Meta wants its metaverse everywhere

Published: Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 3:30 pm

Meta's Metaverse Ambitions Expand Beyond VR Headsets

Meta is aggressively pursuing its vision of a metaverse accessible across multiple platforms, according to recent reports. The company, spearheaded by its metaverse VP Vishal Shah, is working to transform its social metaverse platform, Horizon Worlds, into a central hub for social 3D experiences, extending beyond virtual reality headsets to include mobile devices, Facebook, and Instagram.

The initiative follows Meta's struggles with Horizon Worlds, which initially faced low user engagement. The company has since focused on improving the platform by investing in higher-quality games, such as Super Rumble, and developing new tools for developers. These tools include AI-powered features to simplify the creation of 3D environments and game mechanics.

A key element of Meta's strategy is cross-platform play. While VR remains the most immersive experience, the company acknowledges the importance of mobile accessibility. Meta has been working to bring Horizon games to mobile devices, though initial efforts faced challenges. The company is now allowing developers to build mobile-only Horizon Worlds games.

To support its cross-platform ambitions, Meta is transitioning to a new game engine, the Meta Horizon Engine, designed to handle more players simultaneously and reduce load times. This engine is expected to improve the user experience and facilitate seamless transitions between different virtual worlds. The new engine is being rolled out in stages, starting with Horizon Central and the redesigned home base for Quest headsets.

Meta is also exploring integrating Horizon games into other platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. This expansion is part of a broader effort to simplify the platform and streamline the user experience. This may involve making tough decisions, including deprecating or consolidating some features.

BNN's Perspective:

Meta's commitment to expanding Horizon Worlds across multiple platforms is a bold move. While the company faces challenges in attracting users to its metaverse, its focus on cross-platform play and improved user experience could be key to its success. However, Meta must balance its ambitions with the need to simplify the platform and avoid alienating early VR adopters.

Keywords: Meta, Metaverse, Horizon Worlds, VR, Virtual Reality, Mobile, Cross-Platform, Game Engine, Social, Facebook, Instagram, AI, Developers, Super Rumble, Vishal Shah, Meta Horizon Engine, Quest, XR, 3D

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