Quest 2 End of Support: Key Dates and What Still Works

If you still play on an old Quest 2, this one’s for you. Meta has finally set out the Quest 2 end of support timeline, and the Quest Pro is going the same way. The short version is that your headset isn’t about to stop working. However, the clock is now ticking on new features, security patches and new games. So here’s what’s actually changing, when it happens, and what it means if you play VR cricket on a Quest 2.

What Meta announced on 2 November

Meta posted the news on its developer blog and in a Quest Help Center notice. Horizon OS v2.13 will be the last update that brings new system features to Quest 2 and Quest Pro. It starts rolling out in January 2027, and Meta expects it to reach every headset by March 2027.

After that, both headsets only get quarterly security patches and critical bug fixes. Those stop at the end of December 2027. Meta’s SDK v213 is also the last developer toolkit that supports them. Anything Meta adds to Horizon OS after that point will only reach Quest 3, Quest 3S and newer devices.

There’s one more date worth knowing. Developers can submit brand new apps for Quest 2 and Quest Pro until December 2027. After that, new games can still launch on Quest 3 and 3S, but they won’t be offered on the older headsets.

Quest 2 end of support: the key dates

January 2027: Horizon OS v2.13 starts rolling out. This is the final feature update.
March 2027: v2.13 should be on every Quest 2 and Quest Pro.
Through 2027: security patches and critical bug fixes carry on.
December 2027: the final security patch, and the last month developers can submit new Quest 2 and Quest Pro apps.

So the Quest 2 end of support is a slow wind-down rather than a switch being flipped. That’s fairly typical for Meta. As UploadVR points out, the original Quest went through a very similar process between 2023 and 2025.

What keeps working on your Quest 2

This is the bit most people will care about, and it’s mostly good news. According to Meta, the games you own keep working, both single player and multiplayer. The Store stays open on these headsets, so you can still browse, buy and download. Meta also says no apps will be removed from the Store because of this change.

Cross-play stays in place too. If you play online against mates on a Quest 3 or 3S, that carries on. Meta says it keeps cross-play working at platform level. Even so, it’s still up to each developer to keep their Quest 2 and Quest 3 versions compatible with each other.

On top of that, PC VR through Link keeps working. As 9to5Google notes, your headset will still turn on and run your games after these dates. It simply stops getting anything new.

The catch: developers now have a choice

Here’s where it gets a bit more interesting. Meta’s blog gives developers a few options. They can keep one version of their game that stays compatible with v2.13. Alternatively, they can split into separate builds, so Quest 3 and 3S players get the newer features. Or they can end Quest 2 support altogether.

If a developer does end support in a way that means you lose access to content or essential services, Meta’s rules say they have to give customers at least 180 days’ notice. That’s six months of warning, which is fair. But it doesn’t promise that every game keeps a Quest 2 version forever.

We’re already seeing the direction of travel. For example, H3VR2 is launching on Quest 3 and 3S only, with no Quest 2 version listed. Expect more big releases to go the same way during 2027, especially anything using mixed reality or newer SDK features.

Why Meta is doing this now

Quest 2 launched in October 2020 and Quest Pro followed in 2022. Meta stopped selling both in 2024. Six years is a decent innings for a headset that launched at $299. Meanwhile, Meta now calls Quest 3 and Quest 3S “the baseline for Meta VR gamers”, according to The Verge.

The other piece of the puzzle is the Meta VR Glasses, due in spring 2027. Meta says apps built for Quest 3 and 3S carry forward to them, because they run on the same OS and SDKs. In other words, Meta wants developers building for the newer chip. That fits with what Meta has said before about not rushing out a new Quest headset without major breakthroughs. For now, the Quest 3 family is the floor for everything new.

If you want the bigger picture on headsets, games and guides, my Meta Quest hub pulls it all together in one place.

What it means for VR cricket players on Quest 2

Meta says millions of people still play on these headsets, and plenty of them will be cricket fans. So what does the Quest 2 end of support change for you? Right now, not a lot. The main games still list Quest 2. VRDB shows iB Cricket supporting Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest 3S and Quest Pro. RealBat Cricket VR’s own press kit also lists Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest 3S.

Those games will keep working after March 2027. The bigger question is what happens to updates. If a cricket developer wants to use newer features, they may split builds or eventually drop Quest 2. Either way, you’d get at least six months’ warning under Meta’s rules. Also, any brand new VR cricket game that arrives after December 2027 won’t be offered on Quest 2 at all.

Then there’s mixed reality. Quest 2 passthrough is black and white and fairly grainy. Quest 3 and 3S have colour passthrough, which newer mixed reality modes tend to assume. If you fancy batting in your own living room or garden, that matters. For a rundown of the options, have a look at my guide to the best VR headset for playing VR cricket, or the full VR cricket guide.

Should you upgrade from a Quest 2 now?

Honestly, the Quest 2 end of support isn’t a reason to panic buy. A Quest 2 that does what you need today will do exactly the same thing in March 2027. Nothing breaks on the day v2.13 lands. Instead, I’d ask yourself three simple questions:

Do you want new games? New Quest 2 app submissions stop in December 2027, and some games are already Quest 3 and 3S only.
Do you want mixed reality? Colour passthrough is a big step up from the Quest 2.
Do the kids use it? Security patches end after 2027, so that matters more on a family headset that’s signed into accounts.

On price, Metaverse Watcher reports that Meta’s April 2026 pricing set US prices at $349.99 for the 128GB Quest 3S and $599.99 for the 512GB Quest 3. UK prices differ, so check before you buy. Black Friday is also coming up, so it may be worth waiting a few weeks to see if there’s a deal.

If you do move up, it’s worth thinking about your cricket gear at the same time. Kit made for the Quest 3 and 3S controllers won’t always suit the older Quest 2 ones. My guide to the VR cricket bat for Quest 3 and 3S explains what to look for. If you want to see the bat itself, here’s the VR Cricket Bat for Meta Quest 3 and 3S.

Quest Pro owners lose the most

Quest Pro launched at $1,500 in October 2022, and Meta cut the price to $1,000 about four months later. It was the headset with eye and face tracking. Now it gets the same cut-off as the much cheaper Quest 2. Meta says it keeps working, but developers building for the VR Glasses are told to test on Quest 3 or 3S instead. So if you paid Pro money, this one stings a bit more.

Quick FAQ

Does Quest 2 end of support mean my headset stops working?

No. Meta says you can keep using it after December 2027. It just stops getting new features after v2.13 and security patches after 2027.

Can I still buy games for Quest 2?

Yes. The Store stays open on Quest 2. However, no brand new apps will launch for it after December 2027.

Will I still be able to play online with Quest 3 players?

Yes. Meta says cross-play between Quest 2, Quest Pro and Quest 3/3S stays supported, although each developer still has to keep their builds compatible.

What to watch next

The next big date is January 2027, when v2.13 starts rolling out. After that, keep an eye on your favourite games for any 180-day notices. I’ll keep an eye on the VR cricket games in particular and post an update if any of them change their Quest 2 plans.

Whatever headset you’re on, you can use my promo code VRCGUY when you buy VR games on the Meta Horizon Store. It’s a nice easy way to support the channel.

Sources

Photo: Meta Quest 2 by Wasiul Bahar, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Quest 2 End of Support: What It Means for VR Cricket Players