Quest App Downloads Decline 27% Compared to Last Year Amid Meta’s Push to Boost Quest 3S Sales

Meta remains reticent about revealing the exact numbers behind its headset sales, but there are a few ways we can guesstimate the platform’s popularity. A key indicator is the fresh downloads of its essential companion app, Meta Horizon, which you can grab on both Android and iOS.

According to data from independent analyst Omdia highlighted by Game Developer (via Forbes), there was a 27% dip in Meta Horizon app downloads on Christmas Day 2024 compared to the previous year. This drop is significant given that Christmas Day typically marks the app’s highest download volume annually.

As seen in the data from Omdia and Sensor Tower, the downloadable activity offers insights into major milestones for Meta’s line of Quest headsets. We’ve seen events like the launch of the Quest 2 in October 2020 spark a spike in sales, with further releases such as the Quest 3 in October 2023 and the Quest 3S in October 2024 continuing this trend.

Quest 3S, Meta’s latest mixed reality headset, blends the Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset with full-color mixed reality, yet utilizes the Quest 2’s older displays and heavier Fresnel lenses. It’s a solid entry-level choice for those on a $300 budget, though we’d still suggest spending a bit more for the Quest 3 at $500.

However, these figures don’t paint the complete picture. It’s important to note that the chart doesn’t account for re-downloads or updates, nor does it tally downloads on new devices connected to an existing account. Additionally, the data doesn’t reflect users who might be augmenting an existing collection, moving, say, from Quest 2 to Quest 3S.

As Game Developer points out, other factors complicate any direct correlation between app downloads and headset sales. These include second-hand market activity, devices shared among multiple people, and those merely exploring the app store without ownership.

In lieu of direct sales figures from Meta, third-party retailers can provide some insights. Game Developer cites Amazon sales data indicating that over 160,000 Quest headsets were sold in November 2024 across eight countries—a 16% drop year-over-year at Amazon. The majority, about two-thirds, were Quest 3S units, while the remainder were Quest 3s.

Interestingly, Quest 3S emerged as the top-seller on Amazon US in 2024, overtaking heavyweights like the Switch, PlayStation 5 Pro, and both Xbox Series updates.

While the decline in app downloads and Amazon sales might hint at waning interest since the heyday of Quest 2, where Meta saw app downloads double initially and then triple during the subsequent Christmas, the true test lies ahead. How Meta pushes Quest 3 and Quest 3S with big games and likely exclusives will play a crucial role in reviving market enthusiasm during this holiday ramp-up. In a move to boost Quest 3S sales, Meta has even reduced the price on its 256GB model by $50 temporarily, bundled with a free Batman: Arkham Shadow game and a three-month trial of their Quest+ game subscription service.

Whether these trends indicate a VR market plateau or a simple shift in consumer interests remains up in the air, but there’s no denying the Quest line’s stronghold on consumer VR. But, could this dominance be challenged soon? Google, for one, might be hoping so.