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Meta is pausing its dream of sharing Quest’s Horizon OS with third-party headsetmakers
Meta has paused its initiative to share Horizon OS with third-party headset makers, redirecting focus to enhance its own hardware and software for VR. Initially launched to foster a robust ecosystem, the strategy has shifted as Meta prioritizes AI advancements over metaverse ambitions, reflecting changes in their long-term vision.
Key points
- Meta announced a program to share Horizon OS with third-party makers to create diverse VR hardware.
- The initiative aimed to enhance user choice in engaging with Meta's digital worlds.
- Meta decided to pause this program to concentrate on developing its own proprietary hardware and software.
- The shift in focus comes as Meta prioritizes artificial intelligence (AI), with reports of potential budget cuts in their metaverse group.
- Previously, firms like Asus, Microsoft, and Lenovo were involved in the partner program to develop compatible hardware.
Why it matters
- The pause in the Horizon OS program reflects current industry trends favoring AI over VR and metaverse developments.
- Meta's strategy change may mirror broader market shifts, as companies reassess the viability of VR in light of AI advancements.
- The original vision of a widespread VR ecosystem resembles the evolution seen in the PC and smartphone markets.
Meta's decision to halt its Horizon OS sharing initiative signals a pivotal moment in its strategy, emphasizing AI over a fledgling metaverse vision, which may reshape the mixed-reality landscape moving forward.