This matters now because developers and smaller device makers had been planning launches and SDK work tied to Horizon access. What this sudden Horizon OS pause means for headset makers in 2025Meta paused Horizon OS sharing on Dec 17, 2025; third‑party access is now uncertain. With IDC forecasting a 39.2% rise in AR/VR shipments in 2025, platform access is the difference between a device that ships with apps and one that struggles for traction. Buyers may see fewer Horizon‑enabled devices in 2025, and developers lose a unified target for optimization. If Meta reopens Horizon access quickly, some launches may recover, but a prolonged pause hands advantage to rivals like Google or Samsung developing alternate stacks.

Source: New York Times December 27, 2025 05:52 UTC