The Flat App Dilemma: A Turning Point for Meta's XR Strategy

The battle to dominate the XR (extended reality) market is in full swing, with players like Meta, Google, and Apple leading the race. In this scenario, compatibility with flat apps — traditional 2D applications such as Spotify, TikTok or Discord — has become a decisive factor that could determine the success or failure of XR platforms. For Meta, whose strategy has historically focused on immersive apps, this approach poses an existential dilemma.

The value of flat apps in XR

While flat apps may not be the most exciting feature of an XR viewer, their presence has proven to be crucial in creating an engaging ecosystem. Apple has demonstrated this with its Vision Pro, which supports thousands of iPadOS applications in an XR format, integrating familiar tools into an innovative environment. Now, Google is looking to replicate this success with Android XR, allowing all apps in the Play Store to work natively on its XR devices.

Meta, on the other hand, faces a challenge: Horizon OS, its XR platform, lacks the massive support for flat apps that its rivals already have. While Horizon OS is technically compatible with Android, the lack of a consolidated library of 2D apps raises questions about its ability to compete.

Meta and Android XR: Who has the edge?

In terms of capabilities, both platforms have their strengths:

• Meta Horizon OS:It has the most comprehensive library of immersive apps, especially in XR games and interactive experiences.It has led the development of XR hardware with powerful headsets such as the Quest 3.
• Android XR:Supports all apps in the Play Store from launch.It makes it easy to access popular apps like Spotify, Google Maps, and YouTube, which already have millions of users.

The challenge for Meta is clear: while Horizon OS excels in gaming, mass adoption of XR will require much more than a library of immersive video games. As Apple and Google's experience points out, integration with the flat apps we already use daily is essential to attract new users.

The Problem with Flat Apps in Horizon OS

Meta faces significant barriers to including flat apps in Horizon OS. Although it is technically possible to port Android applications to Horizon OS, the problem is not in the adaptation process, but in the maintenance and support costs.

For large apps like TikTok or Snapchat, the effort required to maintain constant updates on a secondary platform like Horizon OS may not justify the economic benefit. On the contrary, Google, by leveraging its existing Android ecosystem, already has these apps ready to use on its XR system, giving Android XR a key competitive advantage.

The risk for Meta: becoming a gaming platform

Without a clear strategy to attract flat apps, Meta risks being perceived as a platform focused solely on immersive video games. This would limit its reach against rivals looking to build more complete XR computing platforms, capable of appealing to gamers, professionals and everyday users alike.

An example of this difference in approach is how Meta seeks to lead in XR gaming, while Google and Apple adopt a broader model, integrating productivity, entertainment, and communication into a single device.

What can Meta do?

To stay competitive, Meta could adopt several strategies:

1. Incentives for flat app developers: Offer grants or tools to facilitate the support of apps such as Spotify or TikTok in Horizon OS.
2. Ecosystem expansion: Integrate Horizon OS more closely with standard Android to facilitate the adoption of flat apps.
3. Focus on exclusive experiences: Develop content that combines flat apps and immersion, differentiating itself from Android XR and visionOS.

Conclusion: The importance of flat apps in XR strategy

The future of the XR doesn't just depend on having the best hardware or the most impressive immersive experiences. As Vision Pro has shown, a platform's ability to integrate familiar tools like flat apps is essential to its mass adoption.

Meta faces a critical challenge: competing with Android XR and visionOS to build a complete XR ecosystem. Without a robust library of flat apps, Quest headsets risk being relegated to immersive gaming consoles, as rivals move toward creating multifaceted XR computing platforms.

FAQs

What are flat apps in XR? They are traditional 2D applications, such as Spotify or Discord, adapted to work on XR devices.

Why are flat apps important for XR? They allow users to access everyday tools and services in an XR environment, extending the usefulness of the headset beyond entertainment.

How does Android XR affect Meta? Android XR offers compatibility with all apps in the Play Store, giving it an edge over Meta's Horizon OS, which lacks an extensive library of flat apps.

What advantage does Horizon OS have over Android XR? Horizon OS has the largest library of immersive apps, especially in games and virtual reality experiences.

Could Meta integrate flat apps easily? While technically feasible, the ongoing support of these apps represents a significant challenge in terms of resources and maintenance.

What does Meta need to compete with Android XR and visionOS? Develop a broader XR ecosystem that combines immersive experiences and flat apps, supported by Android integration and new partnerships.

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