Tech giant Meta announced that it is opening up the operating system that powers its Meta Quest devices to third-party hardware makers, aiming to expand the ecosystem for developers and offer more choices to consumers.

This new hardware ecosystem will run on Meta Horizon OS, the mixed reality operating system that powers Meta Quest headsets. This move will create a more open and diverse ecosystem for virtual reality (VR) devices, mirroring the approach Google took with its Android mobile operating system.

Meta Horizon OS combines core technologies for mixed reality experiences, focusing on features that enhance social interactions on the platform. This operating system is the result of Meta’s work on independent headsets. It incorporates inside-out tracking, self-tracked controllers, and advanced interaction systems such as hand, eye, face, and body tracking.

This operating system also integrates features for blending digital and physical worlds, such as high-resolution Passthrough, Scene Understanding, and Spatial Anchors.

Meta’s decision comes as the company seeks to expand the reach and adoption of its VR platform. By allowing other manufacturers to create devices running on Meta Horizon OS, Meta hopes to accelerate innovation and consumer choice in the VR market. 

Meta will partner with external hardware companies, including Lenovo, Microsoft and Asus, to build virtual reality headsets using the company’s Horizon operating system. This strategy could potentially lead to a wider variety of VR devices at different price points and with varying features, catering to a broader range of consumers.

The company is also developing a new spatial app framework for mobile developers in developing 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.

By reducing barriers between the Meta Horizon Store and App Lab, Meta is enhancing its app ecosystem. This change allows developers to release software on the platform more easily.