Meta Retains VR Support for Horizon Worlds
Despite earlier indications of a potential shutdown, Meta has committed to continuing its VR support for Horizon Worlds, according to a recent announcement by the company. Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, confirmed this in an Instagram post, saying, “We have decided, just today in fact, that we will keep Horizon Worlds working in VR.” His comments were corroborated by a spokesperson from Meta in conversation with TechCrunch.
Meta’s Changing Stance on Virtual Reality
Earlier this year, Meta had intended to cease supporting the social metaverse app on its Quest virtual reality headsets. This was a significant shift for a company that once visualized the app as a crucial component of socializing in the virtual realm. Surprisingly, the demand for hanging out in VR was notably lower than expected. The company later confirmed that Horizon Worlds would become a web and mobile-only platform from June 15. However, they rapidly reversed this decision.
The Financial Hit from Reality Labs
The fluctuating fate of Horizon Worlds and the decision to halt the shutdown suggest a struggle with the concept of the metaverse, particularly as visualized through VR. Meta’s Reality Labs, responsible for the development of Horizon Worlds, has reportedly lost a staggering $73 billion since 2021, the year Meta rebranded from Facebook. This significant financial loss indicates the challenges of making virtual reality a mainstream, widely adopted technology.
Struggles Across the VR Market
These challenges aren’t unique to Meta, as evidenced by the global tech market trends. According to IDC, a tech market intelligence firm, Meta’s Quest headset sales declined by 16% yearly from 2024 to 2025. Similarly, Apple had to cut back production of its $3,500 Vision Pro headset due to insufficient demand, suggesting a broader struggle in the VR market.
Impacts on Meta’s Workforce and Future Plans
In response to the downturn in VR, Meta made significant cuts in its Reality Labs division in January, impacting over 1,500 employees and closing down multiple game studios. There are rumors of another, potentially more substantial round of layoffs that could affect 20% of the company’s workforce. Despite these setbacks, the company is still committed to supporting Horizon Worlds for the Quest headset, with a focus on enhancing the mobile experience.
Shifting Focus to Mobile
In a recent podcast with journalist Alex Heath, Bosworth hinted at a shift in focus to mobile, citing a better product-market fit. He stated, “There’s a much bigger audience in mobile, and it’s having a really positive pickup on mobile.” Mobile intelligence firm Appfigures reported a 53% year-over-year increase in downloads for the Horizon Worlds mobile app, with 1.5 million downloads so far in 2026.
However, despite the increase in downloads, consumers have only spent a total of $1.1 million on the app, a relatively small figure considering the size of Meta’s metaverse investments. As Bosworth points out, there is a greater opportunity for Horizon Worlds on mobile than on the Quest headset, but Meta will need to see a significant increase in consumer spending for the app to justify their substantial investment.
Find out more about Meta’s decision to continue VR support for Horizon Worlds here.
