Meta Halts Work-Dedicated Metaverse Initiatives

In a significant strategic shift, Meta has announced it will cease its efforts in providing a metaverse workspace solution called Horizon Workrooms, effective by February 16, 2026. Launched by Facebook shortly before its rebranding to Meta, Workrooms was introduced as an innovative virtual environment to facilitate worker collaboration.

The announcement was subtly placed within a support page, confirming the termination of Workrooms as an independent application. Beyond this, Meta stated that it will withdraw the sales of its virtual reality headsets and enterprise-focused software packages, drawing the curtain by February 20, 2026.

This decision is part of a broader recalibration of Meta's business strategy concerning its VR initiatives, illustrated by staff reductions within its Reality Labs unit, amounting to a significant workforce reduction of around 10%. These moves mirror Meta's evolving understanding and interpretation of the 'metaverse' concept, increasingly emphasizing mobile-reliant solutions over immersive VR experiences.

Transition from VR Focus

Meta's pivot also involved halting future updates for Supernatural, a notable VR fitness app, and closing specific operations entirely. Despite these changes, it's expected that Meta may continue fostering its Horizon Worlds project, indicating potential new directions leveraging mobile technology over traditional VR rigs.

As Meta realigns resources, its Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, hinted at plans to enrich the suite of Horizon offerings, aimed at mobile platforms equipped with advanced AI tools for content creation.

Implications for Current Users and Alternatives

The cessation of Workrooms implies that data associated with the app will be deleted when the service shuts down but suggests alternate collaborations tools like Arthur, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. Meanwhile, the Meta Quest Remote Desktop will continue serving users needing to simulate multiple digital workstations in VR.

Furthermore, providers of Meta Horizon managed services will maintain courtesy access to clients until January 2030, marking a transition towards offering these licenses without charge from mid-February 2026.