Meta has taken a significant stride in diversifying its social VR platform, Horizon Worlds, by launching a closed beta on Android mobile devices, marking a departure from its Quest-exclusive roots.
Unlike traditional app store releases, Horizon Worlds isn’t available on Google Play. Instead, participants in the closed beta can directly access the app via the Quest Android app.
Among the privileged beta testers is Lunayian, an X (formerly Twitter) user, who showcased a brief hands-on experience within the Super Rumble lobby—a first-party hero shooter from Meta that was unveiled in the previous month.
One noticeable distinction between Quest users and Android mobile device users in Horizon Worlds lies in the visual representation of avatars. While scripted avatar animations remain consistent, the latter group’s avatars lack legs, setting them apart as floating torsos. This disparity highlights a potential area for improvement until Meta decides to bridge the gap.
The rollout of access to Horizon Worlds via web browsers remains uncertain as well. The beta’s FAQ mentions plans to extend platform availability to iOS devices through Safari, along with browser compatibility for Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge on laptops and desktops. However, specific timelines for these expansions are yet to be disclosed.
As of now, the standard geolocation restrictions continue to apply to Horizon Worlds. Only users located in certain countries, including Canada, France, Iceland, Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have access to the platform.
Once Horizon Worlds becomes accessible in more regions and across various platforms, it is poised to vie more effectively with established metaverse applications like Rec Room, Roblox, and VR Chat. The success of these platforms has been attributed to their availability on a wide range of platforms, encompassing both virtual reality headsets and traditional devices. Meta seems intent on replicating this achievement with Horizon Worlds by offering compelling first-party content, such as the engaging Super Rumble.
Expect further insights into new features within Horizon Worlds at Meta’s upcoming annual Connect developer conference, slated for September 27th. The conference will be streamed online and held in-person for a select audience at Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters.
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