Meta Horizon OS, the operating system that powers intuitive devices like the Meta Quest 3, is no longer exclusive to Meta’s devices.
In April 2024, Meta announced a new “open ecosystem strategy”. This means developers and device manufacturers can leverage the operating system to create virtual, mixed, and augmented reality experiences. The move highlights Meta’s desire to position its technology as the “Windows” of the spatial computing landscape, opening the door to endless innovation.
But what exactly is Meta Horizon OS, what will it mean for developers, hardware makers, and users?
What is Meta Horizon OS? The Basics
Meta Horizon OS is the mixed reality operating system that powers devices like the Meta Quest 3.
In a blog post published on April 22, 2024, Meta shared its vision for a new era of mixed reality development. The company announced that its operating system, Meta Horizon OS, would now be available worldwide for other hardware manufacturers and developers.
According to the company, this “open ecosystem” approach will improve accessibility to mixed reality devices and give users more options.
Meta says they chose the name to reflect their “vision” of a computing platform built on connectivity, user-friendliness, and innovation. The operating system combines the core technologies powering MR experiences with a suite of features focused on “social presence.”
Notably, while it didn’t always have the name “Meta Horizon OS”, the operating system is something Meta has been working on for a while. The complete operating system today is the result of a decade of work from Meta’s team. It’s a user-friendly computing platform with built-in technologies for inside-out tracking, high-resolution passthrough, scene understanding and more.
Interestingly, the operating system began with the mobile-first foundations of the Android Open Source Project, a solution that has generated mixed results for Meta in the past.
The Potential of Meta Horizon OS: What it Means for XR
Meta says its Horizon OS solution will give creators and developers access to a comprehensive suite of tools and frameworks for conveniently building mixed reality experiences. The solution even comes with built-in content discovery and monetization platforms, representing an excellent opportunity for new creators to join the mixed reality landscape.
Alongside access to a range of tools and frameworks, developers can leverage the Meta Horizon Store (previously the Meta Quest Store), which means software developers will have an easy way to bring their apps to more users worldwide.
What’s more, the ecosystem will allow developers to create a single Horizon OS product they can deploy across a wide range of devices, reducing the expense and time associated with designing dedicated solutions for different wearables.
Meta Horizon OS won’t just empower developers; it could also lead to greater adoption of mixed reality. The “social layer” powering Quest devices today will extend across the new open ecosystem. Users can take their avatars, content, identities, and even friend groups with them to other devices with ease.
Plus, because the social layer is made to bridge various platforms, it ensures users will be able to access a consistent “metaverse” experience across mobile and desktop devices too. They’ll even be able to access Meta’s companion app (the Meta Horizon app) on various pieces of hardware.
Companies Already Using Meta Horizon OS
Notably, while Meta Horizon OS is a fundamental part of Meta’s new “mixed reality open ecosystem,” it’s not completely open.
Every solution that uses Meta Horizon OS will still need to be approved by Meta, and currently, the company only supports specific hardware configurations. That means most of the new headsets developed with the OS will feature similar functionality, as they’ll need to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 or XR2+ Gen 2 processor chips.
Notably, this means that developers will need to find ways to differentiate their devices from the competition, potentially by focusing on things like comfort or display resolution. However, it also means there are unlikely to be many hardware integration issues to worry about.
So far, Meta has shared three examples of companies already using their open operating system to design new technologies. ASUS’s Republic of Gamers is using the system to design a new performance gaming headset. Microsoft is also partnering with Meta to develop a limited-edition Quest headset for the Xbox.
Elsewhere, Lenovo is drawing on its experience in helping to design the previous Oculus Rift S, to build a selection of mixed reality devices for learning, entertainment, and productivity.
Horizon OS and Meta’s Evolving App Ecosystem
Notably, Meta’s new approach to empowering partners extends further than most people realize. The company has also announced that it’s giving developers new and improved ways to reach their audience, removing the barriers between the Meta App lab and Horizon Store.
This means any developer who meets Meta’s standard content and technical requirements can add titles to the App Lab. This lab will also be promoted more heavily in a dedicated section of the Quest Store on all Meta devices.
Looking beyond virtual and mixed reality, Meta has also announced the development of a new spatial app framework, which will be included in Meta Horizon OS. This framework will help mobile developers create augmented and mixed-reality experiences, working alongside the tools developers already use.
Additionally, Meta says that Horizon OS will give users more choices on how to access apps. Headset and device users can leverage Steam Link, Air Link, and Xbox libraries through the same multi-faceted operating system. Meta has even invited Google to embed its Google Play store into the ecosystem.
Why Open Access to Meta Horizon OS?
So, why is Meta making it’s operating system available to everyone?
On a broad scale, this move has been on Meta’s roadmap for a while now. Meta’s leaders say they believe it’s important to ensure mixed reality is accessible to everyone, and opening its operating system to developers will help scale worldwide adoption.
Of course, the main reason behind Meta’s decision to open its ecosystem is likely that they want to access new revenue streams. The XR-focused “Reality Labs” branch of Meta’s ecosystem has been struggling for a while now, losing cash and facing a number of regulatory threats.
While Mark Zuckerberg has frequently championed extended reality and the metaverse as the future of technology, the Meta team has been hedging its bets. In the last year, the company has focused more on AI development than XR innovation.
Opening the Meta Horizon OS ecosystem to developers and creators gives Meta another opportunity to unlock additional revenue. Licensing Horizon OS to other companies for a fee will help minimize Meta’s current losses in the mixed reality landscape. However, it could also mean that Meta struggles to increase Quest sales in the future if new developers leverage their technology to create more competitive wearables.
The Potential Problems with the Open Ecosystem
Although Meta’s decision to open access to Meta Horizon OS could benefit users, developers, and even Meta’s profits, there are some potential risks. Already, John Carmack, the former Oculus CTO, has shared his concerns about the move.
He believes the initiative will disrupt Meta’s software development strategy. Carmack has also mentioned in the past that he thinks the Quest OS is messy and needs a total overhaul to thrive.
It’s difficult to know whether Meta has considered this feedback. However, Meta has announced that it’s introducing a UI overhaul later this year, which will likely coincide with the release of some of the first Meta Horizon OS headsets.
Ultimately, the XR leader will need a comprehensive strategy to ensure the Horizon OS solution is appealing to developers and creators and a significant source of revenue for Meta. They’ll need to create a selection of tools that make it easy to create bespoke applications, similar to Apple’s tools for iOS app development. They’ll also need to ensure there’s scope for new developers to compete in the mixed reality landscape, which may be harder than it seems.
The Evolution of the Mixed Reality Landscape
Despite numerous issues in the past, Meta remains a dominant player in the extended reality landscape. According to IDC data, the company was responsible for 60% of all the AR/VR devices sold in the final quarter of 2024. The company’s focus on delivering easy-to-use hardware and intuitive software means it can continue to compete even against more advanced devices.
For instance, the Apple Vision Pro is a major rival to the Meta Quest 3, but sales have struggled in recent months due to its high price tag. Opening access to the Meta Horizon OS could be risky, but it also ensures Meta can compete with other leaders in the XR space.
Already, Google, Apple, and Microsoft all offer access to operating systems that power XR solutions. However, few companies give organizations and developers full access to their operating systems.
Meta Horizon OS should give Meta a more effective way to retain its position at the forefront of the mixed reality landscape. It should also ensure developers and device manufacturers have more ways to reduce the barrier to entry for the evolving MR space.
For now, it seems that open-access Meta Horizon OS will benefit developers and mixed-reality device users. However, it remains to be seen whether this move will pay off for Meta and give the company more of an edge over its competition.