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On April 22, Meta announced the decision to open its Quest headset operating system to competitors for the first time, aiming to strengthen its presence in the burgeoning virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) markets.

Meta introduced Meta Horizon OS, the result of a decade-long effort to develop a next-generation computing platform. By sharing Meta Horizon OS, partner companies can create headsets with advanced features such as gesture recognition, high-resolution visual passthrough, scene understanding, and spatial anchors.

Meta noted that companies like ASUS and Lenovo will leverage the operating system to create devices customized for specific applications. Meta also unveiled a limited-edition Quest headset inspired by Microsoft's Xbox console. Previously, Xbox and Meta collaborated to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta) to Meta Quest.

Industry experts point out that Meta's goal is to establish a computing platform for VR and MR devices akin to Google's open-source Android for mobile. Meta stands to benefit as Horizon OS is built on Android.

Reports indicate that ASUS's ROG (Republic of Gamers) brand is developing a gaming headset, while Lenovo is creating an MR device, both using Horizon OS to enhance productivity, learning, and entertainment. According to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, these devices could take several years to launch.

Meta faces competition from Apple, which plans to release its Vision Pro headset in early 2024, priced from $3,499. Google is also developing an Android platform for VR and MR devices. In March, Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth criticized Google for imposing restrictive terms when promoting its operating system to partners, which could potentially fragment the ecosystem. In an April 22 video, Zuckerberg indicated that he would welcome Google Play apps on Meta Horizon OS devices if possible. Google did not respond to a request for comment.