Meta has hit the brakes on its plans to open up the operating system that powers its Quest headsets to third-party manufacturers. First announced last year alongside the Horizon OS rebrand, the initiative now hangs in limbo as the company shifts focus to building “the world-class first-party hardware and software needed to advance the VR market.”
When it initially pitched the idea, Meta aimed to democratize Horizon OS and create a new ecosystem of devices powered by its operating software. The company had even named Asus and Lenovo as early partners, with Asus developing a gaming VR headset and Lenovo focusing on a productivity model. With the latest announcement, these devices are effectively canceled.
According to Road to VR, Meta hasn’t completely abandoned the plan, with a spokesperson quoted saying the company is “committed to this for the long term and will revisit opportunities for the 3rd-party device partnerships as the category evolves.”
Android XR may have thrown a wrench in Meta’s plans
This shift in Meta’s approach could be influenced by the arrival of Android XR, Google’s software platform for mixed reality headsets. As Android XR gains momentum, it has the potential to steal the spotlight from Horizon OS and lead third-party manufacturers to favor Google’s platform over Meta’s.
By focusing on first-party hardware, Meta appears to be sidestepping a direct clash with Google while ensuring Horizon OS remains competitive in a rapidly evolving XR market. The company’s ecosystem ambitions are on hold for now, and its broader vision of an open, cross-device platform may have to wait until the market stabilizes.
It remains to be seen how Horizon OS adapts in response to Android XR and Apple’s Vision Pro. Meta is already betting big on entertainment as the next step in its evolution, having recently released a dedicated Disney+ app for its Quest headsets that lets users seamlessly transition from gaming to enjoying movies and TV shows in an immersive environment.