Meta Reverses Decision to Discontinue Horizon Worlds on VR
In a surprising turn of events, Meta has decided to continue supporting its virtual reality (VR) platform, Horizon Worlds, on Quest headsets. This decision comes shortly after the company announced plans to shift the platform exclusively to web and mobile formats.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, revealed the reversal during an Instagram Stories Q&A session. Responding to a user expressing disappointment over the initial decision, Bosworth stated, We have decided, just today in fact, that we will keep Horizon Worlds working in VR. A Meta spokesperson later confirmed this statement to TechCrunch.
Earlier this year, Meta had indicated plans to cease support for Horizon Worlds on its Quest VR headsets, aiming to focus on web and mobile platforms. This move was seen as a significant shift, considering the company’s substantial investment in VR and the metaverse. However, the recent reversal suggests a renewed commitment to the VR community.
Despite this commitment, Meta acknowledges the challenges faced by Horizon Worlds. The platform has struggled to attract a substantial user base, leading to questions about the viability of VR-centric social platforms. Since its rebranding from Facebook in 2021, Meta’s Reality Labs division, responsible for VR and AR initiatives, has reported losses totaling $73 billion. This financial strain has prompted the company to reassess its strategies and make significant cuts within the division.
Market trends further highlight the challenges in the VR sector. According to tech market intelligence firm IDC, sales of Meta’s Quest headsets declined by 16% year-over-year from 2024 to 2025. This downturn suggests that VR hardware has yet to achieve mainstream adoption comparable to smartphones. Other industry players, such as Apple, have also faced hurdles, with reports indicating scaled-back production of its $3,500 Vision Pro headset due to low demand.
In response to these challenges, Meta has implemented significant restructuring within its Reality Labs division. In January, the company announced layoffs affecting over 1,500 employees and the closure of several game studios. Rumors suggest that further layoffs, potentially impacting up to 20% of the company’s workforce, may be forthcoming.
While Horizon Worlds will continue to be accessible via Quest headsets, Meta plans to prioritize the platform’s mobile experience. Bosworth highlighted this shift during a podcast with journalist Alex Heath, stating, There’s a much bigger audience in mobile, and it’s having a really positive pickup on mobile. He noted that the development team has been building the platform for both mobile and VR, and focusing on mobile could streamline their efforts.
Data from mobile intelligence firm Appfigures supports this focus on mobile. The Horizon Worlds mobile app has achieved 45 million total downloads across iOS and Google Play, with 1.5 million downloads in 2026 alone. This represents a 53% year-over-year increase compared to the previous year, indicating growing interest in the mobile version of the platform.
The decision to maintain VR support for Horizon Worlds reflects Meta’s ongoing commitment to the VR community, despite the challenges faced in achieving widespread adoption. By balancing resources between VR and mobile platforms, Meta aims to cater to a diverse user base while navigating the evolving landscape of virtual and augmented reality technologies.
