Meta Reverses Course, Will Continue Supporting Horizon Worlds on VR

In a surprising turn of events, Meta has decided to continue supporting Horizon Worlds on its Quest VR headsets, reversing an earlier announcement that signaled the platform’s demise. The decision, revealed on March 19, 2026, by Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth via an Instagram post, comes after the company initially planned to discontinue VR support for Horizon Worlds on June 15, 2026.

From Shutdown to Second Chance

Earlier this year, Meta informed users that Horizon Worlds would transition to a web and mobile-only platform, effectively ending its presence on the Quest VR headsets. This move followed widespread cuts within Meta’s Reality Labs division in February, where 10 percent of employees in the VR department were laid off [Wired]. The initial plan included removing Horizon-specific perks like Meta Credits and certain digital purchases [Wired].

A History of Integration and Re-Evaluation

Meta had heavily integrated Horizon Worlds into the Quest experience throughout 2024 and 2025, even renaming the Quest operating system to Horizon OS and making Horizon Worlds the primary interface for the headset and companion mobile app [Android Central]. However, the platform struggled to gain traction and the company began sunsetting features like the Horizon feed. The reversal suggests a re-evaluation of the platform’s role within Meta’s broader metaverse strategy.

Focus Shifts Back to Gaming

The initial move away from Horizon Worlds coincided with a renewed focus on gaming within the Quest ecosystem. Meta announced it would concentrate on funding third-party game development, having shipped over 140 games in 2025 through Oculus Publishing [Android Central]. Chris Pruett, Director of Games at Meta, stated that Quest usage reached an all-time high in 2025, with over 100 titles generating over $1 million in gross revenue [Android Central].

The Metaverse and Reality Labs’ Financial Strain

Despite the continued support for Horizon Worlds on VR, the decision to initially phase it out highlights the challenges Meta has faced in realizing its metaverse vision. Reality Labs, the division responsible for VR and AR development, has incurred significant losses, totaling $73 billion since 2021 [TechCrunch]. Quest headset sales experienced a 16% year-over-year decline from 2024 to 2025 [TechCrunch].

Looking Ahead

While Meta continues to experiment and adjust its VR strategy, the company’s commitment to gaming remains firm. The reversal on Horizon Worlds suggests a willingness to adapt based on user feedback and market realities. The future of the metaverse remains uncertain, but Meta’s focus on delivering compelling gaming experiences on the Quest platform appears to be a key priority.