Meta has announced the suspension of its program to license its VR operating system, now referred to as Horizon OS, to external hardware manufacturers. Initially introduced in April 2024, this initiative aimed to enable companies like Lenovo and Asus to create their own headsets using Meta’s platform. The company had characterized this program as a way to provide consumers with more options and to expand the ecosystem for developers.
A statement from Meta spokesperson Johanna Peace indicated that the company is refocusing its efforts on developing its own hardware and software for the VR market: “We have paused the program to focus on building the world-class first-party hardware and software needed to advance the VR market,” she stated. Peace also mentioned that as the VR category develops, Meta may reconsider opportunities for third-party partnerships in the future.
In a related development, the launch of Meta’s mixed reality glasses, codenamed “Phoenix,” has been postponed from the latter half of 2026 to the first half of 2027. Additionally, internal communications suggest that Meta is planning to initiate development on a new Quest device. Reports indicate that the company may be considering significant budget cuts to its metaverse initiatives, with plans to redirect investments towards AI-related glasses and wearables.
This strategic shift in focus raises questions about the future direction of Meta’s VR and mixed reality efforts, particularly in terms of the balance between first-party offerings and partnerships in an evolving market.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/846762/meta-vr-headsets-third-party-program-horizon-os