Meta, the American technology company behind Facebook, has announced the launch of Horizon OS, an operating system that will power its Meta Quest mixed reality (MR) devices. However, unlike its previous exclusive use on Meta’s headsets, Horizon OS will now be open to other third-party hardware manufacturers such as Lenovo, Microsoft and Asus.
This move by Meta is aimed at providing more options to consumers and creating a broader ecosystem for developers to build their applications. Asus’ gaming division Republic of Gamers (ROG) will use its expertise in MR technology to develop new MR glasses for “high-performance title” gaming. Lenovo, on the other hand, will leverage its experience in co-designing the Oculus Rift S and engineering devices like the ThinkPad to develop new MR equipment for productivity, learning and entertainment.
In addition to this announcement, Meta is also collaborating with Xbox to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming in beta version to its Meta Quest headset. This will allow players to access Xbox video games on a virtual two-dimensional (2D) screen in MR. The company is also working with Xbox to launch a limited edition of the Meta Quest helmet, inspired by Microsoft’s gaming division. All devices that will be part of this new hardware ecosystem powered by Horizon OS will feature Snapdragon chips manufactured by Qualcomm Technologies.
With the opening up of Horizon OS to more original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Meta is expanding the ways app developers can reach their audiences and consumers. It aims to erase the limits between the official service store for its devices, renamed Meta Horizon Store, and the App Lab collaboration platform. App Lab titles will soon appear in a dedicated section in the online store on all devices, making them more visible to a wider audience. A new spatial applications framework is also being worked on to allow developers to bring mobile applications to Horizon OS or create new experiences for this operating system.
Overall, this move by Meta represents a significant shift in how MR technology is developed and deployed in consumer markets. By opening up Horizon OS to third-party manufacturers
