Meta has announced a strategy change for Horizon Worlds. The social platform for virtual worlds will stop being developed jointly for VR and mobile. Instead, it will be separated from the Quest ecosystem and its future development will focus almost entirely on mobile devices and web, leaving VR for more specific experiences.
A Change in Technological Stack and Focus 🔄
This move implies a significant technical change. Development for mobile and web, based on standard technologies, differs from native development for Quest headsets, which requires optimization for specific hardware and stereoscopic rendering. The decision suggests that Meta prioritizes user accessibility and reach over total immersion, reassigning development resources from Virtual Reality to more conventional platforms.
From Immersive Worlds to Worlds with WhatsApp Notifications 💬
So the great metaverse, the one that promised to bring us together as expressive avatars, will now compete directly with your Telegram group. It makes sense: why invest in expensive headsets when you can socialize in a pixelated world while waiting for the bus? The experience will be complete: you can teleport to a virtual square and, at the same time, receive a message from your mother asking if you've eaten. Total immersion, interruptions included.