Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, is making a strategic shift in the burgeoning virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) market. In a move to expand its influence beyond its hardware, Meta is now sharing its operating system, Meta Horizon OS, with rival device makers, such as Microsoft, Asus, and Lenovo, to develop VR and MR headsets powered by it.
This decision allows partner companies to leverage Meta’s powerful foundation to create specialized devices tailored for specific uses, such as fitness, high-end entertainment, or professional applications. Partner companies will inherit core functionalities like gesture recognition, spatial awareness, and compatibility with existing VR experiences, ensuring that these devices are equipped with advanced features that will help them stand out in the market.
Interestingly, Meta Horizon OS is built upon the foundation of Android, similar to how Android empowers a vast array of smartphones. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, aspires for Meta Horizon OS to become the dominant VR/MR platform and believes that this open ecosystem model is the key to achieving it.
In a video on Instagram, Zuckerberg unveiled potential applications of this open ecosystem. He showcased concepts for specialized VR headsets, including a lightweight fitness-oriented device, a high-resolution entertainment headset, and a haptic-enabled gaming headset. Partner companies are already on board, with ASUS developing a VR gaming headset and Lenovo working on an MR device for professional and entertainment applications. However, Zuckerberg acknowledges that it might take a few years before these specialized devices hit the market.
VR technology is still in its early stages, primarily adopted by gamers and some forward-thinking businesses. While Meta currently holds the market lead, competition is intensifying. Apple entered the VR scene earlier this year with its high-end Vision Pro headset, and Google is rumoured to be developing its own VR/MR platform for Android devices. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has even accused Google of potentially hindering VR adoption with restrictive terms for its VR partners.
Zuckerberg, in his video, extended an olive branch to Google, expressing his openness to having Google Play apps available on Meta Horizon OS devices. This gesture highlights Meta’s desire for an open and collaborative VR ecosystem, potentially fostering faster innovation and broader consumer adoption. Overall, this strategic move by Meta marks a significant shift in the VR/MR market, paving the way for an exciting future of virtual and mixed reality.
