Recent data from Amazon US indicates that the sales of Quest headsets during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period in 2024 didn’t quite match up to the figures from 2023. While last year saw around 170,000 units sold during this high shopping season, 2024 has only recorded sales of about 146,000 units, marking a 14% drop. However, this information primarily focuses on Amazon’s platform and might not reflect what’s happening with other retailers.
This is quite unexpected, especially given that Meta had just rolled out the enhanced Quest 3S, slashed the price on the Quest 3, and had Batman: Arkham Shadow—a game based on a well-known franchise—ready for the holiday rush.
Looking back at 2023, Meta was still pushing its older Quest 2 headset during the holiday season. They had an attractive Black Friday deal where the popular 128GB model was priced at just $250, accompanied by a $50 gift card, effectively bringing the cost down to $200. This deal turned out to resonate more with shoppers compared to what was on offer this year. For 2024, Meta tried to lure buyers with the Quest 3S model (128GB) priced at $300 with a $75 gift card, making it essentially a $225 purchase.
On paper, there’s not much of a price difference, and the Quest 3S, considering its features, arguably justifies that $25 difference. Yet, pricing isn’t the only consideration; there’s a broader economic context, potential deals from rival companies, and shifting consumer interest in VR that also play critical roles.
Interestingly, when comparing the sales ratio between different headset models, the 2024 data shows the Quest 3S outselling the Quest 3 by about three to one, mirroring the ratio between the Quest 2 and Quest 3 observed in 2023. This consistent pattern in consumer preference suggests that other factors beyond just pricing were at play in this year’s sales dynamics.
