Meta has confirmed that it will shut down Horizon Worlds on its Quest headsets, with the application set to be removed from the Quest store on March 31, 2026, and fully discontinued in virtual reality by June 15, 2026. This decision marks a significant shift in Meta’s strategy as it pivots to mobile for Horizon Worlds.
Launched in 2021, Horizon Worlds has struggled to attract a large user base, reportedly hosting only a couple hundred thousand active users per month. The platform’s challenges have contributed to Reality Labs, Meta’s division responsible for virtual reality and augmented reality, accumulating nearly $80 billion in losses since 2020.
In a recent statement, Meta explained, “We are separating the two platforms so each can grow with greater focus, and the Horizon Worlds platform will become a mobile-only experience.” This move comes alongside significant layoffs, with over 1,000 jobs cut at Reality Labs, affecting approximately 10 percent of its VR workforce.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has previously expressed ambitious visions for the metaverse, stating, “The metaverse will reach a billion people, host hundreds of billions of dollars of digital commerce, and support jobs for millions of creators and developers.” However, the current trajectory of Horizon Worlds raises questions about the viability of these aspirations.
When Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook to Meta in 2021, he positioned the metaverse as the company’s future, indicating a long-term commitment to virtual environments. Yet, as the company shifts its focus, observers are left wondering about the future of Meta’s VR initiatives.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding whether future Meta headsets will work with phones to access experiences, and there are ongoing speculations about whether Meta will eventually shut down its VR operations altogether. As the company navigates these changes, the implications for the broader metaverse landscape remain to be seen.
