Meta aims to make Quest 3's room scanning more automatic
Meta wants to automate Meta Quest's room scanning to eliminate one of the biggest friction points in using mixed reality.
Meta has released a new version of the Meta XR Core SDK yesterday, and the 72.0 release notes contain an interesting notice for developers.
"We are on a path to remove the user’s capability to edit the space settings in 2025, so developers should work to reduce dependency on this feature as it is incompatible with our vision of high-reliable scans that just work even when the scenes change."
VR enthusiast Luna was the first to spot this notice.
With Meta Quest 3 and 3S, rooms can be scanned using the integrated depth sensor. The resulting 3D room mesh is then available for mixed reality apps. The room scan can be initialized manually under Settings > Environment setup > Space setup.
If furniture is moved or something else changes in the room, the scan must be edited manually, or the room must be rescanned from scratch. Both of these options are inconvenient for casual users.
Horizon OS update 71, which was released in late 2024, should have introduced a feature that would have allowed users to resume a room scan without having to scan the room from scratch, with automatic updates to the room layout and furniture. However, this feature does not appear to have been rolled out yet. In the release notes of the latest Meta XR Core SDK, Meta seems to refer to this feature ("Scan Resume"), suggesting that it is still planned.
Meta's note to developers also suggests that major changes to Meta Quest 3 and 3S space scanning are planned for 2025, and that the process will be somehow automated so that no editing is required.
It would be ideal if the devices could scan the room in the background from time to time and automatically adjust the 3D room mesh and furniture without manual user intervention. Apple Vision Pro already offers this type of functionality.
Interested in VR and AR? Then follow us on Facebook or X or share your experience in the comments. For feedback, topic suggestions, or other ideas, please email us at hello@mixed-news.com.
Note: Links to online stores in articles can be so-called affiliate links. If you buy through this link, MIXED receives a commission from the provider. For you the price does not change.
