After years of frenzied speculation and eager anticipation, it appears that consumers may finally be able to get their hands on Apple’s long-awaited AR/VR headset sometime in late 2023. News of the mysterious mixed-reality headset’s pending release comes just days following the announcement of a new HTC headset with AR functionality at CES 2023.
Years before the Meta Quest 2 became the gateway to the world of VR gaming for millions of players worldwide, Apple had already announced plans to develop a mixed-reality headset that would take the Cupertino company’s experience in hardware and software design and apply it to the augmented and virtual reality market. As plans to release the device to consumers by 2019 failed to materialize, Meta Quest headsets began to dominate the consumer VR market buoyed by the growing popularity of VR gaming. While companies like Magic Leap have attempted to bring AR to the mainstream with products like its Magic Leap 2, and Meta features AR functionality in marketing for the Quest Pro, no company has yet had success in releasing a mass-market AR device, a trend that Apple hopes to change.
According to a new Bloomberg report by author Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to release its mixed-reality headset to consumers in fall 2023. The high-performance Apple headset, reportedly powered by the same M1 chip found in the company’s MacBook Pro laptops, is slated to launch with a custom-made operating system and a new App Store for mixed-reality apps. The Bloomberg report states that the mixed-reality headset is set to be unveiled ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, with a release date scheduled for later in the fall. According to the report, “a small number of high-profile software developers” have already received units for testing and have begun developing apps for the device.
While the new headset is unlikely to have much to offer those interested in playing AAA VR games given previous reports that the device will primarily focus on productivity apps and casual experiences, Apple’s AR/VR device is sure to influence future headsets from the company’s competitors. If Apple is able to release their mixed-reality headset, reportedly named Reality Pro and running on Apple’s proprietary “Borealis” OS, later this year, its arrival in the marketplace could spell trouble for companies like Meta as they rush to respond to the powerful new competition.
For consumers disappointed with the often slow pace of advancement in AR and VR devices, Apple’s entry into the market alongside new gaming headsets like Sony’s PSVR 2 will likely be welcome news. But given Apple’s long history of opposing open standards, which are just now being established and adopted by many AR and VR developers, a successful Apple headset could end up being a mixed blessing for gamers if it diverts development resources away from other platforms.
Source: Bloomberg