Oculus Quest update adds Space Sense and Android phone notifications

Voice commands can handle a lot more as well.

What you need to know

• The v34 update is rolling out today on Oculus Quest headsets with new and improved features.
• Space Sense officially comes to the platform and allows users to see real life objects and other people from within the headset.
• The update also improves voice commands to handle more tasks and adds the ability to see Android phone notifications while in VR.

The latest update for Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2 headsets is rolling out today and adds new and improved features to stay connected in virtual reality.

The biggest addition in the v34 update is the new Space Sense feature. First datamined in an earlier Oculus Quest update, the feature allows users to see when real life objects or other people have entered their VR playing space without taking off the headset. Any furniture, people, or large pets that enter the user’s Guardian bounds will be highlighted in the headset and “surrounded by a pink-ish glow.”

While Space Sense has officially been added, the company said the feature is still being worked on and must be enabled through the Experimental Features tab in the headset’s Settings menu. The feature should make working out in VR much safer in a busy setting, especially paired with some of the best Quest 2 workout accessories.

Another feature added in the update is the option to see Android phone lock screen notifications from within the headset. iOS users could see notifications in VR since last May, making this long overdue.

Revamped voice commands also make an appearance with the v34 update. You can play and pause media, open select apps, go to specific Settings tabs, and answer basic questions related to the Oculus Quest. Users can find the full list of voice commands in this Oculus support article, with over 40 available thus far.

In its Oculus blog post, the company said that it would launch one last update, v35, in 2021. Perhaps the upcoming release will enable features like mixed-reality games and improved hand tracking announced during Connect 2021.

Facebook, which owns the Oculus brand, renamed itself to Meta during its Connect conference last week. As part of the company’s rebranding, the Oculus Quest will become known as the Meta Quest and the Oculus App will be renamed the Meta Quest App in early 2022.

Oculus Quest 2

$300 at Amazon
$300 at Best Buy
$300 at Oculus

The Oculus Quest 2 offers increased power, resolution, and flexibility over the original virtual headset. It is a complete, all-in-one headset that does not need to be tethered to a PC or smartphone in order to work.