News Summary

Meta has announced the shutdown of its Horizon Worlds VR platform following a staggering $70 billion loss in its metaverse endeavors. Originally launched in December 2021 on Meta Quest, Horizon Worlds will become a mobile-only experience, with the VR version set to be delisted by March 31, 2026, and completely shut down by June 15. This decision reflects Meta’s strategic pivot towards AI and wearables, as the company plans to invest heavily in AI infrastructure. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses have shown stronger consumer demand compared to VR headsets, indicating a shift in Meta’s focus. This change comes after significant layoffs at Reality Labs, Meta’s division responsible for the metaverse projects. Despite the setbacks, Meta continues to explore augmented reality technologies, including the Orion prototype glasses.