Adding to the turmoil, Meta conducted layoffs in its Reality Labs division last week, primarily affecting teams that focused on VR gaming and the Supernatural VR fitness app, which Meta owns.
At least one analyst thinks the end is near.
"For now, Meta maintains two tales of one company," Forrester vice president and research director Mike Proulx told Business Insider. "Its Family of Apps continues to grow by the metrics that matter. But Reality Labs is a leaky bucket. Year-over-year, that division's revenue is down, and losses are up. I predict come end of this year, Meta will shutter its metaverse projects, like Horizon Worlds."
Meta's Reality Labs Layoffs and Potential Metaverse Exit
The recent layoffs in Meta's Reality Labs division, primarily affecting VR gaming and Supernatural VR fitness app teams, add to the growing concerns about the company's metaverse efforts. The comments from Forrester vice president Mike Proulx, suggesting that Meta may shutter its metaverse projects like Horizon Worlds by the end of the year, are particularly noteworthy.
The contrast between Meta's successful Family of Apps and the struggling Reality Labs division is striking. While the former continues to grow, the latter is experiencing declining revenue and increasing losses. This disparity may ultimately lead to a reassessment of Meta's metaverse priorities and a potential exit from the market.
The potential demise of Meta's metaverse projects would have significant implications for the industry, and it will be interesting to see how this unfolds. If Meta does indeed abandon its metaverse efforts, it could have a ripple effect on other companies and investors who have been following Meta's lead in this space.
Note: The metaverse landscape is rapidly evolving, and Meta's decisions will likely have a significant impact on the industry. As the situation develops, it will be essential to monitor Meta's next steps and their potential consequences for the metaverse and virtual reality markets.
Horizon Worlds, Meta's social VR app in which users interact as avatars in shared digital spaces, was once the company's poster child for the metaverse. However, it has struggled to gain mainstream traction.
Over the 2024 holidays, Meta's Horizon app briefly topped app store charts — not because of surging interest in the metaverse, but because it's required to set up a new Quest headset. It signaled that the devices were a popular gift.
That momentum didn't stick. On this week's earnings call, Meta said Quest sales underperformed, dragging Reality Labs' revenue down 6% year-over-year.
On the call, Evercore analyst Mark Mahaney asked what might finally shrink those multibillion-dollar losses.
Horizon Worlds' Struggle to Gain Traction
Horizon Worlds, Meta's social VR app, was once considered a flagship example of the metaverse, but it has failed to achieve mainstream success. The app's brief appearance at the top of app store charts over the 2024 holidays was largely due to its requirement for setting up new Quest headsets, rather than a surge in interest in the metaverse.
The subsequent underperformance of Quest sales, which led to a 6% year-over-year decline in Reality Labs' revenue, is a concerning sign for Meta's metaverse efforts. The question from Evercore analyst Mark Mahaney about what might reduce the multibillion-dollar losses in Reality Labs highlights the pressure on Meta to turn its metaverse investments into profitable ventures.
The lack of traction for Horizon Worlds and the underperformance of Quest sales suggest that Meta's metaverse strategy may need to be reevaluated. The company may need to consider alternative approaches or prioritize other areas of its business to mitigate the significant losses in Reality Labs.
Note: The struggles of Horizon Worlds and the Reality Labs division raise important questions about the viability of Meta's metaverse ambitions and the potential for the company to achieve a return on its significant investments in this area.
"There are more investments that I think make sense to make," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded, citing the growth of Meta's AI glasses and a vision to eventually sell tens of millions of units.
Internally, the stakes are high. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has said 2025 is the "most critical" year for the company's metaverse effort, warning staff that without real traction, the whole thing could go down as a "legendary misadventure."
Reality Labs, which includes the Quest headsets, Horizon Worlds, and Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, is structured into two units: Metaverse and Wearables. In January, Meta quietly reshuffled the division, moving top sales and marketing leads under broader company leadership to align more tightly with its AI push.
For now, Meta is still in the fight, though its momentum has clearly moved elsewhere: to its Llama AI models, Meta AI, and those Ray-Bans. The metaverse may not be dead yet, but it's no longer center stage.
Meta's Shift in Focus
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's response to the question about reducing losses in Reality Labs suggests that the company is exploring alternative investments, such as AI glasses, which have shown growth potential. The mention of selling tens of millions of units implies a significant shift in focus towards wearable technology and AI-powered devices.
The internal stakes are high, with Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth emphasizing the importance of 2025 for the company's metaverse efforts. The warning that without real traction, the metaverse project could be considered a "legendary misadventure" highlights the pressure on the company to deliver results.
The restructuring of Reality Labs, with top sales and marketing leads being moved under broader company leadership, suggests a tighter alignment with Meta's AI push. The company's momentum has clearly shifted towards its Llama AI models, Meta AI, and Ray-Ban smart glasses, indicating that the metaverse is no longer the central focus.
While the metaverse may not be dead yet, it appears to have taken a backseat to other priorities. Meta's shift in focus towards AI and wearable technology may be a strategic move to capitalize on emerging trends and technologies.
Note: The metaverse landscape is evolving rapidly, and Meta's changing priorities reflect the company's efforts to adapt to the changing market and technological landscape. As the situation develops, it will be interesting to see how Meta's metaverse efforts unfold and whether the company can still achieve its goals in this area.
How do you see blockchain integrating into the Metaverse?
Blockchain in the Metaverse
Blockchain technology is expected to play a crucial role in the Metaverse, enabling secure, transparent, and decentralized interactions. Some potential ways blockchain can integrate into the Metaverse include:
By integrating blockchain technology, the Metaverse can become a more secure, transparent, and decentralized environment, empowering users and creators to build and interact with immersive digital worlds.
Note: The integration of blockchain into the Metaverse is still in its early stages, and it will be exciting to see how this technology evolves and shapes the future of virtual worlds.