Metaverse Retreat Signals Platform Reset

Meta is removing Horizon Worlds from Quest headsets and turning it into a mobile-only product after years of low use and big Reality Labs layoffs. The move shows that the expensive metaverse bet is being scaled back, not merely paused, and that major platforms will pivot resources away from high‑cost immersive projects toward more immediately monetizable channels. — If other big tech firms follow, this shift will reshape investments, job prospects in XR, and the future of virtual public spaces.