# Meta May Provide Oculus Rift Classics on Quest 3, Yet Cloud Gaming Could Expand Much Further
Reports suggest that Meta is developing a cloud gaming service for its Meta Quest headsets, which might enable classic Oculus Rift games such as *Lone Echo* and *Asgard’s Wrath* to be accessed on the Quest 3. Nevertheless, the prospects of cloud gaming on Quest might reach well beyond these legacy titles, particularly if Meta collaborates with significant entities like Microsoft to introduce AAA games into the virtual reality (VR) space. This article delves into the potential of Meta’s cloud gaming ambitions and their implications for the future of VR gaming.
## The Rise of Meta’s Cloud Gaming Service
Meta’s cloud gaming service, also known as “Avalanche” or “Project Razor,” has been in the works for a while. The service made a brief appearance on the Quest Store in October 2023, highlighting older Oculus Rift titles before being swiftly taken down. This incident, along with earlier references to the service in code and experimental environments, indicates that Meta is diligently pursuing cloud gaming for its Quest platform.
The core concept of Meta’s cloud gaming service is straightforward: stream high-quality VR games to the Quest headset, enabling users to enjoy graphically intensive titles that the Quest’s native hardware might find challenging. This would be especially beneficial for games demanding more processing capability than the Snapdragon XR2 chip in the Quest 3 can offer.
### The Appeal of Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming allows players to enjoy games without needing a high-powered local device. Instead, the game operates on a distant server, and the video output is streamed to the user’s device. This method has already been successfully implemented in traditional gaming, with platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now enabling players to stream titles to devices that would otherwise be unable to run them.
In the context of VR, cloud gaming could revolutionize the experience. The Quest 3 functions as a standalone headset, meaning it doesn’t need a PC or console to operate games. However, this also implies that its hardware is not on par with high-end gaming systems. By utilizing cloud gaming, Meta could provide Quest users access to more graphically advanced VR adventures without necessitating significant investments in costly gaming setups.
## The Opportunity for Oculus Rift Classics
A particularly thrilling element of Meta’s cloud gaming service is the opportunity to offer classic Oculus Rift titles on the Quest 3. Anticipated games like *Lone Echo* and *Asgard’s Wrath* were groundbreaking at their launch, delivering immersive VR encounters that tested the boundaries of technology at the time. However, these games were optimized for the more robust Rift hardware, presenting challenges for porting them to the standalone Quest headsets.
With cloud gaming, Meta could circumvent the hardware restrictions of the Quest and let users stream these classic games directly to their headsets. This would not only provide newer VR enthusiasts with a chance to engage with these iconic titles but also assist in preserving the rich history of early VR gaming.
## The True Power of Cloud Gaming: AAA VR Ports
While the prospect of bringing Oculus Rift classics to the Quest 3 is exhilarating, the genuine potential of Meta’s cloud gaming service resides in its capacity to offer AAA games for VR. Meta has already teamed up with Microsoft to make flat-screen Xbox titles available on the Quest via cloud streaming, but this partnership might extend even further.
Envision the ability to stream VR adaptations of favored AAA games like *Minecraft*, *Elder Scrolls*, *Fallout*, or *Halo* to your Quest headset. These beloved titles, cherished by millions, could be innovatively transformed for VR, providing experiences that surpass the conventional gaming landscape.
### The PSVR 2 Benchmark
The aspiration of AAA VR gaming is something that initially the PlayStation VR 2 (PSVR 2) set out to achieve. From the start, the PSVR 2 showcased VR adaptations of titles like *Resident Evil 8* and *Gran Turismo 7*, offering players a glimpse into what AAA VR gaming might entail. However, Sony has since redirected its focus away from VR, creating a market gap for top-tier, high-budget VR experiences.
Meta could seize this opportunity with its cloud gaming service. By collaborating with Microsoft or other prominent game creators, Meta could introduce AAA games to the Quest platform, fulfilling the commitments that the PSVR 2 was unable to fulfill. This would attract dedicated gamers to the Quest while also broadening the reach of VR gaming.
## How Meta Quest Cloud Streaming Would Function
The technical hurdles of implementing cloud gaming in VR are substantial. Streaming a standard game presents one challenge, but stream a VR game, where even minimal latency between the player’s actions and the game’s response can lead to discomfort, creates a different level of difficulty. For cloud VR gaming to be practical, Meta will have to address issues like latency and high ping rates.
Meta’s cloud gaming service is likely to depend on a blend of traditional internet streaming along with 5G connectivity. The Quest 3 supports Wi-Fi 6E, which offers quicker speeds.
