Facebook's VR App: A Breakthrough in Virtual Reality

Facebook's Evolution in Virtual Reality

Facebook's path to establishing virtual reality has been lengthy and complex. Despite varying degrees of success in attracting a broad user base for VR technology, the company has consistently developed impressive hardware throughout this process.

Interestingly, while Facebook has excelled in refining the hardware and operating system of its Oculus devices – areas previously outside its expertise – it has historically faced challenges in creating compelling VR applications.

Past Attempts at Social VR

Over the years, the company has launched several social VR applications. Although each possessed certain merits, none achieved sufficient success to prevent eventual discontinuation.

Beyond the limited number of VR users with friends who also own VR headsets, a primary obstacle for these social apps was a lack of a compelling reason for users to engage with them. While features like 360-degree video viewing and virtual board games offered initial novelty, it took considerable time for Facebook to realize that a dedicated “social” application wasn’t the key.

Users weren’t necessarily seeking a standalone social app, but rather immersive experiences enhanced by social interaction.

Introducing Horizon Workrooms

This leads to the demonstration Facebook presented this week: Horizon Workrooms, a workplace application launching in open beta for Quest 2 users today.

The application is designed to provide a virtual reality environment for remote employees to collaborate. Users can connect their Mac or PC to Workrooms and stream their desktop to the app. The Quest 2’s passthrough cameras enable users to utilize their physical keyboards.

Horizon Workrooms facilitates communication through avatars, file sharing, photo exchange, and collaborative drawing on a virtual whiteboard. Had it been released earlier in the pandemic, it would have garnered even more attention, but it still addresses a significant need for tech solutions that foster meaningful collaboration in remote work settings.

A Thoughtful Approach to Social Communication

Horizon Workrooms isn’t strictly a social application, but its approach to social communication within VR is more considered than any other first-party social VR app developed by Facebook.

The spatial elements are less conspicuous and gimmicky than those found in many VR applications, instead enhancing an already effective functional experience that, at times, proved more productive and engaging than conventional video conferencing.

The Metaverse Vision

This development aligns with CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s recent announcement of Facebook’s transition into a “metaverse company.”

What constitutes the metaverse? According to Zuckerberg, “It’s a virtual environment where you can be present with people in digital spaces. You can kind of think of this as an embodied internet that you’re inside of rather than just looking at.”

This represents a substantial shift for Facebook, which has traditionally viewed AR/VR as distinct from its mobile applications. Historically, desktop and VR users have operated in separate ecosystems.

Scaling Oculus and the Roblox Comparison

Facebook has generally approached Oculus development as if building the next generation of smartphones, focusing on a native app paradigm. However, Zuckerberg’s vision of the “metaverse” more closely resembles the direction Roblox has been pursuing.

Horizon Workrooms operates under the Horizon brand, which appears to be central to Facebook’s metaverse strategy. The VR social platform remains in closed beta, nearly two years after its initial announcement.

If Facebook successfully realizes its vision for Horizon, it could evolve into a Roblox-like hub featuring user-generated games, activities, and communities, replacing the traditional mobile app model with a more dynamic social experience.

A Promising Sign

The refinement evident in Workrooms is a positive indication of Facebook’s potential future direction.