Meta's metaverse is going mobile-first

"Meta is formally sectioning off Horizon Worlds, the closest thing it has to a metaverse, from its Quest VR platform, according to a new blog post from Samantha Ryan, Meta's VP of Content, Reality Labs. While the decision runs counter to Meta's original plan to own an immersive virtual world that could serve as the future home for all online interaction, it fits with the recent cuts it made to its costly Reality Labs division, and Mark Zuckerberg's public commitment to focus the company on AI hardware like smart glasses going forward."

""We're explicitly separating our Quest VR platform from our Worlds platform in order to create more space for both products to grow," Ryan writes in the blog post. "We're doubling down on the VR developer ecosystem while shifting the focus of Worlds to be almost exclusively mobile. By breaking things down into two distinct platforms, we'll be better able to clearly focus on each.""

"While Meta shuttered several of its own VR game studios earlier this year, it still wants to support third-party developers publishing games on its platform. The company says new monetization tools, better discoverability, a "Deals" tab and more ways for developers to talk to their customers should help make a difference. Maintaining the Quest's library of games could also be critical going forward."

Meta is separating Horizon Worlds from the Quest VR platform, making Worlds a mobile-first platform while keeping Quest focused on VR and its developer ecosystem. The move aligns with recent Reality Labs cuts and a corporate shift toward AI hardware like smart glasses. Worlds will be positioned to compete with user-created platforms such as Roblox and Fortnite and to scale via integration with Meta's social networks. Meta plans to support third-party developers with new monetization tools, improved discoverability, a Deals tab, and developer-to-customer communication features. Maintaining the Quest game library remains an important priority.

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