Full OpenXR Support Is Now Available On Pico 4 – And Here’s Why It Matters

The XR industry largely supports OpenXR, a standard that enhances app compatibility across multiple devices and platforms. This eliminates the hassle of extensive software customizations, freeing up time and resources for developers. Consumers also benefit from broader access to apps and games. OpenXR is already supported by Meta Quest 2 and SteamVR.

Pico just announced full compatibility of its headsets with OpenXR standard, with the latest SDK release incorporating critical updates. The company revealed that all headsets, including Pico 4, Pico 4 Enterprise, Pico Neo 3 Pro (Eye), and Pico Neo 3 Link are now compatible. This move is expected to unlock a broader range of apps for users.

During the Pico 4 launch, the Pico Store featured around 230 VR apps, while Meta Quest 2 has twice the number – excluding App Lab and Sidequest apps. OpenXR compatibility can help bridge this content gap.

OpenXR Makes Excellent Retro Ports Possible

Launched last September, Pico 4 boasts superior hardware to Meta Quest 2 while selling at the same price. It’s available in select East Asian countries and Europe but not the US – the most prominent VR sales market. Pico 4 Enterprise, a B2B edition featuring eye tracking, was released in October for exclusive sale to companies.

Pico headsets have supported OpenXR for a while. According to the Pico developer site, improvements have been made to the OpenXR SDK, including support for haptic feedback, private room invitations, achievement notifications, leaderboards, and other features.

Pico announces compliance with OpenXR Standard. The cross-platform standard allows games and apps to be adapted to support Pico headsets much more easily.https://t.co/RrwZZthLI2#VR #Gaming #developers #openstandard

— OpenXR (@OpenXR) February 15, 2023

What Is The Current Situation With Pico 4?

As per the Wall Street Journal, Pico made notable inroads in the VR market, snatching share from Meta last year. While Meta had 90% of the market a year earlier, their Q3 2022 share shrank to 75%, while Pico’s tripled to 15%, according to IDC data. These figures are impressive, given that the headset has yet to be sold in the US.

However, the recent SteamVR stats and a Chinese website report from November suggest otherwise, casting doubt on Pico’s success story. The last report stated that Pico still needs to achieve its one-million device sales target for 2022. Pico is yet to release any sales figures.