Meta Expands Quest Ecosystem with Open OS and Third-Party Hardware

Meta has unveiled significant updates to its virtual reality ecosystem, aiming to foster a more open environment for both developers and users. The company has announced plans to make its Meta Horizon OS, the operating system powering Meta Quest headsets, available to other manufacturers for the development of third-party hardware. Notable partners such as ASUS Republic of Gamers and Lenovo are already on board, with ASUS working on a high-performance gaming headset and Lenovo focusing on a device optimized for entertainment and productivity. Additionally, Meta is exploring the creation of a limited-edition Quest headset inspired by Xbox, with the potential for bundling it with an Xbox controller and Game Pass subscription for an enhanced gaming experience. CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the company's goal of establishing an open model for the next generation of computing, encompassing the metaverse, glasses, and headsets, by releasing its operating system to facilitate diverse developments by other companies. In line with this openness, the Meta Quest Store is being rebranded as the Meta Horizon Store, with plans to integrate the App Lab, a platform for experimental games, into the main storefront. Furthermore, Meta is working to enable Quest owners to access content from various storefronts, including Steam, Xbox, and potentially Google Play, thereby expanding the device's software capabilities. While Xbox and Steam games are already accessible via cloud gaming and link apps, Meta is encouraging Google to make its Google Play store available on the Quest, with the assurance that it would operate under the same economic model as on other platforms.