Meta Hits Pause on Third-Party VR Headsets from ASUS and Lenovo

Refocusing Efforts from VR to Smart Glasses

In the previous year, Meta made a significant announcement about expanding its VR platform to other headset manufacturers, such as ASUS and Lenovo. However, it appears that the company is now dialing back on this initiative, casting doubt on whether the planned third-party Horizon OS headsets will ever come to fruition.

Reports from 'Road to VR' indicate that the company has decided to 'pause' the program. Meta confirmed their strategy shift in a statement to Engadget, saying that their focus is now on developing premier in-house hardware and software essential for advancing the VR landscape. While ASUS and Lenovo have not made immediate comments, both companies have remained largely silent about their headsets since their initial announcement for a 2024 release. ASUS' design aimed for a high-performance gaming experience under the Republic of Gamers (ROG) banner, whereas Lenovo's intentions leaned towards a mixed reality device centered around productivity, learning, and entertainment.

This strategic pivot isn't entirely unexpected. At this year's Meta Connect event, virtual reality news was notably scarce as the company has increasingly prioritized smart glasses. Earlier in the month, Bloomberg highlighted that Meta plans to significantly downsize teams involved in virtual reality and the Horizon Worlds project. The firm has stated that it is reallocating some investments from the Metaverse towards AI glasses and wearable technology, driven by their growing influence.

Nevertheless, Meta suggests that third-party VR collaborations might still be possible in the future. 'Our commitment to this sector remains strong, and we'll explore future third-party device partnerships as the market develops,' the company expressed.