Meta has announced that it will open up its operating system, Meta Horizon OS, to other third-party hardware manufacturers. This move will allow for a more diverse range of devices to be compatible with the Meta Quest mixed reality (MR) platform, including devices from Lenovo, Microsoft, and Asus.
The goal of this measure is to provide consumers with more options and expand the ecosystem in which developers can build their applications. For example, Asus’ gaming division Republic of Gamers (ROG) will develop MR glasses for high-performance title gaming, while Lenovo will leverage its expertise in co-designing the Oculus Rift S and engineering devices like the ThinkPad to develop MRI equipment for productivity, learning, and entertainment.
Meta is also working with Xbox to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming in beta version to its Meta Quest headset so that players can access Xbox video games on a virtual 2D screen in MR. Additionally, Meta is collaborating with Xbox to launch a limited edition of the Meta Quest helmet inspired by Microsoft’s gaming division. All devices in the new hardware ecosystem powered by Meta Horizon OS will benefit from Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon chips, just like Meta Quest 3 already does with Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2.
As Meta opens up its operating system to more original equipment manufacturers, it expands the ways app developers can reach audiences and consumers. 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 being developed to allow developers to bring mobile applications to Meta Horizon OS or create new experiences for this operating system.
