Reports have surfaced indicating that LG is halting its collaboration with Meta in developing an extended reality (XR) device, intended to rival Apple’s Vision Pro headset. The joint venture, announced just three months ago, is said to have hit a roadblock due to a perceived lack of “synergy” between the two companies.
Despite claims of a complete breakdown in the Meta partnership, LG has refuted these allegations, stating that it will continue the collaboration but at a slower pace. The products envisioned to come out of this partnership were supposed to merge Meta’s mixed reality platform with LG’s TV business offerings, with possible on-device AI integration through Meta’s language models.
Speculation is rife regarding the status of the joint project, with conflicting reports suggesting a potential 2027 release date instead of the earlier expected timeframe. Furthermore, there are whispers that LG may be exploring a new partnership with Amazon for a different XR headset, leveraging Amazon Prime’s extensive content library and subscriber base.
The apparent turbulence in the LG-Meta partnership comes at a time when Meta is grappling with significant financial losses in its AR and VR divisions. Reality Labs, Meta’s subsidiary focused on such technologies, has reportedly been burning through funds at an alarming rate. Despite these challenges, Meta remains committed to expanding its ecosystem and product offerings, anticipating further losses in the coming year.
The uncertainty surrounding LG’s XR endeavors mirrors broader challenges facing the VR/AR industry as a whole. Consumer interest in these technologies appears to be waning, posing additional hurdles for companies like Meta, LG, and others in the space as they seek to drive innovation and adoption.
The future of LG’s involvement in the XR sector remains uncertain, with conflicting reports, financial challenges, and shifting partnerships painting a complex picture of the industry’s current landscape. As the tech giants continue to navigate these obstacles, only time will reveal the ultimate trajectory of their XR ambitions.
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