Why Meta stopped sharing Horizon OS with third-party VR makers
18 Dec 2025

Meta has decided to pause its program of sharing the Meta Horizon OS, the mixed reality operating system that powers its Quest headsets, with third-party device makers.

The move is part of a shift in focus toward building first-party hardware and software solutions.

A spokesperson for the company said they are "committed to this for the long term" and will consider third-party partnerships as the category evolves.

Meta's initial vision for Horizon OS
Original plan

When the partner program was first announced last April, Meta had said that companies like ASUS and Lenovo were working on new hardware to run the company's software.

The idea behind this initiative was to create a "new generation of hardware" giving VR users more options for accessing Meta's digital worlds.

Horizon OS's capabilities and recent developments
Software features

Horizon OS was designed to provide "mixed reality experiences" and convey "social presence" through hand, body, eye, and face tracking.

However, in recent months, Meta has shown less interest in the metaverse as AI becomes a bigger focus for the company.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Reality Labs' metaverse group could face budget cuts of up to 30%.