Meta Horizon OS wants to become the Android of mixed reality

Meta wants to give itself every chance to succeed in mixed reality. They therefore announce that the Meta Quest OS, called Horizon OS, can be used by other brands.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced a new strategy for its mixed reality headset operating system, Horizon OS. In the war between Apple, Meta, Sony, HTC and soon Google and Samsung, Mark Zuckerberg is adjusting his strategy by allowing third-party manufacturers to use Horizon OS for their mixed reality headsets. This announcement might not be of interest to the general public, but it will certainly cause a stir in the sector.

Meta Horizon OS: an operating system for mixed reality headsets

Horizon OS is the operating system used by Meta’s mixed reality headsets, such as the Meta Quest. It is an operating system dedicated to Meta’s mixed reality headsets, which allows users to enjoy immersive experiences in virtual reality and augmented reality.

Meta has announced that third-party manufacturers will be able to use Horizon OS for their mixed reality headsets. Asus and Lenovo are already mentioned in Meta’s press release, and Microsoft is also interested. There will even be a limited edition Xbox-branded Meta Quest, a product “ inspired by Xbox “. The move will allow Meta to expand its footprint in the mixed reality headset market, offering its operating system to other brands and designs.

Meta also announced that the App Lab, a semi-hidden part of the Quest app store that has been a big source of software for years, will be a more visible part of the App Store.

Meta also promises an open mixed reality framework so all these headsets and developers can start to understand how AR-like experiences on future headsets can work better. Moreover, the Meta Quest application, which allows you to synchronize your headset with your smartphone, becomes Meta Horizon.

Meta wants to create the Android of mixed reality headsets by allowing third-party manufacturers to use its Horizon OS operating system. This decision will allow Meta to expand its footprint in the mixed reality headset market, with Apple and VisionOS (on its Vision Pro) leading the way, as well as Google which should announce the arrival of Android XR. This OS would be embedded on a mixed reality headset designed with Samsung.