Meta has now opened up the operating system that their Meta Quest headsets use to third-party developers. The company’s hope is that the operating system – which is now called Meta Horizon OS – will become a new standard for VR hardware in the same way that Android is for non-Apple mobile phones.
By opening up Horizon OS to other developers, Meta believes that it will be easier to develop VR applications that reach a wider audience. Asus has already announced that it will develop a gaming-focused VR set that will use the operating system. Lenovo will also develop a VR set with Horizon OS, but more focused on education and entertainment.
In collaboration with Microsoft, Meta will produce an Xbox-inspired version of Quest 3 that will be sold in limited edition. According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the VR set will come with Xbox controllers and a subscription to Game Pass. What the Xbox-inspired Quest 3 will cost and when it will launch is currently unclear.
