Meta Reverses Decision on VR Access for Horizon Worlds
Meta Platforms Inc. has updated its plans regarding the virtual reality (VR) version of Horizon Worlds, initially slated for discontinuation. The announcement, made during a recent Q&A session by Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, reveals that select experiences within Horizon Worlds will continue to be available in VR.
Earlier this week, Meta informed users that it would be removing Horizon Worlds and its associated Events feature from the Quest Store by March 31, 2024, with full cessation of VR access set for June 15, 2024. This pivot would effectively convert Horizon Worlds into a flatscreen-only platform for mobile and PC users.
In response to user feedback, Bosworth revealed, “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.” This change indicates that the legacy worlds within Horizon Worlds will remain exclusive to VR, resulting in a distinct bifurcation of the platform.
Bosworth elaborated, stating, “The Horizon Unity runtime games—they’re not going to work on mobile, they’ll just be working in VR. We’re not bringing in new games. Again, most of our energy is going towards mobile and the Meta Horizon Engine there.” He emphasized that the strategic shift aligns with user and creator interest predominantly gravitating towards mobile applications.
Since its inception in 2021, Horizon Worlds has operated using the Unity game engine. However, in an announcement last September during the Connect 2025 event, Meta revealed that it would transition to an in-house Horizon Engine, boasting reduced loading times and the capacity to host over 100 users in a single virtual space.
As of now, Meta has not disclosed further details on the mechanics of the platform division. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Source: Original Source
