Meta Withdraws Decision to Close VR Platform, Metaverse Strategy Shows Clear Cooling

Gate News reports that on March 19, Meta announced it is reversing its previous decision to shut down the Horizon Worlds VR platform and will continue to keep the app available on Quest headsets. CTO Andrew Bosworth stated that this adjustment is based on user feedback, and existing VR games will remain operational for the foreseeable future, but no new content will be added to the platform.

Previously, Meta planned to remove Horizon Worlds from VR devices by mid-June, retaining only the mobile version. The latest plan shows that content built on the Horizon Unity engine can still be experienced in VR, but the company’s resources will be significantly shifted toward mobile and next-generation platforms.

From a financial perspective, Meta’s metaverse business continues to face pressure. Its Reality Labs division recorded approximately $19.2 billion in losses in 2025, with cumulative losses nearing $80 billion since 2020. Meanwhile, revenue has been limited, and user growth has not met expectations. In contrast, competing platforms have higher user engagement, with a noticeable gap.

Strategically, Meta is accelerating its transition toward AI infrastructure. The company has raised its 2026 capital expenditure target to between $115 billion and $135 billion, with most of the investment allocated to AI-related initiatives. Additionally, Meta has previously cut some VR teams and closed multiple studios, further shrinking its metaverse operations.

Market analysts believe that this “retain but do not expand” strategy indicates Meta is entering a phase of reduced investment in the VR ecosystem. Future development will focus more on AI and mobile experiences, and the importance of metaverse narratives is gradually declining.