Meta Quest has rolled out its v57 update, marking a significant enhancement in user experience for VR enthusiasts. This update, although a bit more subtle compared to its predecessor, brings forth a slew of features and improvements, focusing on avatar customization, user interface rebranding, and a refined approach to mixed reality apps.
Expanded Avatar Customization:
The v57 update introduces an enhanced Meta Avatar editor, allowing users to fine-tune various aspects of their avatars, such as hair and eyebrow color, skin tone, and the addition of makeup and face paint. This enhancement aims to enable users to create avatars that are a closer reflection of their real-life appearances. However, it is noteworthy that the anticipated addition of legs to the Meta Avatars, seen in the Public Test Channel build of v57, is not mentioned for the public build.
Introducing Horizon Feed:
Meta has rebranded the default interface tab, previously known as Explore, to ‘Horizon Feed’. This feature, which activates upon turning on the headset, will now emphasize promoting Horizon Worlds more prominently, showcasing suggested popular apps, destinations, and the recently released first-party Super Rumble FPS. The Horizon Feed is expected to coexist with the Contact list, which will also appear upon booting the headset, although the dynamics of their interaction remain unclear.
Redefining Boundaries in Mixed Reality Apps:
The Guardian boundary, a crucial feature ensuring user safety in virtual reality by preventing them from leaving their play space or colliding with obstacles, undergoes a transformation in the v57 update. Meta has enabled the removal of the Guardian boundary in some mixed reality apps, allowing for a more immersive and uninterrupted experience as users can already perceive their surrounding environment in these apps. The specifics regarding which apps will incorporate this feature and whether this is a part of a closed beta SDK provided to select developers are yet to be disclosed.
A Glimpse into the Future:
This update is a precursor to the much-anticipated launch of Quest 3 at Meta Connect. The upcoming headset is speculated to introduce a ‘Smart Guardian’, leveraging the 3D environment mesh generated by the depth sensor, potentially rendering the current Guardian boundary obsolete.
The Meta Quest v57 update, although not as feature-packed as some of its predecessors, is a step forward in refining the user experience in the Meta Quest ecosystem. From enhanced avatar customization to the introduction of Horizon Feed and the refined approach to mixed reality apps, Meta Quest continues to push the boundaries in the VR gaming world, setting the stage for more revolutionary features in the upcoming Quest 3.
