Meta is rebranding its Quest software platform to Meta Horizon OS and making it available to select third-party headset manufacturers.
Headsets running on the platform will have a 'Built with Meta Horizon OS' sticker on the box. They have access to the same core software and platform services as Meta Quest headsets, including Meta's tracking and mixed reality technology and app store. As with Quest headsets, using them requires a Meta account.
The Meta Quest Store will also be renamed Meta Horizon Store. Quest will remain the sole hardware brand for Meta's first-party headsets, and Meta will continue to release new Quest headsets.
Two third-party companies have already publicly announced that they are building new headsets with Meta Horizon OS:
- A “performance gaming headset” from ASUS under the Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand.
- A line of headsets for “productivity, learning and entertainment”. Lenovo.
In February Meta and LG announced a strategic partnership with XR, including “development of next-generation XR devices”, suggesting LG could also make a headset running Meta Horizon OS.
Concepts of Meta Horizon OS headsets from ASUS' ROG brand (left) and Lenovo (right).
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he can “suggest” third-party Meta Horizon OS headsets optimized for specific use cases, such as:
- “A lightweight headset that you can pair with your computer on your desk, for the best working experience.”
- A headset “completely focused on immersive entertainment such as watching movies and videos with the highest resolution OLED screens.”
- A headset “fully optimized for gaming with support for all kinds of different peripherals and haptics.”
- A headset “designed for sports that is extra lightweight and with sweat-wicking materials”.
It's unclear whether these refer to the ASUS or Lenovo headsets, or just future potential avenues that companies could take.
Concepts of Meta Horizon OS headsets optimized for media viewing (left) and fitness (right).
Additionally, Meta has partnered with Microsoft's Xbox division to create a “limited-edition Meta Quest.” Xbox branding headphones. The concept image of this headset suggests that it will be a special version of Quest 3, and Zuckerberg says that there will be an Xbox gamepad in the box.
Today's news comes just under two months after it was revealed Google tried to convince Meta to leave the Quest platform (now Horizon OS) and switch to the upcoming Android XR platform, which is expected to be announced on Google I/O in three weeks.
Google tried to get Meta to switch to its XR operating system
Google reportedly asked Meta to collaborate and “contribute to” the upcoming XR operating system, but Meta said no.
Samsung is the first announced hardware maker to adopt Android XR, and so is Google Reportedly are also trying to woo other companies. Meta's new strategy and securing several major companies could already be a major blow to Google's ambitions in this area, especially since Lenovo was Google's biggest competitor. original partner for its previous VR platform Daydream in 2018.
Meta has said repeatedly it wants Google will bring its Play Store of 2D Android apps to Quest (now Horizon OS), promising that it can continue its existing reduction in sales revenue from 2D apps. However, Google seems determined to own an entire XR platform, not just the 2D app portion of Meta's.
In the coming years, Meta and Google will likely compete fiercely to convince third-party hardware makers to adopt their respective XR platforms. The history of technology suggests that there is only room for one open platform alongside Apple's closed offering. Will this also apply to XR? And if so, will it be Meta or Google?