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Meta to Shut Down Horizon Worlds on Quest, Pivots Metaverse Strategy
Meta will shut down access to its social virtual reality platform Horizon Worlds on Quest headsets from June 15, 2026. This decision clearly signals a strategic shift in the company’s metaverse ambitions. The move effectively ends the VR-native version of the experience, even as the platform continues in a mobile-focused format.
VR Phase-Out Begins
Users will no longer be able to explore or build virtual spaces in Horizon Worlds using Quest devices after the mid-June deadline. The company has already begun winding down the service, with the app set to be removed from the Quest Store by the end of March 2026.
Several first-party virtual environments and related features are also being discontinued ahead of the full shutdown. The phased approach is designed to help creators and users transition away from the headset-based experience.
Pivot to Mobile and Wider Accessibility
After Horizon Worlds shuts down, its users will still be able to access the platform through their smartphones and all other flat-screen devices. Meta appears to be prioritizing accessibility and scale, focusing on formats that require less specialized hardware.
The company will change its approach to virtual social experiences through this particular modification. The company will use virtual reality technology because it forms the foundation of Meta's long-term strategy, but this change will enable it to reach users who do not own virtual reality headsets.
Also Read: Meta Deploys AI to Reinforce Digital Trust Across WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger
Metaverse Strategy Under Recalibration
Meta promoted Horizon Worlds as an essential component of its metaverse strategy, which allowed users to build virtual environments and share their creations while interacting with others in virtual reality. The transition occurred because user adoption rates fell short of initial expectations while business priorities began to shift away from the initial plan.
The latest change comes as part of restructuring within Meta’s Reality Labs division, which handles VR hardware as well as metaverse software development. As investments are poured into artificial intelligence as well as mixed reality ecosystems, this latest change by Meta is part of a larger recalibration.
