WHY SHOULD WE KEEP META HORIZON WORLDS IN VIRTUAL REALITY?
WHY SHOULD WE KEEP META HORIZON WORLDS IN VIRTUAL REALITY? Proposal by Apple Loving Individual March 22, 2026 Introduction In March 2026, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Horizon Worlds would be removed from all Meta Quest VR headsets as part of a shift toward a mobile‑first strategy (Murti). The decision surprised many long‑time users, especially given that Meta originally introduced the metaverse vision in 2021 with Horizon Worlds as its flagship VR experience (Milmo). That announcement was so central to Meta’s identity that the company rebranded from The Facebook Company to Meta Platforms, signaling a long‑term commitment to immersive virtual reality. The abrupt reversal has sparked widespread concern among VR users, creators, and social‑world communities. Many argue that prioritizing mobile over VR undermines the core purpose of the metaverse: to provide an embodied, immersive environment that cannot be replicated on a flat screen. For countless users, Horizon Worlds has served as a creative outlet, a social refuge, and a meaningful space for connection. Removing it from VR risks dismantling these communities and erasing years of creative investment. Why People First Came to the Metaverse People entered the metaverse for a variety of personal, social, and psychological reasons. Many sought entertainment, creative expression, and a sense of presence that traditional online platforms could not provide. Research on social VR environments shows that users are drawn to immersive spaces because they offer meaningful social presence — the feeling of “being there” with others — which is far stronger in VR than on mobile or desktop platforms (Deighan et al.). Mental‑health motivations also played a significant role. A 2025 systematic review found that metaverse environments can reduce loneliness, support emotional well‑being, and provide safe spaces for self‑expression, particularly for individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, or social isolation (Aboul‑Yazeed et al.). VR allows users to interact through avatars, lowering social barriers and enabling more authentic communication. Beyond emotional support, the metaverse became a hub for entertainment, events, classes, and collaborative creativity. Studies on virtual communities show that these environments foster belonging and reduce feelings of isolation by enabling shared activities and group experiences (Nayak and Satpathy). For many, the metaverse became not just a pastime but an essential part of their social and creative lives. Why VRChat Is Not a Great Alternative Although VRChat is widely known for its creative freedom and expansive user‑generated content, it is not an ideal replacement for Horizon Worlds. One major limitation is its complex avatar customization system, which often requires external software, advanced modeling skills, or paid assets. While VRChat offers flexibility, it places significant technical barriers in front of casual users. In contrast, Horizon Worlds provides built‑in, intuitive avatar tools that require no additional software or purchases, making it far more accessible. VRChat also relies heavily on VRChat+, a paid subscription that unlocks essential features such as additional avatar slots and higher upload limits. While optional, many users feel pressured to subscribe in order to fully participate. Horizon Worlds does not place core features behind a paywall, allowing all users to build worlds, customize avatars, and engage socially without additional costs. Community culture further distinguishes the two platforms. VRChat’s public spaces are often chaotic, unpredictable, and inconsistently moderated, which can be overwhelming for newcomers. Horizon Worlds, by contrast, is known for its collaborative, structured, and community‑driven atmosphere. Users frequently gather to build, host events, and participate in shared creative projects — a level of organization and safety that VRChat does not consistently provide. Why People Joined Horizon Worlds — and Why It Should Stay Users were drawn to Horizon Worlds because it offered an accessible, welcoming, and creative VR environment. Its intuitive building tools, free customization options, and supportive community made it a unique space within the metaverse. Many users found friendships, emotional support, and creative fulfillment within its virtual worlds. For them, Horizon Worlds became more than a platform — it became a digital home. Removing the VR version threatens to dismantle these communities and erase the creative labor of thousands of users. The platform’s accessibility, collaborative spirit, and social warmth are not easily replicated elsewhere. If Meta wishes to maintain trust and uphold its metaverse vision, it must preserve these qualities. Proposed Successor to Meta Horizon Worlds If Meta insists on discontinuing Horizon Worlds in VR, then it must provide a successor that honors the platform’s legacy and meets the expectations of its dedicated user base. A next‑generation platform should allow seamless migration of usernames, avatars, friend lists, and world creations. Preserving user identity and creative work is essential for maintaining continuity and trust. Technically, the successor must address the limitations of the original platform. Improved graphics, reduced latency, faster loading times, and more stable networking are essential for modern VR experiences. Enhanced visual fidelity would make worlds more immersive, while optimized performance would ensure smoother social interactions and encourage exploration. A successor that preserves accessibility while embracing technological advancements would demonstrate Meta’s commitment to immersive computing. It would reassure users that their investment in the metaverse has not been disregarded and that VR remains central to Meta’s long‑term vision. Conclusion Meta’s decision to remove Horizon Worlds from VR disrupts a thriving community and contradicts the immersive vision the company championed since 2021. Users joined the metaverse for connection, creativity, and emotional refuge — experiences that VR uniquely enables. Alternatives like VRChat do not offer the same accessibility, structure, or community‑driven environment that made Horizon Worlds successful. If Meta chooses to retire Horizon Worlds, it must replace it with a platform that is not merely equivalent but significantly better. A successor with improved graphics, lower latency, faster loading, and seamless user migration would honor the platform’s legacy and preserve the communities that brought Meta’s metaverse vision to life. The future of VR depends on platforms that value their users, support creativity, and foster meaningful connection. Whether through Horizon Worlds or a worthy successor, Meta must ensure that the spirit of immersive community remains at the heart of its technological evolution. Works Cited Aboul‑Yazeed, Mohamed, et al. “The Psychological Impacts of the Metaverse: A Systematic Review.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 16, 2025, pp. 1–15. Deighan, Christopher, et al. “Social Presence and Emotional Support in Virtual Reality During the COVID‑19 Pandemic.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 152, 2024, pp. 1–12. Milmo, Dan. “Facebook Changes Its Name to Meta as It Refocuses on the Metaverse.” The Guardian, 28 Oct. 2021. Murti, Megan. “Meta Shifts Horizon Worlds to Mobile‑First Strategy, Ending VR Support.” The Verge, 3 Mar. 2026. Nayak, Ranjan Kumar, and Suchismita Satpathy. “Virtual Communities and Well‑Being: A Study of Social Interaction in the Metaverse.” Journal of Virtual Worlds Research, vol. 17, no. 2, 2025, pp. 45–62. [edited for privacy - this is a public forum]we should bring back oculus homes
we should bring back oculus homes (you heard me) unfortunately meta killed homes in 2023 because ol' zuckyburg does not care about rift and it's users anymore (source ) as everyone has already stated, we miss rift homes (justice to people who didnt use it but i digress) and we wish we can revisit our homes, but what if........ (i'm no savvy to this) someone found an old file of rift homes that contained the application to it figure out the DNS (if so) make a community server and reroute it back to the one made by the community server instead of meta's. ofc i know this might cost money to do something like that but we just wanna revisit our homes and talk to our friends again, and customise rift avatars, and that's something that would be done in the foreseeable future if someone purposefully brung back rift home. but i don't think that'll happen as it would take months and even years to do something like that, but i hope someone does it and figure out a way to bring back oculus homes. "why not use SteamVR home?" given with how old it is it's broken to the bare minimum, rooms no longer and you can't join any of your friends's rooms (as someone who tried rooms in september 2024) "it's never going to happen" have faith, that's why i said "in the future"
Hello guys WhatsApp!!
Hello everyone, Recently i get 2.1 updates but i am not able to see any major changes as people told in YouTube. everything looks similar as previous, only while switching off head set that time icon coming differently. I think many people try to give spoiler but get spoiled by themselves. I have also recently started my one of YouTube channel in India, to spread awareness amongst people regarding meta quest and its experiences. @Aloksquest you can search out by this name. If like please appreciate. Recently i also tried to contact to Asgard wrath games teams tried to contact via linkedin but no response get. hopefully Sanzaru game given my tag of top rated Fan. thank you
What Is It Missing?
I have been feeling lately like meta quest's universe has so much potential, but something is missing. The worlds feel so hollow and poorly conceived. The houses feel like shells of something that could be more. Don't get me wrong, I think that this Meta Universe is a great start and is going places, but when thinking about my desire for something deeper and purposeful, I had this idea. I am not techy, so please take this all with a grain of salt, but I had to get it out of my system somewhere... The worlds... The worlds need to be fully replaced with official meta quality worlds. Made by them (or approved partners) for the community to enjoy high quality content. By playing and supporting the worlds, you can earn meta coins (or whatever their currency is called) that can be used to make purchases within the meta universe (i.e. decor pieces for your house, or clothing from the existing clothing shopping center). There could be really nice, interactive museums and places to enjoy some sort of learning. Imagine finding yourself on a spaceship, that teaches you about astronomy, and you stop by a little gift shop (where you can buy souvenirs for you immersive home), and a cafe/bar with an AI Bartender you can vent all your problems to (you should be able to hear and speak to the bartender even if you have the setting to keep you from being able to talk to other players and hear them.) Or a grand aquarium that teaches you about the various sea creatures. Everything matches Meta's graphics so that it feels consistent with the rest of the universe. Individuals can still make their own worlds, but they are private and cannot be published without being vetted and approved by meta as matching the quality of Meta's work. More on the worlds later, as more context should be provided for my other world ideas. 2. The avatars... How neat would it be if you had to take care of your avatars. Eat, hydrate, exercise, sleep, etc... They could fill the Horizon Central city with restaurants and cafe that you use the meta coins you earned to eat and drink at. Some of the worlds could even contain places to buy sustenance for your avatar. Maybe there is a grocery store where you can buy food that you stock in your house (I don't think you should be able to buy stuff from a menu within your house, as that defeats the purpose of going there, and thus feels redundant). If you don't take care of your avatars, they won't have the energy to go anywhere fun or play any games. You could have your friends over for virtual dinner, and it serves a purpose. You could go for virtual walks as a break from work, and hydrate with a cup of virtual coffee from a coffee stand in Horizon Central. (I don't think socialization should be a required need, as not everyone has friends with a Meta Quest, and not everyone feels comfortable talking to strangers on the internet.) 3. The homes... There could be a bedroom and kitchen where you store food and drinks. There should be a place for boardgames in the living room that you can purchase from stores in Horizon Central or worlds with shops. Maybe you can also get karaoke machines that you can place anywhere in your house. I think that I should be able to set my remote computer screen at my desk, walk around with the controllers, and still have it stay there (currently my windows follow me and I don't love that all the time). A TV in the living area, picture frames I can place around the house and fill (be it images or selfies taken within universe with meta friends, or pictures taken from your files that you uploaded from real life). Maybe people can create decorations for your house...usable dishes for your food at home, pottery, other decor... similar to custom content. They can rent out stands in Horizon Central and sell them for meta coins. Maybe you could also buy a record player for your house that you can purchase records for using Meta coins or attach your Spotify account to (or whatever music platform you use). Then, when people come over, you can have music playing in the background. Your friends should be able to utilize the boardgames, tv, kitchen, etc. You can set the food up at the table, fill the dishes and set them, and have everyone eat. Also, a clock... somewhere in the house, just saying. 4. AI Guides/Employees in game... I keep coming back to the question of, what feels like the future when in a sci-fi world? I think of the bartender from Passenger, the guide from The Time Machine, The Curator from Ready Player One (sans the reveal at the end when it was that one guy all along). The museums could have fancy AI tour guides that you can ask questions to. Bars can have a similar thing. I think that the use of AI in this way could be so fun and make the world feel so amazing. 5. ADVERTIZING... Now, how can Meta get their real money's worth from all this effort? The answer is in the cities! Billboards, holographic signs! Real companies can purchase slots in the city to advertise their real-life goods and services within the universe, similar to how they would in real life cities. They can purchase prime real estate within Horizon Central itself, or for slightly less money, slots in the worlds. I picture (aside from billboards and signs) a little holographic guy advertising their new and exciting whitening toothpaste, and it plays on a loop, and the audio gets more noticeable the closer you come to it. 6. PETS??? This would be low on the priority list, but how cool would it be to have a pet DLC??? You would feed your dog, take him for walks through Horizon Central, train him, go on adventures together, etc... I imagine this would be an option you would purchase with real money like a game, but you download it to your whole quest. I know it would be a long process to take it this far, but I think Meta is so close, that I can taste the potential. I would absolutely die for something like this. It would truly make the Meta Quest addictive and feel so substantial compared to what it is now. Anyways, thank you to anyone who read this far, I really needed to get it out of my system. And like I said, I am not a developer, so if my idea does not align with real life logistics and capabilities, that is why. As I said, please take this with a grain of salt, as I doubt it makes much of a difference either way.
OCULUS x VRGAMECARE 2-IN-1 SINGLE USE CLEANING PACK?
Oculus - I have this idea of creating a 2-in-1 single use vrgamecare pack, that cleans my Rift but also cleans my face after use. In addition to offering a hygiene product, the packaging could serve as marketing surface for game or product promotion. I have a lot more ideas on what we could do with this and would be very interested in chatted with someone in business development. Can we collaborate and make this a branded Oculus product? Thanks - redacted redacted NYCBrendan Trexler Iribe - The most powerful and greatest CEO and Co-founder
Its takes a lot to be a CEO and it take great vision and hard work to be what Brendan Trexler Iribe is today. I certainly envy his brain power. He is highly respected and has a great sense of dealing with business. He has turned Maryland all around and certainly Facebook won't be what it is if Brendan did not form a partnership with Mark Zuckerberg. I certainly admire Brendan as he has put his body, heart, soul and mind to make what oculus is today. Well done Brendan! God bless you and God bless your mother who gave birth to such a progeny. Well done once again!!!Sharing recipe via VR - Strawberry Deli
Hi all, I am about to share a great recipe that my friend shared with me yesterday. I was in her house, got an invitation to eat (I am invited everyday) and I was quite surprised by the flavours and textures. It is known as strawberry salad from Bangladesh. Take three handful of strawberries, finely chop 3 pieces of garlic and finely chop 5 streaks on coriander, add a bit of salt and mix. It was delicious. I hope this discussion does go to off topic. Enjoy my recipe and eating strawberries a different way. Ciao Saffieyah Maeysons In Cardiff, United Kingdom
