Meta's metaverse is going mobile — and leaving VR behind

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wears a virtual reality headset

credit should read GLENN CHAPMAN/AFP via Getty Images

• Meta is shifting Horizon Worlds' focus from VR to a mobile app.
• Meta's Reality Labs, which has lost nearly $80 billion since 2020, sees mobile as a key growth area.
• Meta faces competition from Roblox and Fortnite in the mobile gaming market with Horizon.

Meta is dialing back the metaverse to mean something far less futuristic: an app on your phone.