Augmented reality is taking to the skies as Meta rolls out an experimental travel mode on its Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets. When enabled, users can enjoy content while on the plane, a feature that was not possible due to certain components.
Sitting in a moving vehicle such as a car or plane can confuse the internal measurement unit (IMU for short), making it difficult for the headset to track your location.
But thanks to Travel Mode, this problem doesn't occur. Meta says it has tweaked the Quest headset's “algorithms that account for airplane movement” to provide a more stable experience during flight. It also levels the playing field with Apple Vision Pro, which has offered Travel Mode since its launch.
Connect your Quest 2 or 3 to your plane's Wi-Fi connection and access content stored on an external tablet or laptop or within your Quest Library. In-flight Wi-Fi can be unstable, so Mehta recommends double-checking whether the app requires an internet connection to work. This means that certain video games, among other content, may play worse.
When it comes to in-flight infotainment systems, most of them will be inaccessible, with the exception of Lufthansa, thanks to Meta's partnership with Germany-based airlines.
(Image credit: Meta)
new content
The partnership between Meta and Lufthansa will deliver unique content “designed to run in Quest 3 in Travel Mode.” These include interactive games such as chess, meditation exercises, travel podcasts, and a “virtual tourism preview” at the end. However, this content is only available to those sitting on Lufthansa's Allegri. Business Class Suites on select flights.
(Image credit: Meta/Lufthansa)
If you want to try Travel Mode, check out the Quest headset's[設定]on the menu[実験]You can go to the section and enable it. Once you enable this feature, you'll be able to use it immediately. Once Travel Mode is enabled, you can turn Travel Mode on or off at any time in Quick Settings. Meta plans to offer travel modes for additional modes of transportation, such as trains, at some point, but no specific release date has been announced.
A company representative said Travel Mode is available to all users worldwide, but it's unclear when it will leave the experimental phase and become a standard feature. We asked if there are any plans to expand Lufthansa's content to other airlines and travel classes such as economy. However, I have nothing to share at this time. Meta hopes to maintain its pilot program with Lufthansa for the time being, but is also interested in expanding it.
If you're looking for recommendations on what to play on your next flight, check out TechRadar's list of the best Quest 2 games of 2024.
