Meta is pulling the plug on its VR metaverse and Meta Quest 3 fans don't know how to respond

Date:
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:10:55 +0000

Description:
Metas VR scale-back is heading into phase two as the company has revealed its timeline for the full closure of its Meta Horizon Worlds metaverse.

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Meta just announced that Horizon Worlds VR is shutting down on June 15 The platform will still be live for mobile users Fans have mixed feelings about the announcement Metas VR scale-back is heading into phase two as the company has revealed its timeline for the full closure of its Meta Horizon Worlds metaverse. At least the VR version of it.

In an email sent out to Meta account holders this writer included Meta revealed that starting on June 15, 2026, well no longer be able to build, publish or update VR worlds. Whats more, we wont be able to access Meta Horizon Worlds using VR headsets; instead, the spaces will be exclusive to
the Meta Horizon mobile app. That is, provided theyve been optimized for mobile. Article continues below You may like Meta is shutting down its Horizons VR for businesses - I doubt it will be missed Meta just killed my Meta Quest 4 hype, as it culls several VR game studios Meta addresses VR layoffs as it reveals new yet familiar metaverse plans

Whats more, starting on March 31, Horizon Worlds and Events wont appear in
the Quest Store, and Horizon Central, Events Arena, Kaiju, and Bobber Bay
will no longer be available to enjoy in VR.

On the one hand, this move is being cheered by many VR fans. Horizon Worlds has never been overly popular, and its increasing prominence in Meta Quest feeds pushing out third-party software many would rather see has been a major criticism amongst many.

As one Reddit user put it under a post about the announcement , So that means that those world thingies won't be mixed up with my games anymore? I see that as a win. They are far from the only person with that mentality. (Image credit: Meta) Good? Maybe not At the same time, I cant help but agree with others who share this positivity but feel a twinge of sadness, with comments like I'm glad it's gone but I'm worried about what it means for Quest and VR as a whole summing up this sentiment succinctly. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

For a start, this is a major VR shutdown. While Horizon Worlds might not have been the most popular, it was a major platform from arguably the most important company in the space: Meta as its headsets make up the vast majority of those in the hands of VR users.

This is therefore a serious reversal of its VR approach, and while Meta has said its still dedicated to the medium, it does feel like the end of an era.

I also feel sorry for this titles loyal base, folks who would have spent
hours crafting their perfect VR hangout space and have now lost that work, as exploring on mobile just wont be the same.

Maybe there are only dozens of those people, but if your favorite VR software just shutdown youd be upset while Im not a fan, there will be plenty of people out there who adored Meta Horizon Worlds and who seriously dont want
to see it go. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/meta-is- pulling-the-plug-on-its-vr-metaverse-and-meta-quest-3-fans-dont-know-how-to-re spond


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