Meta to shut down VR version of Horizon Worlds

Meta has decided to shut down the VR version of its metaverse platform Horizon Worlds. The project will continue to exist only as a mobile app.

The app will be removed from the Quest Store on March 31, with full shutdown of the VR service scheduled for June 15. Users will lose access to worlds such as Horizon Central, Events Arena, Kaiju and Bobber Bay.

Horizon Worlds originally launched in late 2021 as a social VR platform designed for Quest headsets. In 2023, Meta introduced a mobile version that allowed users to join without a VR device.

The shutdown follows major layoffs within Reality Labs, Meta’s division responsible for metaverse development. More than 1,000 employees were laid off in January, including teams from Ouro Interactive.

Meta had previously made the metaverse a core strategic focus, rebranding the company in 2021 around virtual worlds. However, the initiative has struggled to gain traction, with Reality Labs accumulating around $80 billion in losses since 2020.

The platform also faced ongoing challenges in user growth. According to YouTuber Jarvis Johnson, daily active users dropped to around 900 by August 2023.