Meta Reverses Course on Metaverse: Says ‘Just Kidding’
Meta has once again altered its course regarding its metaverse strategy. Recently, the company faced significant criticism and pressure from its community regarding Horizon Worlds, the virtual reality platform initially touted as a central part of its metaverse ambitions. Just two days after announcing it would shut down Horizon Worlds for VR, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, revealed a change of heart during an Instagram AMA.
Meta Confirms Horizon Worlds Will Continue
Andrew Bosworth stated that Meta will maintain the Horizon Worlds platform on its Meta Quest headsets due to community demand. “We have decided, just today in fact, we will keep Horizon Worlds working in VR for existing games,” he emphasized. Currently existing Unity runtime titles within Horizon Worlds will continue to function in VR but will not be adapted for mobile devices.
Shift Toward Mobile Platforms
While Meta has committed to keeping Horizon Worlds alive in VR, the company is not planning to develop new VR games within this space. Bosworth noted that the interest in gaming has shifted more towards mobile platforms, where there is greater “creator and consumer energy.”
- Meta’s Reality Labs division had to cut around 1,500 jobs recently, many from prominent game studios.
- This included developers of key VR titles such as Asgard’s Wrath II and Deadpool VR.
- Previous popular applications like the Supernatural VR exercise game also faced discontinuation.
Financial Struggles Within Reality Labs
Meta’s extended reality (XR) division has incurred approximately $73 billion in losses since 2021. The company had high hopes for its VR ecosystem, aiming to turn the Meta Quest into a hub for remote work and leisure, but those expectations have stalled. In fact, from 2024 to 2025, Meta experienced a significant downturn in headset sales.
Market Challenges
A recent report from IDC highlighted a 16% decrease in headset shipments last year compared to 2024. This has raised doubts about the viability of VR as a mainstream product. Bosworth acknowledged that there’s been a notable shift in consumer engagement toward mobile, implying that the future of VR may not lie in extensive user interactions through headsets.
Future of the Metaverse
Despite these setbacks, Meta remains committed to the broader vision of the metaverse. Bosworth commented on exploring innovative technologies aimed at making augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) experiences less isolating. “We very much imagine in the virtual reality space you’re going to want to have conversations with people you care about,” he said.
As the landscape continues to evolve, it seems that while VR may not meet initial expectations, Meta is working to redefine its role within the metaverse context, potentially leaning towards more mobile-centric experiences.
