Oculus detailed what’s to come in its v25 software update for the Quest and Quest 2 headsets. The most notable change for developers and users is the App Lab, a new method for distributing developing VR applications that does not require approval from the Oculus Store and also does not require sideloading. Think of this software as the equivalent of early VR access.
Oculus shared in its press release that it wants to maintain the high quality standard for its store, so it is separating App Lab applications from its main showcase. But he wants to promote a community where developers can openly and easily share their ongoing creations with Quest owners.
After a developer submits their App Lab application to Oculus, users can easily access it via a URL or can be found by searching for its exact name on the Oculus Store. SideQuest, a popular website that hosts applications and games that can be transferred to Quest’s headset, will also host App Lab applications. Presumably, many of the applications and games hosted there may soon be supported by App Lab, making it easier for people to experience some of the experiences hosted there without sideloading.
The App Lab gives developers the ability to open their applications widely to the general public to try or generate unique keys, if you want to allow only certain people to access them. And from the user’s perspective, any App Labs apps you download can be found in Quest’s app and game library.
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Oculus says more than 10 App Lab titles have been released, including the experiences shown above. However, the site had an error when I clicked it at the time of publication.
Several other features are coming in this update, including Messenger for VR, allowing you to keep Facebook chats while you are immersed in your Quest headset. The Oculus release notes also mention “Stationary Guardian 2.0”, bringing some more quality of life improvements to when you want to use VR safely while in a stationary location instead of using roomscale.
Whether you use VR software in room scale or stationary mode, the Oculus Passthrough shortcut is now easier to access and is no longer buried in your experiment setups. The feature allows you to see the surroundings through the external Quest or Quest 2 cameras by double tapping the section where the headband meets the headset.
If you’ve ever wanted to pair a Bluetooth mouse with the Quest headset, you’ll soon be able to do that too. To find this feature, go to the settings, click on “Experimental features” and you will find it there soon.