TLDRs;
- Meta reverses VR shutdown keeping Horizon Worlds active for Quest users
- Horizon Worlds mobile app sees rapid growth with 45 million downloads worldwide
- Reality Labs continues to face heavy losses and declining headset sales
- META stock steadies as company balances VR support with mobile expansion
Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: META) has confirmed that its Horizon Worlds social metaverse app will continue to support virtual reality on the Quest headset.
This decision comes after a sudden reversal earlier this week, when Meta had announced plans to move the platform exclusively to mobile and web.
During an Instagram Stories Q&A, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth reassured users that Horizon Worlds “will keep working in VR,” responding directly to fans who expressed disappointment at the earlier shutdown news. A company spokesperson confirmed the statement to TechCrunch, signaling the platform’s ongoing commitment to VR, albeit on a smaller scale.
Mobile Gains Drive Strategic Shift
While VR support remains, Meta is shifting its focus to mobile, citing stronger adoption and engagement on smartphones. According to Bosworth, the app’s mobile version has proven more popular and easier to scale, with 45 million total downloads across iOS and Android, including 1.5 million downloads so far in 2026, a 53% increase from the same period last year.
https://twitter.com/Cointelegraph/status/2034749420382662754
“Mobile has a much bigger audience, and it’s having a really positive pickup,” Bosworth said during a podcast with journalist Alex Heath.
He added that building for mobile allows developers to increase velocity without duplicating efforts for VR.
Reality Labs Challenges Continue
The backtrack highlights broader challenges in Meta’s Reality Labs division, which has struggled to make VR a mainstream experience. Since rebranding from Facebook in 2021, Meta has invested heavily in the metaverse, resulting in over $73 billion in losses across VR, AR, and AI initiatives. Quest headset sales fell 16% year-over-year between 2024 and 2025, reflecting tepid consumer interest.
Meta has already undertaken significant cost-cutting measures, including layoffs affecting over 1,500 Reality Labs employees and the closure of several game studios. Rumors suggest a further round of staff reductions, potentially impacting up to 20% of the workforce, could be on the horizon.
Stock Stabilizes Amid VR Reversal
Investors appear cautiously optimistic following the reversal. While Horizon Worlds remains a niche product in VR, its continued availability reduces concerns over an abrupt platform shutdown. The mobile expansion offers a tangible growth path, though overall consumer spending, estimated at $1.1 million, is minimal compared to Meta’s substantial metaverse investments.
Financial analysts note that Meta’s decision reflects a pragmatic approach, keeping VR enthusiasts engaged while leveraging mobile’s broader reach to generate meaningful engagement and adoption. For shareholders, the move signals Meta’s willingness to adapt strategy in response to market demand, stabilizing stock sentiment in the short term.
Looking Ahead
Meta’s Horizon Worlds journey underscores the ongoing challenge of building a viable VR social platform. While the Quest headset may never rival smartphones in market adoption, mobile traction provides a lifeline. Investors and users will now watch closely to see whether Meta can convert its mobile audience into sustainable revenue, or whether the metaverse experiment remains a high-cost, low-return venture.
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