Meta rebuffs Google's virtual reality tie-up proposal

WASHINGTON, Mar 02 (Reuters): Meta Platforms decided against a partnership with Alphabet to use Google's Android XR platform for its virtual and mixed-reality Quest headsets, The Information reported on Friday.
Google had suggested that Meta partnered with its new software platform that is being developed for virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed-reality headsets, citing a source involved in the talks.
But such a partnership could thwart Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plan to "own the next computational platform for AR, VR and mixed reality," according to the report.
Meta is already talking to hardware companies, including South Korea's LG Electronics, about building new VR devices using Quest's software, the report said, quoting unnamed Meta employees. Meta and LG Electronics did not respond to Reuters request for comment, while Alphabet declined to comment.