Meta Halts Horizon VR Headsets for Third-Party Makers
▼ Summary
– Meta has paused its program to license its Horizon OS (formerly Quest OS) VR operating system to other hardware companies like Lenovo and Asus.
– The program, announced in April 2024, was intended to increase consumer choice and expand the developer ecosystem for VR.
– Meta is now focusing its efforts on developing its own first-party hardware and software to advance the VR market.
– The company has delayed its “Phoenix” mixed reality glasses and is beginning work on a new Quest device.
– Meta is reportedly shifting some investment from the metaverse toward AI glasses and wearables, which may include budget cuts.
Meta has temporarily suspended its initiative to license its virtual reality operating system to third-party hardware manufacturers. This strategic pause shifts the company’s focus back to developing its own first-party hardware and software, aiming to solidify its position in the competitive VR market. The decision marks a notable change in direction from the open-platform strategy announced just months ago.
The program, initially unveiled in April 2024, involved licensing the Quest OS, rebranded as Horizon OS, to partners like Lenovo and Asus. The stated goal was to foster a more expansive ecosystem, offering consumers greater choice and providing developers with a larger platform. In a promotional video at the time, CEO Mark Zuckerberg framed the move as an effort to let an open model define the next wave of computing, encompassing the metaverse, smart glasses, and headsets.
However, that outward-facing strategy has now been put on hold. A company spokesperson confirmed the pause, stating the priority is now on creating “world-class first-party hardware and software” to advance the VR sector. While Meta remains committed to the long-term vision, opportunities for third-party partnerships will be revisited only as the market matures further.
This recalibration occurs alongside other significant internal shifts at Meta. Recent reports indicate the company has delayed the launch of its mixed reality glasses, internally called “Phoenix,” pushing the release from late 2026 to early 2027. Development is also underway on a new iteration of the Quest headset. Financially, Meta is reportedly preparing to cut up to one-third of its metaverse budget next year, reallocating some of those resources toward artificial intelligence projects, including AI-powered glasses and other wearables. This reflects a broader strategic pivot within the company as it balances its ambitious metaverse investments with the surging demand for AI technologies.
(Source: The Verge)
