Metaverse Project Ends, Meta Shuts Down VR World Horizon Worlds

Meta has announced it will close access to the virtual world Horizon Worlds via Quest VR headsets starting from 15 June 2026. This decision marks the end of the initial phase of Meta’s metaverse project on the VR platform. Following the closure on VR headsets, Meta will shift its strategy to focus on developing the mobile version. The announcement was made by Meta through its official community forum. Meta stated that the service termination will be carried out gradually. Starting from 31 March 2026, virtual worlds and various events in Horizon Worlds will no longer be displayed in the Quest Store. Headset owners will also no longer be able to visit several popular virtual locations such as Horizon Central, Events Arena, Kaiju, and Bobber Bay. After that date, users who wish to visit Horizon Worlds are advised to use the Meta Horizon app on iOS and Android, which will become the main channel for the service going forward. In addition to closing VR access, Meta will also discontinue the beta feature Hyperscape Capture in Horizon Worlds. This feature previously allowed Quest headset owners to create scans of real locations in the form of detailed 3D models, then share and visit those scan results with other users. Meta stated that users can still create and view Hyperscape scan results, but sharing, inviting, and experiencing Hyperscape together will no longer be supported. This announcement is not surprising, as Meta has been signalling it on its official page since February. The company, which changed its name from Facebook, Inc. to Meta Platforms, Inc., said the decision to close VR access to Horizon Worlds is related to a change in Meta’s business focus. Meta explained that the Worlds platform is now more clearly separated from the Quest VR platform, so that each product has its own space to grow. The company stated it will strengthen the VR developer ecosystem, while Worlds development will be directed almost entirely to mobile. According to Meta, this step is taken to empower developers and creators in building long-term businesses.