Meta has announced a significant shift in its approach to Horizon Worlds, its immersive virtual world. The tech company is moving away from a metaverse-centric focus and instead prioritizing a mobile-first strategy for the platform.
Meta’s Reality Labs division, responsible for VR and smart glasses development, has faced substantial financial losses, nearing $80 billion since 2020. This strategic update for Horizon Worlds, along with recent restructuring efforts, indicates a reevaluation of Meta’s VR initiatives.
Following layoffs of about 1,500 employees from the Reality Labs division and the discontinuation of VR game studios, Meta is making significant changes. The VR fitness app Supernatural, acquired by Meta in 2023, will no longer create new content, shifting to ‘maintenance mode.’
Originally launched in 2021 as a VR platform, Horizon Worlds has since expanded to web and mobile. The recent announcement emphasizes a ‘mobile-first’ approach, positioning Horizon Worlds to compete with established platforms like Roblox and Fortnite.
Samantha Ryan, Reality Labs’ VP of content, highlighted Meta’s unique position to deliver social games at scale by leveraging its massive social network reach. Despite the mobile focus for Horizon Worlds, Meta maintains its commitment to VR hardware development.
Source: TechCrunch