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Meta will shut down Horizon Worlds VR on June 15, 2026, ending access on Quest headsets and moving its metaverse platform to mobile only.
Author: Arushi Garg
Steady attention without excessive speculation.
18th March, 2026: Meta will shut down the VR version of Horizon Worlds on Quest headsets on June 15, 2026, marking a major shift in its metaverse strategy. The move follows years of weak user engagement and mounting losses at its Reality Labs division, as the company pivots toward mobile-first experiences and artificial intelligence.
High Signal Summary For A Quick Glance
Dani R.Escudero
@DaniREscudero
@MilkRoad I guess VPN services are going to have high revenue from Vietnam. These rules make it harder for the average holder but the real crypto wealthy can circumvent it with ease.
Vietnam just announced plans to ban trading on Binance and OKX. It isn't a ban on crypto, but a ban on FOREIGN crypto. Vietnam ranks 4th globally in crypto adoption - one of the most active retail markets on the planet. The government doesn't want to kill that. It wants to own https://t.co/gBS6W7O283 https://t.co/jW32Qs6qmG
08:33 AM·Mar 18, 2026
Altcoin Jackal
@ShitcoinJ
@MilkRoad pretty normal Vietnamese action look at the banking sector there also they always protect Vietnamese interests first
Vietnam just announced plans to ban trading on Binance and OKX. It isn't a ban on crypto, but a ban on FOREIGN crypto. Vietnam ranks 4th globally in crypto adoption - one of the most active retail markets on the planet. The government doesn't want to kill that. It wants to own https://t.co/gBS6W7O283 https://t.co/jW32Qs6qmG
03:40 AM·Mar 18, 2026
nikavc.bnb🔶 BNB
@BogiaBNBAster
@MilkRoad I am Vietnamese and I’m very familiar with these issues. Basically, not only centralized exchanges (CEX) but even decentralized exchanges (DEX) are not allowed for us to use. If you use them and get caught, it can be treated as a criminal offense and you could go to prison. So
Vietnam just announced plans to ban trading on Binance and OKX. It isn't a ban on crypto, but a ban on FOREIGN crypto. Vietnam ranks 4th globally in crypto adoption - one of the most active retail markets on the planet. The government doesn't want to kill that. It wants to own https://t.co/gBS6W7O283 https://t.co/jW32Qs6qmG
01:08 AM·Mar 18, 2026
According to Meta’s March 2026 blog post, the decision reflects a shift from costly VR initiatives to more scalable mobile and AI-focused experiences. After years of heavy investment through Reality Labs, the company is increasingly prioritizing efficiency, especially as competition in artificial intelligence intensifies. Moving Horizon Worlds to a mobile-first format allows Meta to reach a significantly larger user base while reducing the infrastructure and hardware barriers associated with VR.
Similar retreats have happened before in Meta’s metaverse push, including the January 2026 shutdown of Horizon Workrooms and multiple VR studio closures amid Reality Labs layoffs. In each case, the market initially showed disappointment over the scaling-back of metaverse ambitions. META stock rose as investors responded positively to the pivot toward AI and core business priorities. Meta said the move is part of its effort to “focus on experiences that reach a broader audience.”
Key milestones leading to the shutdown of Horizon Worlds VR
Meta introduced its flagship social VR metaverse platform aiming to compete with leading virtual worlds like Roblox and Fortnite.
Reality Labs invested over $80 billion into VR and metaverse development, positioning Horizon Worlds as a central pillar of the strategy.
Low user engagement and high operating costs triggered the first closures of VR studios and layoffs across Meta’s metaverse division.
Meta retired its VR collaboration product, signaling a broader pullback from enterprise-focused virtual reality initiatives.
The company confirmed plans to discontinue Horizon Worlds support on Quest headsets and pivot toward a mobile-first metaverse strategy.
Major in-platform destinations like Horizon Central and Events Arena begin disappearing from the Quest Store ecosystem.
The Horizon Worlds VR experience is scheduled to be completely removed from Meta Quest devices.
Meta has outlined a phased shutdown timeline. Starting March 31, 2026, Horizon Worlds experiences and events will stop appearing in the Quest Store. New users will lose access to popular destinations including Horizon Central, Events Arena, Kaiju, and Bobber Bay. Meta will remove the app from Quest headsets on June 15.
Some Horizon Worlds creators have begun exploring competing platforms like Roblox, Decentraland, and The Sandbox. Meta is redirecting investment away from VR social features toward mobile experiences and AI to reduce Reality Labs losses.
With the VR shutdown set for June 15, attention turns to whether the mobile version of Horizon Worlds can attract a larger audience. Investors will monitor Reality Labs’ next earnings report to evaluate the cost-cutting pivot. This is not financial advice. Metaverse token holders may see volatility in MANA and SAND as markets adjust to Meta’s strategic shift.
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