Meta‘s metaverse ambitions are hitting a crossroads. In a move that marks a dramatic shift in strategy, the tech giant is shutting down the VR version of Horizon Worlds on Quest. Once hailed as the future of digital interaction, Meta’s flagship VR platform is taking a new direction, leaving users wondering what’s next.
Meta is officially shutting down this key Metaverse product on VR
Meta is pulling the plug on a major VR metaverse platform, shifting focus away from its ambitious metaverse plans.
Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook as Meta in 2021, betting big on the metaverse as “the next frontier.” Now, just 4.5 years later, the core virtual world behind that vision is being dismantled.
The company revealed this week that Horizon Worlds will disappear from Quest headsets by June 15. According to the announcement, Meta is splitting up its VR efforts, separating Horizon Worlds from other platforms to focus on growth. The move will make the VR title a mobile-only experience targeting mainstream gaming platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, rather than pushing a futuristic virtual world vision.
Meta further shared that it is removing the platform from Quest Store by March 31 and discontinuing the app by June 15. They are also axing some features, including Hyperscape sharing, and perks like Meta Credits, by March 31.
Horizon Worlds, launched in 2021, struggled to gain traction with just a few hundred thousand monthly users, failing to justify its massive investment. Reality Labs, Meta’s VR and metaverse division, has racked up nearly $80 billion in losses since 2020, with a staggering $6 billion operating loss in Q4 alone.
However, AI, specifically ChatGPT’s arrival in 2022, shifted Meta’s focus. The company’s AI research foundation, led by Yann LeCun, helped improve ad revenue and stock value, which tripled from 2022 lows.
Meanwhile, Reality Labs kept bleeding cash, leading to layoffs and studio closures. Hence, Meta is now focusing on AI-driven projects like Ray-Ban smart glasses, with Horizon Worlds’ closure marking a shift away from the metaverse vision.
