Say goodbye to the Netflix app on your Meta Quest headset

Meta has announced that as of July 15, 2024, the standalone Netflix app will be discontinued on both Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets. This may seem like a loss, but don’t despair because there’s a good reason behind this decision.

Last month, Meta introduced a small but noteworthy update for the Quest 2 and Quest 3 headsets, enhancing the user experience in subtle yet significant ways. The most exciting part of this update is the new and improved way to watch Netflix content through the built-in browser.

For a long time, Quest users have had access to a standalone Netflix app. However, this app is notorious for its poor quality, maxing out at 480p and generally offering a subpar viewing experience. The recent update changes all that by enabling users to watch Netflix directly through the built-in browser, offering a much-improved experience with high-resolution content.

This browser-based version of Netflix isn’t just about better picture quality. It also gives users the option to choose between a flat 2D virtual screen and a simulated theater view. The latter provides an immersive movie-watching experience that replicates the feel of being in a cinema. I mean, who wouldn’t want to watch “Stranger Things” in a virtual movie theater?

Now, in line with this enhancement, Meta has announced that the standalone Netflix app will be discontinued on Quest devices starting July 15, 2024. This shift to browser-based streaming offers a much more immersive and visually pleasing experience for Quest users. So, while the standalone app is going away, you won’t be missing out on anything. In fact, you’ll be gaining a better way to watch Netflix on your VR headset.

For Quest users, this means saying goodbye to the old, low-quality Netflix app and welcoming a new, high-resolution viewing experience. This change is in line with Apple’s Vision Pro, which doesn’t have a dedicated Netflix app and instead forces users to watch through Safari.