Meta Shifts Horizon Worlds Focus Away from VR to Mobile
Meta's Horizon Worlds virtual reality platform struggles with declining user numbers and now pivots to prioritize its mobile version over VR. The multiplayer game creation system faces criticism for bugs and an unenjoyable user experience.
Meta Horizon Worlds is an online multiplayer game and creation system that Meta Platforms develops and publishes. Originally released in December 2021 for virtual reality headsets, the platform expands to mobile devices in September 2023 and eventually shifts its primary focus away from VR entirely.
The platform experiences a significant drop in its user base, falling from an estimated 300,000 users in early 2022 to fewer than 200,000 monthly users by October of that same year. In response to these declining numbers, Meta announces in early 2026 that it separates Worlds from the QuestVR platform to prioritize the mobile version and stops adding new games to the VR version.
Players access the VR experience using Meta Quest headsets and handheld motion controllers to interact with objects and customize their avatars. Despite these interactive features, Horizon Worlds receives mixed reviews from critics who point out persistent bugs and an unenjoyable environment that ultimately degrades the overall user experience.