Meta is changing its strategy following Apple's entry by opening up its Android-based Horizon OS to Asus, Lenovo, Xbox, and more hardware partners in the future.
As hinted earlier, Meta (née Facebook) is positioning itself as the "open" model of mixed reality as opposed to Apple's tightly integrated "closed" model of Vision Pro.
- "Today we're opening up Meta Horizon OS – our operating system powering Quest – so others can design more headsets in our ecosystem. Lenovo, Microsoft, and Asus are some of our first partners, with more coming too. Looking forward to a new wave of headsets focused on productivity, entertainment, gaming, exercise, and more!," said Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO at Meta.
Meta's Horizon OS is built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) with a custom user interface and extensions for systems such as inside-out tracking, passthrough, and motion controllers.
Asus, Lenovo, Xbox
Asus is planning to "develop an all-new performance gaming headset" under its Republic of Gamers sub-brand, but further details remain under wraps.
Lenovo, which co-designed the Oculus Rift S, is planning to "develop mixed reality devices for productivity, learning, and entertainment." Meanwhile, the partnership with Xbox is less ambitious, amounting to "a limited-edition Meta Quest, inspired by Xbox".
The new devices from partners will be powered by Horizon OS.
Meta will continue to sell and develop its own Quest headsets.
Also read: Is Apple Vision Pro the future of home cinema?
The Meta Quest Store will be renamed the Meta Horizon Store, the company said, while the smartphone companion app will be known as the Meta Horizon app.
- "We're also developing a new spatial app framework that helps mobile developers create mixed reality experiences. Developers will be able to use the tools they’re already familiar with to bring their mobile apps to Meta Horizon OS or to create entirely new mixed reality apps," announced Meta.
