Meta has announced that it is opening up the operating system powering its Meta Quest devices to third-party hardware makers, including ASUS and Lenovo. “We believe a more open ecosystem is the best way to bring the power of mixed reality to as many people as possible,” Meta said in a press release. “With more devices, this new ecosystem will offer more choice to consumers and businesses around the world.” Dubbed Meta Horizon OS, the mixed reality operating system combines the core technologies that power today’s mixed reality experiences with a suite of features that put social presence at the center of the platform. With the official introduction of Meta Horizon OS, the Meta Quest Store is being renamed the Meta Horizon Store. The mobile companion app will also become the Meta Horizon app.
To start, ASUS’s Republic of Gamers is developing an all-new performance gaming headset powered by Meta Horizon OS. Lenovo is going to use the experience it gained while co-designing the Oculus Rift S to develop mixed reality devices aimed towards productivity, learning, and entertainment. Both ASUS and Lenovo have been leading the way on portable, handheld PC options with the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. While Microsoft won’t be creating its own hardware, Xbox is teaming up with Meta on a limited-edition Meta Quest, inspired by Xbox.
For this to work, Meta is also removing the barriers between the Meta Horizon Store and App Lab, which means developers who meet basic technical and content requirements can release software on the platform. To increase their presence on the store, App Lab titles will also soon be featured in a dedicated section. A new spatial app framework is also under development, aiming to help mobile developers create mixed reality experiences.
