titles through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
In addition to the Xbox Cloud Gaming update, the past few weeks have been an exciting time for VR gamers as Asgard's Wrath 2 launched exclusively on Meta Quest headsets. Overall, Asgard's Wrath 2 reviews have praised the expansive RPG, calling it the killer app that Quest owners have been waiting for.
