What you need to know
- Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth expressed in a leaked memo that the fate of the metaverse will be determined by 2025, whether it will be a game-changer or a failure.
- Bosworth is being direct—Horizon Worlds needs to succeed, or it might be the end of the line.
- Reality Labs is under pressure to increase headset sales and engage users in mixed reality, especially on mobile devices.
Despite investing heavily in AI, Meta is still heavily invested in the metaverse. However, the metaverse has not yet lived up to the hype.
According to Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, 2025 will be a critical year for the metaverse. He suggested in an internal memo (via Business Insider) that the success of Reality Labs’ work in mixed reality will determine its impact, labeling it a potential “legendary misadventure.”
Bosworth emphasized Meta’s commitment to the metaverse, including Horizon Worlds, until 2025. Beyond that, Meta needs to see tangible results and improved performance to justify continued investment.
Despite receiving billions in funding, Reality Labs, Meta’s VR division, has struggled to bring VR to the masses. Recent financial losses highlight the challenges in turning this ambitious project into a success.
Bosworth’s perspective on Horizon Worlds suggests that it could either be a game-changing success or a failure. He seems to lean towards the latter scenario.
Even with Meta’s resources, Bosworth noted the importance of boosting sales and engagement, especially in the mixed reality space. He highlighted the need for Horizon Worlds to excel on mobile platforms.
While 2024 was a strong year for Reality Labs, Bosworth acknowledged that it has yet to make a significant impact. He praised the team’s efforts with Meta’s Ray-Bans and AI projects but emphasized the need for a leaner, more efficient approach going forward.