Meta has introduced a new experimental multitasking feature for its Quest headsets in the latest public test release v69, which significantly enhances the functionality of Horizon OS. This update allows users to remain fully immersed in a VR application while simultaneously interacting with a 2D window, bringing a new level of flexibility and usability to the VR experience.
The feature was tested on both Quest 3 and Quest Pro headsets, demonstrating its potential to enhance multitasking within the VR environment.
This multitasking capability means that users can engage in multiple activities at once, such as playing a flat-screen game or watching a stream while waiting for other players in a multiplayer game.
Additionally, users can control external devices like RC cars or drones using sideloaded Android packages while still engaged in a VR game. This expands the practical uses of Quest headsets, making them more versatile tools for both entertainment and utility.
A practical demonstration of this feature was shown using the Quest Pro, where the game Demeo was run alongside Meta’s Remote Display Beta, which streamed the Delta emulator from a local Mac.
This demonstrates how Quest headsets can now potentially run emulators and other sideloaded apps, similar to the experience on Apple Vision Pro. The ability to multitask in this way significantly enriches the VR experience, making it more comparable to traditional PC-based VR systems.
For specific scenarios, such as puzzle games, this multitasking feature is particularly useful, allowing users to pull up tutorial videos or guides without leaving their VR session. For professional uses, such as virtual meetings or broadcasts, this feature enables users to access and share research materials, videos, and articles in real-time, enhancing productivity within the virtual space.
Currently, this multitasking feature is available as an experimental option within the latest Public Test Channel v69, and while it is still in development, it marks an important step forward for Meta’s Horizon OS.
The gradual rollout of this feature reflects its experimental nature, but it also aligns Meta’s headsets with the capabilities seen in PC-based VR systems, showing the platform’s progress towards supporting a wider range of applications and use cases within the VR ecosystem.
