Meta is ‘pausing’ third-party VR headsets from ASUS and Lenovo

Last year, Meta announced that it was opening its VR operating system to other headset manufacturers, starting with ASUS and Lenovo. Now it looks like Meta is putting the brakes on its efforts and these third-party Horizon OS headsets may never launch.

The company has “suspended” the program, On the road to virtual reality reported. Meta confirmed the move in a statement to Engadget, saying it was instead focused on “building the world-class first-party hardware and software needed to advance the virtual reality market.” ASUS and Lenovo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both companies have said little about the headsets since they were first announced in 2024. ASUS’s was intended to be a “performance gaming” headset under its Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand, while Lenovo’s was intended to be a mixed reality device focused on “productivity, learning and entertainment” experiences.

The change is not entirely surprising. Meta Connect has been very light on VR news this year, as smart glasses have become a central focus of the company. Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Meta is planning significant reductions in teams working on VR and Horizon Worlds. The company said at the time that it was “shifting some of its investments from the Metaverse to AI glasses and wearables given the momentum there.”

Still, Meta appears to be leaving the door open for third-party VR headsets in the future. “We are in this for the long term and will revisit opportunities for partnerships with third-party devices as the category evolves,” the company said.