Meta recently made a significant move in the virtual reality hardware market by announcing partnerships with major external hardware companies such as Lenovo, Microsoft, and Asus. These partnerships will see the development of virtual reality headsets using the Meta Horizon operating system, which will run on the same software as Meta’s own first-party VR hardware like the Quest 3 and Quest Pro.
This announcement comes in the wake of Apple’s release of the Vision Pro virtual reality headset in January, further defining the landscape of the VR hardware market. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg likened this development to the Android versus iOS dynamic in smartphones, noting that Apple’s VR product will likely remain pricier and more vertically integrated.
The decision to open up its operating system platform for hardware partners aligns with Meta’s strategic vision for the future of computing, including the metaverse, glasses, and headsets. Zuckerberg even extended an invitation to Google to bring its Google Play app store to Horizon-based headsets.
While specific details on business arrangements with hardware partners or the software business model have not been provided, Meta indicated that this move will enable the creation of specific hardware for varying markets such as gaming and productivity. Zuckerberg hinted at a potential device that could come with Xbox controllers out of the box, as well as a version of the Quest headset inspired by Xbox.
Consumers may have to wait a couple of years before these new devices hit the market, but the potential for innovation and collaboration in the VR space is certainly exciting. Stay tuned for more updates on Meta’s latest ventures in virtual reality technology.
