Microsoft, Lenovo, ASUS, and other external hardware makers have begun to license the Quest headset operating system to Meta, according to the company.
This Mark Zuckerberg-led business is also advocating for more ways to find alternate app marketplaces. In addition to welcome Google’s Play Store to its OS, it is showcasing its experimental App Lab store. Additionally, the blog post stated that Meta is developing a spatial framework to facilitate the easy porting of mobile applications to Horizon OS.
In a video posted on Instagram, Zuckerberg broke the news, claiming that it will make the relationship between Android and iOS devices and VR headsets similar. Despite being vertically integrated, Apple’s VisionPro headset will have to contend with a variety of lower-cost hardware companies that are now running Meta’s operating system.
The Horizon social layer, a 3D open-world game similar to Roblox and The Sims, is another feature of Horizon OS. Meta has been working on making improvements to Horizon in the meantime, and it was recently released as a 2D experience on the web and mobile devices.
Launching Horizon OS is beneficial to companies.
With the Metaverse—a fully digital universe that lives outside of social media—Meta has been trying to stir up conversation for years. The company has invested billions of dollars to build an ecosystem around the hardware and software. Although Meta led the way in creating cutting-edge hardware and the operating system that powers the devices, its efforts to build virtual reality and augmented reality technologies have not been without setbacks. However, Meta intends to “mainstream” VR eyewear in a manner much to how Google and Microsoft propelled PCs and cellphones beyond the hobbyist market.
Expanding the range of headsets beyond the Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest Pro could be possible by shipping Meta Horizon OS, the operating system that runs its Quest headsets, and licensing it to third-party hardware manufacturers who will create additional devices powering the Horizon OS.
did not disclose any information on the new headsets from Asus and Lenovo, nor did it disclose the terms of the license arrangement. Still, the tactic works well for businesses. Customers now have more options when purchasing headsets running the Horizon OS, and it also contributes to business diversification by increasing revenue for Meta’s Reality Labs segment. In the division, Meta recorded a $4.65 billion loss during the fourth quarter of 2023.
