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Meta Shuts Down VR Worlds on Quest Headsets
18 Mar
Summary
- Horizon Worlds will no longer be accessible on Meta Quest headsets after June 15.
- Meta is shifting focus from VR to AI, cutting VR jobs and closing studios.
- Access to virtual worlds will continue through the Meta Horizon mobile app.
Meta Platforms will cease support for Horizon Worlds on its Quest virtual reality headsets starting June 15. Users will lose the ability to create, publish, or update virtual reality environments on these devices. This decision signifies a notable pullback from Mark Zuckerberg's initial metaverse vision.
In January, Meta initiated significant layoffs within its Reality Labs division, impacting the teams responsible for VR development. The company has also closed several virtual reality game and content studios. These actions reflect a broader strategic realignment within Meta, with resources increasingly being diverted towards the competitive artificial intelligence race.
While access via VR headsets is ending, Meta confirmed that users will still be able to access the virtual worlds through the Meta Horizon mobile application. This shift also involves reallocating resources from VR gaming to wearable products supporting Zuckerberg's AI ambitions, such as the Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
