Meta’s App Lab distribution channel for early access games is still operational, but its days are numbered. While Meta recently made App Lab content searchable on the main store for the first time, the company is now gearing up for App Lab’s complete shutdown next month, shifting towards a more Steam-like focus on Early Access in the future.
Update (July 8th, 2024): In a developer blogpost, Meta announced that starting August 5th, all content previously available in App Lab will be accessible on the main Horizon Store (formerly known as the Quest Store). This includes all existing App Lab apps, including those still in development and under review.
Developers are now allowed to use ‘Early Access’ badges for their games, although it is not mandatory for previous App Lab games to use them.
Image courtesy Meta
Meta emphasizes that all apps submitted to the Horizon Store must adhere to a variety of Virtual Reality Checks (VRCs), which encompass performance, security, tracking, and functionality criteria.
The original article discussing App Lab discoverability is provided below:
Original Article (May 14th, 2024): Meta is set to make its operating system and app store compatible with third-party VR headsets in the near future. One notable change on the platform is the merging of the Main Store and App Lab.
In addition to providing a platform for studios to release their titles in early access, App Lab allows any developer who meets basic technical and content standards to publish software on the platform, making it accessible to studios of all sizes.
App Lab now has its own dedicated section in the store, increasing visibility for indie titles and early access games. Previously, App Lab games were hidden within the Main Store, but they now appear in search results under the new ‘App Lab’ section label.
Meta has also replaced the previous pop-up warning when viewing an App Lab game with a smaller note next to the game’s user rating, indicating “This app may be experimental or still in development.”
Highlighting App Lab games is a logical step considering the success of indie titles like Gorilla Tag through parallel distribution, which is currently the platform’s most reviewed game and top revenue generator on Quest. It is likely that the company will continue to blur the lines between the Main Store and App Lab as it rolls out Horizon OS (formerly Quest OS) licenses.
