Meta has decided to pause its initiative to share Meta Horizon OS, the mixed reality operating system powering its Quest headsets, with third-party device manufacturers. The program was a key element of Meta’s metaverse strategy, aiming to enable a wide range of VR devices to interact with Meta’s virtual environments.
A Meta spokesperson explained, “We have paused the program to concentrate on developing top-tier first-party hardware and software to drive advancements in the VR market. We remain committed to this long-term vision and will explore opportunities for third-party collaborations as the VR landscape evolves.”
Initially announced last April, Meta’s plan involved opening up Horizon OS to partners such as Asus, Microsoft’s Xbox, and Lenovo to develop new hardware compatible with Meta’s software ecosystem. The company emphasized the importance of a diverse hardware ecosystem, drawing parallels with the PC and smartphone industries.
Despite the initial announcement, there have been few updates on the partner program’s progress. At a recent event, Meta indicated ongoing collaboration with business partners to expand Horizon OS compatibility across various devices.
Horizon OS aims to deliver immersive mixed reality experiences, emphasizing social interaction through features like hand, body, eye, and face tracking. The operating system was introduced during a period when Meta’s leadership viewed the metaverse as a strategic focus.
However, Meta’s shifting priorities towards AI have led to a decreased emphasis on the metaverse, impacting Horizon OS development and the teams working on it.
Source: TechCrunch
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