KEY POINTS
Tech giant Meta is taking a step forward in its vision by opening the doors of its Meta Quest virtual reality (VR) devices’ operating system to third-party hardware makers.
In a recent post, Meta disclosed its plans to establish a new “hardware ecosystem” centered around the Meta Horizon OS. This move is aimed at simplifying the process for developers to create their own applications.
The ecosystem will incorporate specialized frameworks and tools developed by Meta for crafting mixed reality experiences. Through the content discovery and monetization platforms integrated into the OS, developers and creators will have the opportunity to engage with their audiences and expand their businesses.
Meta also revealed collaborations with several leading technology firms that are already engaged in developing devices on the Meta Horizon OS. These include Asus, focusing on an innovative gaming headset; Lenovo, working on mixed reality devices for various purposes including productivity, education, and entertainment; and Xbox, in partnership with Meta to produce a special edition Meta Quest inspired by Xbox.
This announcement comes on the heels of Meta’s recent celebration of a decade of metaverse advancements and its plans to venture into the education sector with VR products tailored for classroom use, providing educators access to educational applications and features.
Meta’s drive is fueled in part by the competitive landscape, as rivals such as Apple and Sony are also making strides in the development of VR devices. Despite this push, the VR headset market faced challenges in 2023, experiencing a significant decline in sales according to a report by CNBC, dropping nearly 40% to $664 million compared to the previous year’s $1.1 billion.
However, industry analysts suggest that the market might not be ripe yet for the widespread adoption of these emerging technologies. Projections from Precedence Research show that the global AR and VR headsets market is anticipated to reach $142.5 billion by 2032, signaling potential future growth.
