Meta's AI is once more advancing, marking a return of the virtual world, or otherwise known as the metaverse.
In a significant leap forward for virtual reality, Meta's latest updates to its Meta Quest headsets are turning them into all-encompassing entertainment and social hubs.
Starting with the highly anticipated Meta Connect 2025, users can now experience live events alongside other players, thanks to the integration of Horizon Central. This new feature provides a shared space where users can gather, chat, and enjoy events together, making virtual reality events feel more like real-life gatherings.
One of the standout additions to the Meta Quest headsets is the Horizon TV app, which brings a Google TV-like interface to the virtual world. The app simplifies streaming media, making it easy for users to access their favourite shows and movies. Moreover, it offers a unique feature: the ability to watch 3D content, including a 3D clip of Avatar: Fire and Ash, directly within the Horizon Worlds environment.
The Horizon TV app is not just about entertainment. Meta is also launching popular streaming services such as Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN on the app. These services are preinstalled on Meta Quest headsets, providing users with instant access to a vast library of content.
The social aspect of the Meta Quest headsets has also been enhanced. Users can now converse with each other in Horizon Worlds, making it easier to connect and interact. Moreover, apps and windows can be pinned to the walls in the Horizon Worlds environment, allowing for a more organised and customisable user experience.
The improvements don't stop there. The new Meta Horizon Engine, developed by Meta's internal development group associated with Meta Horizon, has been optimised for the metaverse. This engine powers the changes, improving graphics and making things load 4x faster. The engine also supports photorealistic worlds, which are launching soon and can be tried for free on Meta Quest headsets.
Perhaps one of the most exciting features is the ability to scan rooms and turn them into photorealistic worlds using the Hyperscape Capture. This feature allows users to bring their real-world environments into the virtual world, adding a new level of personalisation and immersion.
The updates to the Meta Quest headsets also include the linking of the "immersive home" environment to Horizon Worlds via Horizon Central. This means that users can now immediately access popular worlds from their headsets, making it easier than ever to jump into the action.
With these updates, Meta Quest headsets are becoming more than just devices for gaming. They are transforming into immersive, social, and entertainment hubs, offering users a new way to connect, interact, and enjoy their favourite media.
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