Meta Horizon Worlds Moves to Mobile, Stops VR Focus on Quest

Meta's Horizon Worlds is leaving VR headsets. It will now focus only on phones, like games such as Roblox and Fortnite. This is a big change from its original plan.
By Newsroom | Technology, Social Media |

Meta has announced a significant shift in its Horizon Worlds platform, moving its primary focus to mobile devices and explicitly separating it from its virtual reality (VR) Quest ecosystem. This change signals a move away from a VR-centric metaverse vision towards broader mobile accessibility. The company intends to bolster its support for third-party VR developers on the Quest platform while reorienting Horizon Worlds for a mobile-first audience, aiming to compete in the established mobile gaming market.

Shift in Strategy Signals Evolving Metaverse Ambitions

Meta's decision to pivot Horizon Worlds towards mobile represents a substantial adjustment in its metaverse strategy. Originally conceived as a VR-centric social space, the platform's future appears to be increasingly tied to mobile devices, leveraging Meta's vast social media user base. This recalibration coincides with broader shifts within the company, including a renewed emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) development.

Read More: New Lazy Docker Tool Makes Managing Containers Easy From Terminal

Meta "shifts focus" of Horizon Worlds platform from Quest VR to mobile - 1

Details of the Platform Reorganization

The core of Meta's announcement involves the explicit separation of Horizon Worlds from the Quest VR platform. This means the VR version of Horizon Worlds will be de-emphasized, with content being removed from the VR store and navigational elements on the Quest interface being altered to reflect this change.

  • VR Platform Focus: Meta will now concentrate on funding and supporting the third-party developer ecosystem for VR. Instead of developing its own VR games to compete, the company aims to foster external content creation.

  • Mobile Platform Focus: Horizon Worlds will become "almost exclusively mobile." This move aims to tap into a wider audience beyond VR headset owners and compete with established mobile platforms.

  • Separation of Stores: Individual worlds are being removed from the VR store, and the mobile app will also see worlds separated from its main store.

  • Potential User Numbers: Reports suggest that kids with cellphones spent more time and money in Horizon Worlds than VR users, indicating a potential driver for the mobile shift.

Evidence of the Strategic Realignment

Multiple reports and Meta's own communications detail this transition:

Meta "shifts focus" of Horizon Worlds platform from Quest VR to mobile - 2

  • Developer Blog Post: A blog post from Meta's Reality Labs, authored by Samantha Ryan, VP of Content, outlines the strategy. It states the company is "explicitly separating our Quest VR platform from our Worlds platform in order to create more space for both products to grow."

  • Removal from VR Stores: Worlds are being removed from the VR store shelves. Some users on the Quest Public Test Channel have reportedly seen a refreshed interface that lacks a dedicated 'Worlds' button.

  • Mobile Competition: The shift positions Horizon Worlds to compete more directly with platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, which have strong presences in the casual mobile gaming market.

  • AI Emphasis: This pivot occurs alongside Meta's broader strategic emphasis on developing AI wearables and advancing its AI models, with some observers suggesting Meta's metaverse ambitions have been scaled back in favor of AI.

The Diminishing Role of VR in Horizon Worlds

Horizon Worlds, initially launched as "Facebook Horizon" in 2019 and later renamed, was a cornerstone of Meta's metaverse vision. However, its uptake among VR users has been limited.

  • VR-First Origin: The platform was originally designed as a "social VR world," requiring a Quest headset for access, which was a significant barrier to entry.

  • Mobile Performance: Early development for mobile, while challenging, demonstrated that users on phones were more engaged than VR users.

  • Future of VR Content: While Horizon Worlds is moving away from VR, Meta maintains its commitment to VR hardware and supporting third-party VR developers.

Competition in the Mobile Arena

The move to mobile places Horizon Worlds in direct competition with established players that have already captured significant market share.

  • Existing Giants: Platforms like Roblox and Fortnite are deeply entrenched in the mobile user-generated content space.

  • Casual Gamer Appeal: These platforms cater to a broad audience of casual mobile gamers, a market distinct from dedicated VR enthusiasts.

  • Leveraging Social Infrastructure: Meta aims to use its existing social platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, to drive user acquisition for Horizon Worlds on mobile.

Developer Ecosystem Support on Quest

Despite the shift in Horizon Worlds' focus, Meta is reiterating its commitment to the VR developer community.

  • Sustained VR Investment: The company plans to sustain its VR investment over the long term and focus on software quality for VR.

  • Third-Party Focus: Instead of competing directly with its own VR titles, Meta will support third-party developers who are creating games for the Quest platform. This includes implementing new monetization tools and improving discoverability features.

Conclusion: A Pragmatic Reorientation

Meta's decision to shift Horizon Worlds towards a mobile-exclusive experience, while simultaneously reinforcing its commitment to the VR developer ecosystem, represents a strategic reorientation. The move acknowledges the limitations of VR adoption for broad social platforms and seeks to leverage Meta's existing strengths in the mobile and social media landscape. The success of this pivot will hinge on Horizon Worlds' ability to attract and retain users in a competitive mobile market and effectively integrate with Meta's wider social infrastructure. The long-term implications for the broader metaverse concept and Meta's hardware investments remain to be fully assessed as this transition unfolds.

Read More: Barbra Streisand Instagram Post Causes Debate on Online Communication Styles

Sources Used:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Meta changing Horizon Worlds from VR to mobile?
Meta is making Horizon Worlds mobile-only because kids with phones spent more time and money on it than VR users. They want to reach more people on phones.
Q: What does this mean for Meta's VR Quest headset?
Meta will stop making Horizon Worlds for Quest headsets. Instead, they will give money and help to other companies making VR games for Quest.
Q: Will I still be able to use Horizon Worlds on my VR headset?
No, the VR version of Horizon Worlds is being removed. Meta is changing its plan to focus on mobile phones for Horizon Worlds.
Q: What kind of games will Horizon Worlds be like on mobile?
Horizon Worlds on mobile will try to be like popular games such as Roblox and Fortnite. It will focus on user-made worlds and casual games for many players.
Q: When did Meta start focusing on VR for Horizon Worlds?
Horizon Worlds first started in 2019 as a VR-only social space. This new change in 2026 moves it away from VR and towards a wider mobile audience.