Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has stated that 2025 will be a crucial year for Horizon Worlds’ fate. He believes this period will determine whether Meta Reality Labs’ mixed reality efforts are “the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure.”
“We have the best product portfolio we’ve ever had, and we’re extending that lead with another half-dozen AI wearables. We need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board, but especially in MR. And Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely must happen for our long-term plans to have a chance,” Bosworth wrote on the company’s internal forum.
Challenges and Strategic Focus
Despite 2024 being the division’s best year, Reality Labs “hasn’t made a mark on the world yet,” according to Bosworth. Recent layoffs have impacted the developer base, but he insists that “you don’t need big teams to do great work” and believes smaller teams have been more efficient.
Bosworth emphasized that the team doesn’t need “a ton of new ideas” right now but simply needs to execute existing plans to succeed. However, he did not specify what would happen if Horizon Worlds fails to gain traction this year. Analysts remain skeptical about the metaverse’s success, making his post seem like an implicit deadline, notes NIX Solutions.
Meta’s Shifting Priorities
Bosworth’s comments were partly in response to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s all-hands session, where he forecasted a “busy year” and stressed the importance of maintaining leadership in smart glasses. The company has shifted focus to these devices following the underwhelming sales of Reality Labs’ Quest headsets.
Horizon Worlds’ future remains uncertain, yet we’ll keep you updated as Meta continues its push into mixed reality.