Meta has decided to halt its program that allowed other hardware companies to license its VR operating system for building their own headsets, according to a report by Road to VR.
Initially announced in April 2024, the program involved Meta licensing the Quest OS (now renamed Horizon OS) to manufacturers like Lenovo and Asus. This move was aimed at providing consumers with more options and creating a larger developer ecosystem. CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed the company’s vision of shaping the future of computing through an open model, particularly in the realm of the metaverse, glasses, and headsets.
However, Meta has decided to pause the program to concentrate on enhancing its in-house hardware and software offerings. Meta spokesperson Johanna Peace stated to The Verge that they are dedicated to bolstering the VR market with their first-party products and will reassess opportunities for partnerships with third-party devices as the industry evolves.
Recent reports indicate that Meta has postponed the launch of its mixed reality glasses, codenamed “Phoenix,” from the second half of 2026 to the first half of 2027. Additionally, the company is working on a new Quest device and is considering reducing its metaverse budget by up to one-third next year. A Meta spokesperson mentioned a shift in investment focus towards A.I. glasses and wearables.
