Market Giants YouTube and Spotify Opt Out of Apple Vision Pro Launch

Apple Inc. is facing a significant setback with its soon-to-be-released Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset as Google’s YouTube and Spotify Technology SA—the titans of video and music streaming—decide not to develop dedicated apps for the new device. Scheduled to launch on February 2, the Apple Vision Pro is Apple's bold venture into the mixed-reality space, integrating both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences.

YouTube, the video service behemoth, has stated that it will not be launching a new application tailored for the Apple Vision Pro, nor will it adapt its existing iPad application for compatibility with the headset—at least initially. The platform has, however, pointed users toward using their existing service via the Safari web browser on the Vision Pro. This news trails Bloomberg’s report that Netflix Inc. has also opted out of building an app for the device, likewise advocating for browser use instead.

Similarly, Spotify, the world-renowned music streaming service, has no current plans to develop a visionOS-compatible app. This means the Vision Pro will not support Spotify through a dedicated application. However, the music service is expected to be accessible via a web browser, ensuring users will still have a pathway to stream music, albeit not through a native app experience.

Apple touted the Vision Pro as a next-generation entertainment and productivity platform, offering an immersive experience for video, gaming, and more. The lack of support from such cornerstone applications as YouTube and Spotify is noteworthy, considering the strong emphasis on multimedia content. This issue resonates more when reminded that YouTube was one of the premier apps featured on the original iPad when it launched back in 2010.

Nevertheless, the Vision Pro will offer access to Apple’s native apps, like Apple Music and Apple Podcasts, which if anything, now face less competition on their home device. Other major streaming services such as Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video have confirmed their participation, with Apple announcing that the Vision Pro’s App Store will support more than 1 million titles.

Despite the absence of YouTube and Spotify, Apple starts taking preorders for the high-end Vision Pro, priced at $3,499, from Friday ahead of the launch. Neither YouTube nor Spotify have disclosed the specific reasons for their non-participation in supporting the device. Spotify's decision appears not to be influenced by their ongoing dispute with Apple over App Store policies, suggesting other factors at play.

Additionally, search inquiries have revealed that several other key apps from Meta Platforms Inc.'s portfolio, such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, are not set to work on the Vision Pro. It raises the question of whether these apps will undergo adaptation for visionOS or whether brand-new versions are in development, a query Meta has not responded to as of yet.

Despite these content gaps, Apple is confident in the Vision Pro's potential, especially in fields such as health care, technician training, and education. Corporate applications are also being explored, as the device represents Apple's first major new product initiative since the debut of the Apple Watch.