Meta is making major moves to expand the reach of its virtual reality (VR) platform. The company has begun licensing its Horizon OS (formerly the Quest headset operating system) to hardware makers, kicking off partnerships with tech giants Lenovo and Asus. Additionally, Meta is collaborating with Xbox on a limited-edition, gaming-centric Quest headset.
Meta is striving to create a more accessible VR ecosystem. It’s highlighting its experimental App Lab store and even extending an invitation to Google to bring the Play Store to Horizon OS. Meta is also developing a framework to make it easier for developers to adapt mobile apps for the platform.
Horizon: The Social Core
A key aspect of Horizon OS is the integration of Horizon, Meta’s social VR world (think a blend of Roblox and The Sims). Meta has been actively improving Horizon after its initial launch and wants to expand its reach through these hardware partnerships. The ultimate goal? Building a monetizable social network within the VR space.
Details and the Meta Strategy
While specific business terms of the Horizon OS licensing are yet to be revealed, Meta has made it clear that partner devices will tie into the Horizon social network and require Qualcomm chips. Zuckerberg envisions both lightweight headsets for productivity and high-resolution devices for immersive entertainment.
Meta is positioning itself as a champion of openness in contrast to Apple’s more closed ecosystem. Zuckerberg’s ambition is to mirror the success of Microsoft’s Windows licensing model in the VR world, making Horizon OS the “Android” alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro.
History Repeating Itself (with a twist)
This isn’t the first time Microsoft and Meta have overlapped in the VR space. Microsoft previously explored VR with Windows Mixed Reality and early Oculus Rift support, while Meta’s original headset even came bundled with an Xbox gamepad.
