Meta Pivots Horizon Worlds to Mobile
Meta is shifting the focus of its *Horizon Worlds* metaverse platform from VR hardware to mobile and web platforms. The move is intended to broaden the user base beyond the lagging adoption of VR headsets, making the platform more accessible on familiar devices. This signals a strategic pivot to build a metaverse on more common hardware rather than waiting for headset market penetration.
- Meta's Reality Labs division, responsible for Horizon Worlds, has incurred operating losses of nearly $80 billion since 2020, prompting a strategic shift. - The platform struggled with user retention in its VR-only form; by October 2022, monthly active users had dropped to under 200,000, and most users did not continue past the first month. - This pivot involves "explicitly separating" the Horizon Worlds platform from the Quest VR hardware ecosystem to focus on mobile, a move detailed by Reality Labs VP Samantha Ryan. - Early access to the mobile and web version of Horizon Worlds began in September 2023 with a single game called *Super Rumble*, created by Meta's in-house studio, Ouro Interactive. - The strategic change positions Horizon Worlds to directly compete with established user-generated content platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, which have massive mobile user bases. - Despite the pivot, Meta maintains a dominant position in the VR headset market, holding a 77% market share in 2024. - In January 2026, the shift was accompanied by significant restructuring, including laying off approximately 1,500 employees (about 10%) from the Reality Labs division and closing three of its VR game studios. - Meta is incentivizing content creation on the mobile platform with a $50 million creator fund to encourage the development of new worlds and experiences.
