The Meta Horizon Retailer now accepts 2D Android apps, which may convey extra apps and providers to the platform.
This implies builders of current apps on the Google Play Retailer or different Android app shops can convey their app to Quest headsets with no need so as to add any particular help for the expertise.
These apps may be run alongside different 2D apps and home windows in Horizon OS, and even introduced up inside immersive apps and video games.
Meta CTO: We Requested Google To Convey Play Retailer To Quest
Meta’s CTO says Google declined a request to convey its Play Retailer to Quest.
Meta says it has requested Google on a number of events to convey the Play Retailer to Horizon OS, however Google apparently refused. Google is probably going holding it for its personal Android XR platform, which is able to launch subsequent yr in Samsung’s blended actuality headset. Meta can be hoping it may persuade sufficient builders to convey their apps over to the Horizon Retailer earlier than then.
A significant roadblock nonetheless is that many 2D Android apps depend on Google Play Providers, which is not out there on Horizon OS. Meta says that later this yr it should launch a 2D Android model of its Platform SDK which provides among the identical options as Google Play Providers, similar to authentication and in-app funds. Integrating this may take effort and time for builders, although, which can put them off porting their 2D apps to Quest.
Meta Spatial SDK Lets Builders Simply Construct Quest Apps
Meta Spatial SDK lets builders simply construct apps for Quest’s Horizon OS with conventional cell improvement instruments, and not using a recreation engine.
Builders also can prolong their 2D apps into 3D area and add help for blended actuality options utilizing the brand new Meta Spatial SDK, however utilizing it is not obligatory to convey a 2D app to Horizon OS.
