Recent reports have surfaced regarding LG’s decision to pause its partnership with Meta in developing an extended reality (XR) device. The joint venture, aimed at creating a device to rival Apple’s Vision Pro headset, was announced just three months ago. However, Korean news outlets are now suggesting that the collaboration has broken down due to a lack of synergy between the two companies. Despite these claims, LG has denied terminating the deal, stating that they are merely controlling the pace of the XR partnership.
The potential products from the LG-Meta collaboration were expected to integrate Meta’s Horizon Worlds mixed reality platform with LG’s TV content and service capabilities, with on-device AI integration also being explored. However, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the project’s current status. While Seoul Economic Daily suggests that the collaboration is still ongoing but aiming for a 2027 release, other publications hint at LG pursuing a new XR headset partnership with Amazon instead. This alleged shift in focus towards Amazon could leverage the e-commerce giant’s vast library of streaming content and extensive subscriber base.
The reported pause in LG’s partnership with Meta comes at a challenging time for the tech giant. Meta, previously Facebook, has been facing financial challenges in its AR and VR businesses, with reports indicating significant monthly losses. Reality Labs, Meta’s AR/VR division, has reportedly been burning through a billion dollars each month since June 2022. Despite these staggering losses, Meta remains undeterred, projecting further increases in losses year over year to support ongoing product development and ecosystem scaling efforts.
The uncertainty surrounding LG’s XR device partnership with Meta reflects broader challenges facing the VR/AR product industry as a whole. Consumer interest in virtual and augmented reality technologies appears to be waning, posing additional obstacles for companies operating in this space. As the industry grapples with shifting consumer preferences and evolving technological landscapes, partnerships and collaborations such as the one between LG and Meta become pivotal in driving innovation and market adoption.
While the future of LG’s extended reality device remains uncertain amidst reports of a partnership pause with Meta, the broader AR/VR industry continues to face financial and consumer-related challenges. The outcome of LG’s collaboration with Meta and its potential shift towards Amazon will likely impact the competitive landscape of the XR market and the strategies adopted by key players in the industry.
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