Mark Zuckerberg claims Quests will nonetheless be the most well-liked headsets after Horizon OS is offered to 3rd events.
Should you one way or the other missed the large Meta information this week: Horizon OS is the brand new identify for the Quest system software program, which Meta can even make out there to third-party headset makers, beginning with ASUS, Lenovo, and probably LG too.
When asserting the information Meta confirmed it should proceed to make Quest headsets. Mark Zuckerberg instructed traders third-party headsets will likely be focused round particular use circumstances, and that he thinks Meta’s first-party Quests will stay the most well-liked headsets “as we see at the moment”. Meta has bought greater than 20 million Quest headsets up to now.
Meta Horizon OS Will Run On Headsets From ASUS & Lenovo
Meta is rebranding its Quest software program platform to Meta Horizon OS and opening it as much as third-party headset makers, together with ASUS and Lenovo.
This strongly suggests that almost all (if not all) third-party Horizon OS headsets will likely be priced increased than Quest headsets. And this may make sense. As John Carmack identified earlier this week, Quest headsets are priced with out the intention of constructing a {hardware} revenue, as a result of Meta could make this again with its lower of content material gross sales on the platform. Different headset makers will not have this extra income stream, so should make their revenue on the {hardware} itself.
On Instagram Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth stated he sees Meta’s first-party Quests as being “probably the most normal goal” headsets, whereas different firms will construct headsets for “devoted communities who care much more a couple of particular mixture of options”.
Earlier this week Zuckerberg listed the sort of third-party Horizon OS headsets he can “think about” rising:
- “A light-weight headset that pairs along with your pc in your desk to offer the perfect work expertise.”
- A headset “absolutely centered on immersive leisure like watching films and movies with the best decision OLED screens.”
- A headset “absolutely optimized for gaming with assist for all types of various peripherals and haptics.”
- A headset “designed for train that is extra-light with sweat-wicking supplies”.
Whereas it is doable some headset makers may goal a few of these use circumstances by delivering lower-end {hardware} than Quest 3, it appears extra possible they’re going to as an alternative use extra and/or higher-spec parts or extra expensive designs to focus on a smaller viewers with the next worth that features a {hardware} margin. This might embrace exterior or rear batteries, eye and/or face monitoring sensors, extra or higher cooling followers, or micro-OLED shows.
Thus far solely ASUS and Lenovo have confirmed making Horizon OS headsets. ASUS stated it should launch a “efficiency gaming headset” beneath its Republic of Avid gamers (ROG) model, whereas Lenovo says it should launch a line of headsets centered on “productiveness, studying, and leisure”. We’ll maintain a detailed eye out for any additional specifics later this 12 months.
