Meta Opens VR Headset 'Quest' OS... Aiming to Dominate the Ecosystem

Quest Operating System 'Horizon OS' Unveiled
Competitors Also Allowed to Use for Product Development
Aiming to Replicate Apple's Ecosystem Preemption Effect

Meta Platforms (Meta, formerly Facebook) announced on the 22nd (local time) that it will open the operating system (OS) of its virtual reality (VR) headset 'Quest' to external parties. This is interpreted as an effort to establish a VR and MR (mixed reality) technology ecosystem and secure a leading position.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, explained through Instagram on the same day, "Now other companies can also use Meta's OS to independently create headsets," adding, "We have partnered with ASUS, Lenovo, and others to develop new devices using 'Horizon OS.'"

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Horizon OS is the operating system that runs Quest, and ASUS's gaming brand ROG and Lenovo are developing gaming headsets and MR headsets for learning and entertainment, respectively, using this OS. Meta is also reportedly developing a new Quest headset model focused on gaming, inspired by Microsoft's (MS) Xbox gaming brand.

Following Meta, Apple released its 'Vision Pro' headset in February, signaling recent expansion trends in the VR and MR markets. Additionally, Google is known to be developing an Android platform for VR and MR devices.

Bloomberg News commented, "As more IT giants enter the market, Meta is advancing VR and MR development to stay ahead of its competitors," and evaluated that "Meta has long been committed to building its own devices and operating systems to reduce software dependency on competitors." While Vision Pro uses its own operating system, Vision OS, Facebook and Instagram mobile apps still rely on mobile operating systems from Apple and Google.

CEO Zuckerberg stated, "In the case of smartphones, Apple's closed ecosystem won the victory, but in the era of mixed reality, I believe a more open ecosystem is the best way to provide convenience and services to as many people as possible," adding, "The more devices connected to this new ecosystem, the more choices consumers and businesses worldwide will have, developers will have a wider range of hardware, and manufacturers will see an expanded consumer base."

Meanwhile, on the New York Stock Exchange that day, Meta's stock closed at $481.73, up 0.14% from the previous session.