Meta says it is restructuring parts of its Reality Labs strategy, separating its Quest VR platform from its Worlds platform while shifting Worlds toward mobile experiences. The company says the changes are intended to clarify product direction, support developer growth, and keep long-term investment in virtual reality sustainable as the market evolves.
Meta is adjusting its priorities after reviewing performance data and developer feedback. It has reduced its Reality Labs investment to keep spending focused on long-term sustainability while continuing to develop VR hardware and software.
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“Our goal remains constant: to empower developers and creators as they build long-term, sustainable businesses,” the company said. Meta added that separating Quest VR and Worlds into distinct platforms should make it easier for each to grow with a clearer focus.
On the VR side, Meta said it is continuing to support headset development despite slower growth than previously expected. Andrew Bosworth, CTO and Head of Reality Labs, said the VR industry “hasn’t grown as much or as quickly as we’d hoped,” while describing continued expansion driven by developers and creators.
Meta says Quest remains the dominate player in the VR market, claiming strong device sales and platform engagement. Payment volume reportedly stayed relatively stable year over year in 2025, while in-app purchases increased by 13 percent. Meta Horizon+ surpassed 1 million active subscribers during the year and now includes a catalog of more than 100 titles.
Third-party developers play a central role in headset usage, and 86 percent of effective time spent in VR devices comes from third-party apps rather than first-party content. Meta said it invested nearly $150 million in VR developer programs during 2025.
The company also outlined platform changes intended to improve discovery and monetization. Individual worlds are being removed from store shelves in VR, and worlds will be separated from the main store inside the mobile app.
“We heard your feedback loud and clear, and after a year of collecting data and running experiments, we agree,” the company said when describing changes to store presentation and platform tools.
Meta Worlds moves to mobile
Alongside the VR focus, Meta is shifting Worlds toward mobile experiences because it has a much larger audience in social gaming and mobile-first content.
Mobile-only worlds reportedly grew from zero to more than 2,000 in 2025, supported by Meta’s Creator Fund. Four creators reached $1 million in lifetime revenue, while nearly one hundred earned six figures during the year.
The company said upcoming tools including Meta Horizon Studio and Meta Horizon Engine are expected to improve performance and usability for mobile worlds, with wider availability planned in the coming months.
What do you think about Meta spinning Quest VR and Worlds into different directions? Let us know in the comments.
