Meta Reverses Course on Horizon Worlds VR Support Amidst User Backlash
Meta has made a significant about-face regarding its virtual reality (VR) support for Horizon Worlds, the social platform once envisioned as a linchpin of the company’s ambitious metaverse strategy. Initially slated for discontinuation on Quest headsets from June 15, the decision to pivot entirely to mobile and web platforms lasted a mere 24 hours before being rescinded.
The abrupt reversal came after a strong reaction from the user community. In an Instagram Q&A session, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, revealed that the company had decided to maintain VR support for Horizon Worlds following feedback from users who expressed deep disappointment, describing themselves as “heartbroken” by the original announcement.
This decision means that Horizon Worlds will remain accessible in virtual reality “for the foreseeable future.” However, Meta has indicated that the support will be limited, primarily catering to individuals already engaged with existing games and experiences within the VR environment.
Horizon Worlds represented Meta’s flagship virtual social space, intricately linked to its Quest headsets and the broader vision of its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, for an immersive digital existence. This metaverse ambition was so central to the company’s identity that Facebook underwent a significant rebranding to Meta in 2021, with its Reality Labs division subsequently investing billions into the development of virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Despite substantial investment, Reality Labs has faced considerable challenges in translating its expenditure into widespread market success. Since the rebrand, Meta has reportedly poured an astonishing $73 billion (approximately €63 billion) into the division. However, Horizon Worlds itself has not achieved the VR dominance that Meta had anticipated.
The platform has struggled to establish virtual socialising as a mainstream activity, mirroring a broader trend of softening demand for Quest headsets. In response to these challenges, Meta has already undertaken significant restructuring, including the elimination of over 1,500 jobs within Reality Labs this year as the company has begun to narrow its strategic focus.
The recent decision to retain VR support for Horizon Worlds signifies a strategic pivot rather than a complete abandonment of the VR aspect. Instead, the company is increasingly directing its efforts towards the mobile version of Horizon Worlds, which has seen a notable surge in popularity. Downloads for the mobile application have reportedly increased by 53 percent compared to the previous year.
Andrew Bosworth highlighted the existence of a “much bigger audience” on mobile platforms. He argued that focusing development efforts on mobile devices provides the team with greater momentum than attempting to maintain and support separate mobile and VR versions of the application concurrently.
The mobile app for Horizon Worlds has achieved considerable reach, boasting 45 million downloads globally across both iOS and Google Play stores. Notably, within the current year (2026), it has already garnered 1.5 million downloads.
While the company’s strategic emphasis is clearly shifting towards mobile, Bosworth’s statements suggest that Meta still recognises the inherent value in preserving VR access for its existing user base. This dual approach acknowledges the current realities of user engagement and market performance while keeping the door open for potential future developments in the VR space. The move underscores the complex and evolving landscape of the metaverse and Meta’s ongoing efforts to navigate it.
