Join Work Meetings as Your Avatar with ‘Zoom’ App on Quest

You ever feel like tech is just sprinting ahead while you’re still tying your shoelaces? So, Meta—you know, the folks behind Facebook and all—just dropped this new Zoom app into the Horizon Store. Basically, you can now throw on your Quest headset, and boom, you’re an avatar in a Zoom meeting. Oddly exciting, right?

Now, let’s rewind a bit. This isn’t exactly the first rodeo for VR Zoom meetings. Back in 2021, they slipped Zoom into Horizon Workrooms—Meta’s attempt at making virtual work meetings almost fun (I said almost). That setup was all about face-to-face shenanigans in VR, even letting webcam folks crash the cool-kids VR party.

But now, if all you want is Zoom—no frills—there’s this standalone app, free of charge. Meta’s calling it a “seamless extension.” Yeah, okay, fancy words aside, it means you can get on Zoom meetings like you would on your phone or computer, except now, it’s your avatar doing all the talking. Not in an alternate universe or anything, just plain old 2D. Your VR avatar is there on screen with everyone else. It’s like a Zoom grid with some animated flair.

Let’s pause here. I mean, really, would ya want to show up at work meetings as a cartoon version of yourself? Meta’s avatars—sure, they’ve been polished up over time—but still a bit on the cartoony side. Especially when you compare them to Apple’s swanky new Persona avatars. Those things are slick, no joke. And yeah, Apple’s ahead of the game, launching their Persona stuff last February.

Honestly, though, who’s gonna argue over free stuff? If you’re curious, just download the Zoom Workplace app from the Horizon Store. Log in like you do on your phone or desktop. Get going with your avatar and, well, maybe you’ll surprise yourself with how much you like it. Or not. Who knows.