Meta Platforms has reversed its decision to shut down the virtual reality version of Horizon Worlds, less than a day after announcing the change. Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth said the app will remain accessible on VR headsets for the foreseeable future following strong feedback from users.
“We have decided, just today in fact, that we will keep Horizon Worlds working in VR for existing games to support the fans that’ve reached out, who really care about that,” Bosworth said during an Instagram Stories Q&A. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the move to TechCrunch.
On Tuesday, Meta had said Horizon Worlds would be removed from the Quest Store by March 31 and fully discontinued for VR headsets by June 15, shifting focus to a mobile-only experience. The announcement sparked backlash across the VR community, prompting Meta to adjust its plan.
Bosworth clarified that although existing Horizon Worlds experiences built on Unity will remain playable in VR, the company will not release new games for the platform. He added that Meta’s development efforts are now centered on expanding its mobile version, which he described as where “most of the consumer and creator energy already was.”
The decision underscores the company’s broader move away from its costly metaverse ambitions. Reality Labs, Meta’s augmented and virtual reality division, has lost roughly $73 billion since 2021, including $6.02 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. In January, Meta cut more than 1,500 Reality Labs employees and closed several internal VR game studios.
Horizon Worlds’ mobile iteration, launched in 2023, has performed better in terms of audience reach, with 45 million downloads and a 53 percent year-over-year increase in early 2026, according to Appfigures data cited by TechCrunch. However, consumer spending remains limited at about $1.1 million to date. Bosworth said the platform’s future growth is expected to come primarily from its mobile audience.
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