Get ready for an exciting upgrade with the Meta Quest v81 update! This release is packed with features that will revolutionize your VR experience. The Horizon OS v81 is here, and it's all about immersion and convenience.
First up, say goodbye to those old, low-quality VR home environments. Meta is replacing them all with an Immersive Home, powered by the new Horizon Engine. This means a visually stunning and immersive space to call your own. And the best part? You can freely teleport or slide around, giving you more freedom to explore.
But here's where it gets controversial... Meta has unified the locomotion settings for both the home and Horizon Worlds. While this simplifies things, it also means third-party apps can't access these settings yet. Will this limit the potential for innovative VR experiences? We'll leave that for you to decide.
And this is the part most people miss: the new Immersive Home comes with an Instagram Window. Yes, you can now display your Instagram photos and videos in a large virtual frame on your wall. It's like having your own personal gallery in VR! This feature, along with the Avatar Mirror and Horizon Central Portal, adds a whole new layer of personalization to your VR home.
Speaking of personalization, Horizon OS v81 also lets you anchor 2D windows in your home space. Whether you're in passthrough or Immersive Home, you can pin up to six windows and have them persistently visible. This is a game-changer for those who want easy access to their favorite apps and tools.
Now, let's talk about QuickPlay. With this new feature, you can launch Horizon Store apps before they're fully downloaded. Meta claims it can reduce the time from buying to playing by up to 50%. That's a huge deal for impatient gamers like us! But is this feature truly automatic, as Meta says, or does it still require developer implementation?
Moving on to the UI, Meta has made some interesting decisions. The Navigator UI, which replaced the Universal Menu, is now PTC-only. Meta wants to keep things simple and familiar for most users, but is this a step backward in terms of user experience? And what about the next evolution of Quest's system interface? Meta teased a clip at Connect 2025, suggesting they're not quite ready to fully roll out the Navigator just yet.
In terms of safety, v81 includes a Worlds Safety System. This feature prompts users to set boundaries, which is a welcome addition given the recent safety regressions with Quest's boundary system. But will it be enough to ensure a safe VR experience for all users?
The Horizon Feed has also received an upgrade, with links to friends and recommended apps and worlds. It's a more personalized and efficient way to navigate your VR content. And for those who want to access their Windows 11 desktop seamlessly, Meta has made this feature available by default in v81. However, some users are still reporting it as experimental, so there might be a separate rollout for this.
Lastly, Meta is rolling out a new user switcher UI for multi-account Quest headsets. This UI will have a refreshed look and feel, and will allow you to add new accounts directly. A convenient feature for those who share their Quest with others.
With all these updates, Meta Quest v81 is shaping up to be a game-changer. But what do you think? Are these features exciting or underwhelming? Will they enhance your VR experience or fall short of expectations? Let us know in the comments! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the future of VR with Meta Quest.
