Today, we’re taking a major step toward our vision for a more open computing platform for the metaverse. We’re opening up the operating system that powers our Meta Quest devices to third-party hardware makers, giving developers a larger ecosystem to build for and ultimately creating more choices for consumers. This platform is the product of a decade of investment into the underlying technologies that enable mixed reality, and opening it up means a lot more people will benefit from that investment. We’re working with leading global technology companies to create a new ecosystem of mixed-reality devices, and we’re making it even easier for developers to build mixed-reality apps.
We believe a more open
ecosystem is the best way to bring the power of mixed reality to as many people
as possible. With more devices, this new ecosystem will offer more choices to
consumers and businesses around the world. Developers will have a much larger
range of hardware that can run their apps, and more device makers will expand
their market to a wider range of users, much like we’ve seen with PCs and
smartphones.
Introducing Meta Horizon OS
This new hardware
ecosystem will run on Meta Horizon OS, the mixed-reality operating system
that powers our Meta Quest headsets. Meta Horizon OS combines the core
technologies that power today’s mixed reality experiences with a suite of
features that put social presence at the centre of the platform.
Meta Horizon OS is
the result of a decade of work at Meta to build a next-generation computing
platform. To pioneer standalone headsets, we developed technologies like
inside-out-tracking and self-tracked controllers. To allow for more natural
interaction systems and social presence, we pioneered hand, eye, face and body
tracking. For mixed reality, we built a full stack of technologies for
blending the digital and physical worlds, including high-resolution
Passthrough, Scene Understanding and Spatial Anchors. This long-term investment
that began on the mobile-first foundations of the Android Open Source Project
has produced a full mixed reality operating system used by millions of
people.
Developers and
creators can take advantage of all these technologies to create mixed reality
experiences. And they can reach their audiences and grow their businesses
through the content discovery and monetization platforms built into Meta
Horizon OS, including the Meta Quest Store, which we’ll rename the Meta Horizon
Store.
The social layer of
Meta Horizon OS means people’s identities, avatars, social graphs and friend
groups can move with them across virtual spaces, and developers can integrate
these social features into their apps. And because this social layer is made to
bridge multiple platforms, people can spend time together in virtual spaces
that exist across mixed reality, mobile and desktop devices. Meta Horizon OS
devices will also use the same mobile companion app that Meta Quest owners use
today, which we’ll rename to the Meta Horizon app.
A New Generation Of Hardware
Leading global
technology companies are already working to bring this new ecosystem to life
with new devices built on Meta Horizon OS:
·
ASUS’s Republic
of Gamers will use its expertise as a leader in gaming
solutions to develop an all-new performance gaming headset.
·
Lenovo will
draw on its experience co-designing Oculus Rift S, as well as deep expertise in
engineering leading devices like the ThinkPad laptop series, to develop mixed
reality devices for productivity, learning, and entertainment.
·
Xbox and
Meta teamed up last year to bring Xbox Cloud
Gaming (Beta) to Meta Quest, letting people play Xbox games on
a large 2D virtual screen in mixed reality. Now, we’re working together again
to create a limited-edition Meta Quest, inspired by Xbox.
All of these devices
will benefit from Meta’s long-term partnership with Qualcomm Technologies,
Inc., which builds the Snapdragon® processors that are tightly integrated with
our software and hardware stacks.
A More Open App Ecosystem
As we begin opening
Meta Horizon OS to more device makers, we’re also expanding the ways app
developers can reach their audiences. We’re beginning the process of removing
the barriers between the Meta Horizon Store and App Lab, which lets any
developer who meets basic technical and content requirements release software
on the platform. App Lab titles will soon be featured in a dedicated section of
the store on all our devices, making them easy for larger audiences to
discover.
We’re also
developing a new spatial app framework that helps mobile developers create
mixed-reality experiences. Developers will be able to use the tools they’re
already familiar with to bring their mobile apps to Meta Horizon OS or to
create entirely new mixed-reality apps.
Consumers and
developers alike will benefit from an ecosystem where multiple hardware makers
build on a common platform. We look forward to continuing on this journey to
bring mixed reality to more people.
https://about.fb.com/news/2024/04/introducing-our-open-mixed-reality-ecosystem/