‘We’re going to let VR be what it is and what it does great,’ says Meta execs regarding Quest changes

‘We’re going to let VR be what it is and what it does great,’ says Meta execs regarding Quest changes

January 24, 2026 discoverhiddenusacom Business

Meta is recalibrating its strategy for the Meta Quest platform, signaling a shift away from immersive metaverse experiences and toward traditional gaming. This move comes after a period of significant investment in the Horizon Worlds platform and first-party VR game development, followed by recent layoffs and studio closures within Meta’s Reality Labs division.

Strategic Shift in Focus

According to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, the company is now prioritizing third-party game development for the Meta Quest headsets. This represents a departure from the previous approach of integrating Horizon Worlds directly into the Quest experience and promoting its content. Bosworth explained that attempting to combine Horizon and VR proved challenging, as users engage with the headsets for diverse reasons.

Horizon Worlds Revisions

As part of this shift, Meta is scaling back the VR version of Horizon Worlds and transitioning it to a mobile-only platform. The Horizon Feed will also be removed from Meta Quest headsets beginning with software update v85. This change aims to streamline the user experience and reduce development costs, according to Bosworth.

Did You Know? Nearly two years ago, Meta rebranded the Meta Quest store to the Meta Horizon store, prominently featuring Horizon Worlds content.

Recent Restructuring at Reality Labs

The strategic shift follows a period of restructuring within Meta’s Reality Labs division. Last week, the company laid off 1,500 employees and closed most of its first-party development studios. These actions prompted speculation about Meta’s commitment to virtual reality, though Bosworth maintains the company is not abandoning the space.

Implications and Future Outlook

The changes reflect a recognition that the initial vision of a fully integrated metaverse experience may not be resonating with a broad audience. Focusing on third-party games could provide a more diverse and appealing content library for Meta Quest users. However, several development studios have recently announced closures, and layoffs have impacted even those creating popular games.

Expert Insight: Meta’s decision to prioritize third-party content suggests a reassessment of its role in the VR ecosystem. By shifting away from direct content creation, the company may be aiming to foster a more robust and independent developer community, potentially leading to greater innovation and user engagement.

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey stated on social media that Meta’s move is a return to a previous internal mandate of building an ecosystem rather than attempting to replicate a closed platform like Nintendo. He also emphasized that Meta still maintains the largest team dedicated to VR development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What changes are being made to Horizon Worlds?

Horizon Worlds is being scaled back from the Meta Quest’s Horizon OS and will now take a mobile-only approach.

How many Reality Labs staff were laid off?

Meta laid off 1,500 Reality Labs staff last week.

What is Meta’s current stance on VR development?

According to Andrew Bosworth, Meta is still investing heavily in VR but is shifting its focus to supporting third-party content and ecosystems.

How will these changes impact the future of VR gaming and the Meta Quest platform?