Meta's metaverse is going mobile-first

Source: Engadget

Background

Meta is formally separating Horizon Worlds—the platform most akin to a metaverse—from its Quest VR platform, according to a blog post by Samantha Ryan, Meta’s VP of Content, Reality Labs. This move runs counter to Meta’s original plan to own an immersive virtual world that could serve as the future home for all online interaction, but it aligns with recent cuts to the costly Reality Labs division and Mark Zuckerberg’s public commitment to focus the company on AI hardware such as smart glasses.

“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. “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.”

Shift to Mobile‑First

Meta has been developing mobile and web versions of Horizon Worlds alongside its VR app since at least 2023. Making Worlds a mobile‑first software platform isn’t ideal for VR enthusiasts, but it positions the service as a more natural competitor to platforms like Roblox or Fortnite, which also offer user‑created and monetizable worlds and games. Meta believes this approach can be scaled more easily because it can connect games to “billions of people on the world’s biggest social networks.”

Implications for Developers

While Meta shuttered several of its own VR game studios earlier this year, it still aims to support third‑party developers publishing games on its platform. The company announced new monetization tools, improved discoverability, a “Deals” tab, and additional ways for developers to communicate with their customers. Maintaining a robust library of Quest games is also seen as critical moving forward. Business Insider reported in December 2025 that Meta was working on a gaming‑focused Quest headset, and Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth confirmed earlier this February that multiple Quest devices remain on the roadmap.

Future Outlook

The separation of Horizon Worlds and Quest suggests Meta is betting on a mobile‑first strategy for its metaverse ambitions while continuing to nurture its VR ecosystem. This dual‑platform approach could allow Meta to leverage its massive social network reach while still catering to developers and gamers across both mobile and VR experiences.

Original article: Engadget