Meta has finally unlocked a number of new native video recording settings for the Quest 2 VR headset, including 4K resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The only problem is that the options are only available to developers.
The new developer hub update – which is only downloadable by those with an Oculus Developer account – has enabled several recording options. There is still the default 1:1 setting, 1024p @ 36fps, but now developers can choose between 1080p, 1440p or 2160p resolutions, each of which can be recorded at 36fps or 60fps.
There are also options to change the video bitrate from the standard 5 MBps to a maximum of 40 Mbps and to make the view monoscopic or stereoscopic – paving the way for more immersive VR game trailers.
Update details shared by Robert Aldridge (opens in new tab) on Twitter (via load VR (opens in new tab))
Improved native video recording settings for Quest 2 have been something that VR developers and content creators have been asking for. Quest 2’s native 1:1 video recordings are great for Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, but not so great on other platforms.
By default, the Meta Quest 2 (formerly Oculus Quest 2) is set to record and display a 1:1 aspect ratio at 1024p resolution (slightly below HD at 1080p). To shape that square into a 16:9 video, you either need to add thick black rectangles on both sides or trim the image – potentially cropping important pixels.
External tools can allow content creators and developers to capture, but setting this up can be tricky. This native solution makes recording high resolution 16:9 images much simpler.
The reason 16:9 is important is that it’s the aspect ratio of pretty much every regular monitor – your TV and your PC monitor – which is what you’re likely to use to watch trailers on YouTube and other platforms for new VR games. While having the same aspect ratio isn’t a necessity, combining it will help make a trailer more visually appealing – potentially getting more players excited about what they see.
The same is also true for YouTube and Twitch content creators looking to release VR gameplay videos. Whether these developer features will be available to regular gamers remains to be seen, but Meta has previously acknowledged that wider video settings are a common demand from Quest headset owners.
One point that could be holding things back is the limited power of the Quest 2. As noted by Aldridge, games can have some issues when running at 4K as the headset simply doesn’t have enough power for higher resolutions. Fortunately, this is a problem that Project Cambria or Quest 3 can solve.