Meta has unveiled Horizon TV, a new entertainment hub built into its Quest VR headsets. The service was announced during the Meta Connect 2025 keynote. Horizon TV aggregates streaming content from services like Prime Video, Peacock, and Disney+’s Hulu and ESPN bundles, allowing users to access all in one place via their Quest device.
Key Features of Horizon TV
- Streaming aggregation: Brings together multiple streaming platforms in a unified interface. The Verge
- Curated content tabs: Includes categories like movies, TV shows, immersive content, sports, music, “watchlist” etc.
- 3D and immersive experiences: Horizon TV aims to support “immersive” content, with Meta partnering with studios such as Universal Pictures and Blumhouse for special 3D-effects movies.
- Audio & visual enhancements: Dolby Atmos supported at launch; Dolby Vision is planned later in the year.
Why It Matters
- Improved user experience: For Quest headset users, Horizon TV reduces friction—no need to switch between many apps; everything is under one roof.
- Strengthening Meta’s VR ecosystem: Adds value to Quest devices. More compelling for entertainment users, not just for gaming or metaverse/social experiences.
- Competitive positioning: Meta is designing Horizon to compete with other VR/AR platforms and streaming devices by offering richer content integrations.
- Push for immersive media: With partnerships for 3D and immersive effects, Meta is emphasizing next-level storytelling and media consumption in virtual and mixed reality.
What’s Still Unclear
- Content availability by region: It’s not yet confirmed which countries will get full access to all content partners.
- Pricing / subscription model: Whether Horizon TV will require additional subscription fees, or if it will simply act as a hub for existing subscriptions.
- Hardware limitations: Quest headset capabilities (screen resolution, processing power) will affect how immersive and visually impressive the 3D/immersive content will be.
- Release timings: Some features (e.g. Dolby Vision) and content partnerships likely to roll out later; not all will be available immediately.
The Big Picture: Meta’s Entertainment Strategy
Meta has been steadily expanding beyond VR gaming and social metaverse experiences into more general entertainment uses for its Quest platform. Horizon TV is part of that broader push—making video streaming, immersive media, and content consumption a stronger pillar of the Quest ecosystem. By doing so, Meta may increase retention of users who might otherwise use VR only occasionally for gaming, and make its hardware more attractive to media-consumers.
This shift also reflects the larger industry trend of convergence: VR/AR platforms becoming all-purpose media devices—not just for interaction or games but for movies, TV, immersive cinema, etc.
