Earlier this year, Facebook announced ‘App Lab’, a safe and secure method to digitally submit and distribute applications on its virtual reality (VR) hardware platform.
Oculus’ new distribution method does not require official approval and aims to accelerate VR development cycles.
The news comes as Facebook and Oculus refine the Quest Publishing Access (QPA) review process, which has slowed the development of many Quest experiences.
As the Oculus team work to refine its review process, it has published developer programs and guides to instruct designers on how to effectively create and deploy VR applications.
Distributing with App Lab
The App Lab distribution method allows developers to efficiently test applications and receive feedback from audiences on early-stage applications via a URL or gift key granting user access to the experience.
App Lab distributions are private and will not appear on the regular storefront, but despite this, applications from the Lab will still receive automatic updates and platform integration.
The Menlo Park-based firm designed the App Lab for access to any enterprise or individual, and will also support Sidequest platform, Oculus’ alternative online distribution platform.
Sidequest users connect Quest devices to a PC to install advanced VR experiences, which will not require Oculus approval, boosting the platform’s popularity among enterprises rolling out training applications.
App Lab will also not require PC connections, accelerating distribution with Sidequest to provide more user-friendly enterprise options.
Ready for the 128GB Oculus Quest
The developments come as Facebook revealed on social media it would release its new 128GB Oculus Quest model on August 24 this year.
The new model’s larger storage size offers users increased flexibility to manage VR content — a perfect option for avid VR users seeking to fill their devices with early-access applications from App Lab.
