Meta Discontinues In-Headset Building Feature for ‘Horizon Worlds’, Signaling a Change in Growth Strategy

Meta recently unveiled a preview version of the Desktop Editor for Horizon Worlds, marking a significant shift in their game development approach. This new PC-based editor aims to provide creators with a more robust and user-friendly platform, reminiscent of Unity, enhancing ease and quality in world-building compared to its predecessor, the Quest-native VR editor, which Meta is now phasing out.

The company has been striving to broaden its audience to ensure the success of Horizon Worlds, as its reach on the Quest platform hasn’t quite hit the mark. Although 2023 saw Meta opening its metaverse to mobile and desktop users—beyond the VR enthusiasts who joined during the initial beta phase in 2021—the experience remains predominantly VR-centric. However, that’s about to change.

This fresh Desktop Editor hands developers the familiar environment of traditional game engines like Unity to create and publish new worlds. Meta is nudging creators away from VR creation tools, labeling them as “legacy” and highly recommending that they transition their development processes to the new desktop setup and other PC tools, according to their developer resources.

Interestingly, Horizon World creators are still able to preview their scenes in virtual reality, even when using the desktop-based editor, although it’s no longer essential. This means users don’t necessarily need a VR headset anymore, and neither do the creators designing these worlds.

This move follows on the heels of a leaked memo from Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, suggesting the mobile version of the app is critical to their long-term strategy. Bosworth noted that its success is essential if Meta’s broader objectives are to stand a chance.

In a bid to foster content creation and engagement, Meta recently announced the launch of a substantial $50 million fund to support creators in Horizon Worlds. The company recognizes the struggles self-contained VR studios face and aims to drive participation through additional funding.

On a wider scale, this strategy reflects Meta’s commitment to enhancing Horizon Worlds’ appeal by allocating more resources and equipping developers with familiar tools. The company also has its sights on younger Quest users, who typically gravitate towards free-to-play and socially interactive experiences—precisely the kind of audience Meta hopes to attract to Horizon Worlds.