Meta Rebuffed Google Proposal For a VR and AR Tie-Up

Late last year, in a meeting between Google and Meta Platform staffers, Google suggested that Meta partner on Android XR, the new software platform Google is developing for virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed-reality headsets, according to a person involved in the talks.

The two companies had long been in regular contact over Meta’s Quest VR headsets. The devices run on an open-source version of Google’s Android operating system, modified by Meta. However, Google doesn’t let Meta offer the full range of Google apps on the headsets, despite frequent requests from Meta. If the Facebook parent partnered more formally on Android XR, Meta’s headset would get access to those apps, making the headsets more useful for a broader range of tasks, such as videoconferencing. A formal partnership could also involve Meta contributing to the development of Android XR, the person said.