Meta Quest: Completely revamped streaming app hints at bigger plans
The Quest streaming app has been given a completely new user interface, with which Meta is catering to a new target group.
Meta's outdated streaming app for movies, series and immersive content.
(Image: tobe)
The app, simply called "TV", has been the place to go for passively consumed media on Meta Quest for many years: in addition to immersive videos in monoscopic and stereoscopic 180 and 360 degrees, it also featured rendered content from Meta's VR animation platform "Theater Elsewhere" as well as the occasional 2D and 3D film in classic rectangular format. After years of stagnation, Meta has now completely revamped the VR app.
The new version has a clearer user interface and focuses more on films and series from streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube. The app acts as a hub: if you select a media offering, the respective streaming app opens instead of integrating content directly.
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In addition to flat content, there is also immersive content to watch. The library now largely comprises productions from Meta and Meta partners, while content creators are left behind: Meta notified them a few months ago that their content would be deleted from the platform in September and recommended migrating the immersive videos to YouTube. The rendered content from "Theater Elsewhere", most of which is created by individual artists, is not affected and is still available in the app.
Meta sets its sights on media consumers
With the fundamentally overhauled app, which is geared towards a traditional media offering, Meta is responding to what it says is a rapidly growing user group of mainstream consumers who see Quest as an extension of their TV. They use the device predominantly for media consumption and entertainment. Meta expects this audience to become a major player in its own VR ecosystem by early 2027.
According to reports in the Wall Street Journal, The Information and other specialist media, Meta is working on a particularly lightweight and compact VR headset designed for media consumption that will tap into this trend. According to the Wall Street Journal, Meta has approached Disney, the film studio A24 and smaller production companies, among others, for exclusive content. The multi-year partnership with James Cameron's Lightstorm Vision is also likely to serve the same purpose: to produce attractive content for the new device and older Quest headsets.
It is possible that we will learn more about Meta's plans in this direction at Meta Connect on Thursday. According to previous reports, the VR glasses are not expected until 2026 at the earliest.
(dahe)
