While the PS5 and Xbox Series X faced availability issues, the Oculus Quest 2 was reportedly in high demand.
Third-party app download trackers indicate that the Quest 2 may have sold roughly two million units leading up to Christmas.
According to Sensor Tower, there were 1.5 million installs of the Oculus app on the App Store and the Google Play Store between December 23 and December 29, marking a 517% increase from the previous week.
A week later, those installs dropped back to 345,000, which is still substantially higher than the pre-Christmas figure (77% higher, in fact). The app also attained the top spots on both the App Store and Google Play Store charts during the holiday period. Apptopia estimates that the app has been downloaded 2.189 million times worldwide since Christmas.
This indicates that many people received an Oculus Quest 2 as a Christmas gift, although it may also signify a surge in new phone purchases with the Oculus app being installed on the new handsets. However, as TechCrunch points out, the figures recorded over Christmas 2021 are in line with the annual figures the app had recorded in recent years.
The reason behind the apparent surge remains to be determined. It’s possible that a price reduction and improved storage options in 2021 resonated well with consumers.
It could also indicate that VR has reached a turning point with prospective buyers after years of erratic progress. Additionally, the company, previously known as Facebook, executed a robust marketing campaign during the festive season, which may now be yielding results.
At Trusted Reviews, we are strong proponents of the Oculus Quest 2. Just before the holiday season, our own Thomas Deehan referred to it as the “ideal Christmas gift.”
He said: “With the ability to experience entertainment and gaming in a completely new way, I can’t think of any other tech product this year that would make for a better Christmas present than the Oculus Quest 2. At the very least, if the family dinner becomes uncomfortable, you can always put on the headset and imagine yourself on a rollercoaster instead. What could be better than that?”
