Meta’s Quest headsets have been a driving force in the advancement of VR technology, and now the operating system that powers them is being made available to third-party hardware makers. Meta Horizon OS, as the platform is now known, is built on the foundation of today’s popular VR headsets and includes new tools and frameworks to enable the integration of features like inside-out tracking, high-resolution passthrough, and Spatial Anchors into new and original headset designs.
Asus and Lenovo are among the first companies to sign on to develop Horizon OS-powered headsets. Asus plans to create a VR headset under its ROG brand, focusing on gaming performance. The device will likely utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor and benefit from Meta’s long-standing collaboration with Qualcomm.
While the specifications and features of these new headsets will vary depending on how manufacturers configure their devices, they will all benefit from the integration of Meta Horizon OS. This OS is designed to work seamlessly with Qualcomm’s Arm chips and will offer full support for PC, including via SteamVR.
Lenovo’s upcoming VR device is initially being positioned as a productivity, learning, and entertainment device, but it remains to be seen whether the company will explore a more gaming-oriented approach in the future.
Meta’s decision to open up its VR software to third-party manufacturers signals a significant shift in the company’s strategy. This move comes alongside Zuckerberg’s announcement of Meta’s plans to invest in open-source AI development. These initiatives suggest a broader commitment to collaboration and innovation within the VR industry.
One potential concern with the new Horizon OS-powered headsets is their pricing. The Meta Quest 3, while more expensive than its predecessor, remains relatively affordable compared to some VR headsets. If Asus and other manufacturers decide to incorporate premium features and branding into their devices, the cost could potentially be higher, which may impact adoption rates in the VR market.
