Meta’s Horizon Store has added something new to its catalog Elysian, a WebXR-powered game that runs directly in the Quest browser but behaves like a fully installed title. This move marks a significant step for WebXR distribution on VR platforms, giving browser-based experiences a more prominent place alongside native apps.
The addition is more than just a new game release. It’s a shift in how VR content can be delivered and discovered on standalone headsets.
How Elysian works on Quest
While WebXR games have always been accessible through the Quest browser, Elysian benefits from Horizon Store integration. Once added to a user’s library, it launches without the friction of navigating to a URL, offering a streamlined start similar to native VR apps.
Players experience it entirely within the headset’s browser environment, but the presentation, controls, and immersion align closely with what they’d expect from a traditional store-downloaded game.
Why WebXR on the store matters
Bringing WebXR titles into the Horizon Store opens the door for smaller developers and experimental projects to reach a wider audience without going through the full app review and deployment pipeline. It reduces barriers while still allowing creators to push updates instantly.
For Meta, it’s a way to expand the Quest ecosystem with lightweight, instantly accessible content that could appeal to both casual players and VR veterans looking for fresh experiences.
A potential path for more browser-based VR
If Elysian performs well, it could pave the way for more WebXR projects to get store placement. This would blur the line between browser-based and native VR, potentially accelerating the pace of releases and experimentation on Quest.It’s still early days, but the arrival of Elysian on the Horizon Store shows that Meta is open to diversifying its VR catalog beyond traditional app installs—and that could have long-term implications for how players discover and engage with VR content.
Virtual Reality Explorer & Game Reviewer
Always the first to plug in. VRSCOUT dives head-first into the most immersive VR worlds, analyzing mechanics, comfort, innovation, and that elusive “presence” factor. If he says it’s worth it, it probably is.
