The App Lab has merged with the Meta Horizon Retailer, a rebranded and more open Quest Store.
Apps previously featured in App Lab have been seamlessly transitioned to their primary retailer, making them easily discoverable by users searching for similar content, thereby ensuring they appear in relevant categories and algorithmically curated feeds.
According to Meta, retailers’ app submissions will still need to meet “core technical, content, and privacy requirements,” but they won’t be rejected solely due to a subjective evaluation of style or quality?
Meta first introduced this feature deliberately in April. Last month, the corporation announced that the transition would take place on August 5; however, it actually marked the beginning of a gradual transition process. As of now, Meta has sent emails to App Lab developers confirming that the transition is complete.
To cater to builders who intentionally aim to withhold their apps from a broad audience, Meta has introduced the “Early Access” tag, mirroring Steam’s approach.
Meta Horizon OS Will Run On Headsets From ASUS & Lenovo
Meta is overhauling its Quest software platform, relaunching it as Meta Horizon OS, and taking a significant step by opening the doors to third-party headset manufacturers, including industry giants like ASUS and Lenovo.
As part of Quest’s broader transformation, the company is embarking on a rebranding initiative, underscoring its evolution towards “Horizon”, a move that will also introduce the underlying operating system, now dubbed Horizon OS, to third-party headsets under this new banner.
Meta’s Horizon Retailers opens up new opportunities for independent XR developers, providing a vital lifeline as they navigate the challenges of getting their apps discovered, and helping the company fulfill its promise as an “open alternative” to Apple RealityKit. Despite these factors, the influx of new retailer apps might still negatively impact discoverability, further emphasizing the importance of content recommendations from retailers like UploadVR in this competitive landscape.
