Meta will expand its Meta Quest ecosystem by opening up the operating system of its Meta Quest devices to third-party manufacturers, including industry leaders like Xbox and Lenovo. With the help of Meta Horizon OS, this move could potentially shape the future of the metaverse and make mixed-reality technologies more accessible to a wider audience.
Collaborate for a larger audience
Meta has been investing in mixed reality technologies for over a decade and by working with global technology leaders, they hope to bring this experience to an even wider audience. According to a recent blog postthird-party hardware manufacturers can now create a new wave of mixed-reality devices using their Meta Horizon OS, which powers the Meta Quest headsets.
The Meta Horizon OS, designed explicitly for the Meta Quest headsets, will now act as the backbone for a range of new mixed-reality hardware. With its advanced technology and emphasis on social interaction, this operating system aims to provide a more intuitive and connected user experience.
To push the boundaries of standalone headsets, Meta has developed technologies such as inside-out tracking, self-guided controllers and hand, eye, face and body tracking systems. They’ve also created tools to merge the digital and physical worlds, such as High-Resolution Passthrough, Scene Understanding, and Spatial anchors. These investments have resulted in an operating system that is currently used by millions of people.
Meta’s collaboration with industry leaders has resulted in the development of new devices based on the Meta Horizon OS.
ASUS’s Republic of Gamers creates a performance gaming headset. Additionally, Lenovo will leverage its experience co-designing the Oculus Rift S, along with its extensive expertise in designing flagship devices like the ThinkPad laptops, to create mixed-reality devices aimed at improving productivity , education and entertainment.
Last year, Xbox and Meta teamed up to introduce Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) to Meta Quest, allowing users to play Xbox games on a large 2D virtual screen in mixed reality. Building on that partnership, they are now developing a limited edition Meta Quest inspired by Xbox.
An ecosystem for developers
With the Meta Horizon OS, developers now have access to a comprehensive set of tools to create immersive mixed-reality experiences. Additionally, they can take advantage of integrated content discovery and monetization platforms, such as the revamped Meta Horizon Store, to reach a broader audience and expand their business ventures.
Additionally, the social infrastructure of the Meta Horizon OS allows users to carry their identities, avatars, and social connections across virtual spaces. This allows developers to integrate these social features into their applications, creating a more connected mixed-reality ecosystem.