Meta paves the way for more 2D and spatial apps on Quest
Meta opens the Horizon Store for 2D apps and provides a new development framework for Quest with the Meta Spatial SDK.
Meta announced at Meta Connect 2024 that developers can now publish their web and mobile apps as 2D apps on the Horizon Store. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), native Android apps and apps developed using the newly announced Meta Spatial SDK are supported.
As usual, 2D apps appear as panels that can be freely moved, resized or expanded to a full theatre-sized screen.
Developers can port their applications or add platform-specific spatial features using the new Meta Spatial SDK.
"Users want to stay connected with their favorite apps while they’re in MR, and we’re committed to providing the right set of tools to help you easily bring your web and mobile apps to Meta Horizon OS," writes Meta.
Meta Spatial SDK: A new development framework for Quest apps
Meta also announced the Meta Spatial SDK, which allows developers to create "spatial apps" without relying on Unity and Unreal Engine.
"Meta Spatial SDK is a Kotlin-based set of accessible APIs that enables you to use the Android development languages, tools, and libraries you’re familiar with to build completely new immersive apps or take existing mobile apps and enhance them by adding spatial features," writes Meta.
More information can be found in the following two video presentations.
It is surprising that Meta is only now trying to lower the barriers for web and mobile developers to bring their apps to the Quest ecosystem and encourage the development of spatial apps. The rethink is linked to Quest 3 and the release of Vision Pro. According to Meta, over 60 percent of Quest 3 users are using the browser and panels. And Apple's headset natively supports more than 1.5 million iOS and iPad mobile apps. So the timing of these initiatives is understandable.
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