Can James Cameron give people a new reason to buy Meta‘s Quest mixed-reality headsets?
Cameron’s Lightstorm Vision stereoscopic technology venture inked a deal with Meta to “scale the creation” of 3D entertainment experiences “featuring big-name IP,” spanning live sports and concerts, feature films and TV series, the companies announced. Under the pact, Meta Quest will be Lightstorm Vision’s exclusive MR hardware platform.
Details on initial projects from the Lightstorm Vision-Meta collaboration will be shared “in the coming months,” according to a Meta rep.
“Fantastic news… Announcing a comprehensive, multi-year partnership with @meta to revolutionize ALL visual media,” Cameron said in a post on Meta’s Threads.
The filmmaker behind megahits like “Avatar” and “Titanic” said he recently met with Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, Meta’s CTO and head of Meta’s Reality Labs division (which encompasses Quest), who provided a demo of the company’s latest tech.
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“I was amazed by its transformational potential and power, and what it means for content creators globally,” Cameron wrote. “I’m convinced we’re at a true, historic inflection point. Navigating that future with Meta will ensure ALL of us have the tools to create, experience and enjoy new and mind-blowing forms of media.”
Bosworth, in a post on Threads, said it was “truly inspiring” to spend time with Cameron and “learn from a true pioneer” in CGI and immersive filmmaking. “[I]t is an honor to team up with him and his team to bring next generation experiences to people,” he wrote.
In addition to co-producing original content, Meta will use Lightstorm Vision’s technology and production techniques to help creators make high-quality 3D media “through the use of advanced tooling, including employing AI,” the company said. Cameron recently joined the board of directors of Stability AI, known for its text-to-image AI model; as such, according to Meta, “Cameron is uniquely positioned to contribute to the thoughtful and responsible use of AI in this space.”
“Our goal is to make top-tier 3D content more accessible — both for creators to produce and for people to enjoy at home and on the go,” Meta said in a blog post Thursday.
Over the last several years, Meta has poured billions of dollars into trying to develop VR and mixed-reality into a mass market — but it’s still a long way from becoming a profitable investment. For the third quarter of 2024, Meta’s Reality Labs posted sales of $270 million and an operating loss of $4.43 billion. Meta’s Quest 3 headset is priced starting at $500, making it considerably more affordable than Apple’s Vision Pro ($3,499 and up).
Lightstorm Vision says its 3D technology were showcased in the Cameron’s first two “Avatar” movies and is being employed for the upcoming “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Lightstorm Vision’s toolset and 3D methodology “allows content creators to capture stunning 3D imagery in a cost-effective, unrestrictive environment,” the company claims.
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Cameron’s credits include “Titanic,” “Avatar” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” — three of the four highest-grossing movies of all time — as well as “The Terminator,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Aliens” and “The Abyss.” His next movie, “Avatar: Fire and Ice” is in production and set for release on Dec. 19, 2025.