January 29, 2024 – In a recent development, Meta is reportedly pinning its hopes on Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset to bolster its virtual reality (VR) endeavors and rejuvenate its $50 billion metaverse venture.
According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Meta executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, are optimistic about the launch of Vision Pro, believing it will “validate” their current offerings and “entice a broader consumer base.”
The report suggests that Meta staffers view Quest and its software ecosystem as the “primary alternative” to Apple in this domain, akin to Android’s standing in the smartphone market. Both Meta executives and industry insiders anticipate that the crucial battleground for future competition will be among software developers, with the creation of apps that can captivate a wider user base emerging as the deciding factor.
It’s worth noting that while Vision Pro hasn’t hit the shelves yet, it has already influenced Meta’s strategic approach. Reportedly, Meta is now focusing more on mixed reality technology, which overlays virtual imagery onto real-world environments. This shift marks a considerable departure from its previous emphasis on the purely virtual “metaverse” concept.
Apple executives have historically been critical of the so-called “metaverse.” Greg Joswiak has stated that he would never use the term “metaverse,” while Tim Cook has questioned whether “the average person can even tell you what the metaverse is.”
