At the Meta Connect conference on Wednesday, Meta promoted its Quest mixed reality platform to developers, positioning it as the next major app store. Meta stated that it is working to make it easier for mobile developers to transition to Meta's Horizon OS.
Meta Vice President Mark Rabkin announced that if developers can build applications for Android, they can also build applications for Meta Horizon OS using their preferred language and IDE. Meta's open store now supports 3D and spatial applications and has introduced the Meta Spatial SDK to help developers get started.
Image source: Meta
The SDK allows developers to use their traditional mobile applications and add native spatial features such as floating 3D objects, atmosphere, and immersive media. The new Meta Spatial Editor will also make it easier to add panoramic images and 3D spatial videos in the system's media viewer.
For 2D applications, Meta Horizon OS will also offer various features including resizing, cinema mode, spatial audio, background operation, multitasking, and handling all manual and controller inputs.
Meta itself has tested its new technology, using familiar tools (such as React Native) to build new Facebook and Instagram applications for Horizon OS. Since then, other developers who have tested the system include Amazon (for Prime Video and Amazon Music), Twitch, and more.
Meta noted that with the new SDK and other tools, existing mobile applications can also be ported to Horizon OS, which will help developers "speed up" their processes.