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Meta rolls out new AI content enforcement systems while reducing reliance on third-party vendors

Meta blu-ray-set-sparks-debate.html" class="story-link" title="$270 Stranger Things: The Complete Series Blu-Ray Collection Announced — Contain">announced it would shut down the VR version of Horizon Worlds on June 15th to focus on mobile. Two days later, the company reversed course, saying it would keep the VR metaverse running "for the foreseeable future" but with limited support and no new games. The abrupt reversal came after significant coverage of the initial shutdown announcement.

Horizon Worlds was supposed to be the cornerstone of Meta's $13+ billion metaverse bet and the reason Instagram creators guaranteed money to start p">Facebook rebranded to Meta in 2021. The near-shutdown and hasty reversal highlights how far the company has retreated from its grand metaverse vision, even as it tries to save face by keeping the lights on.
Critics say

The flip-flop shows Meta's metaverse strategy is in complete disarray. After spending tens of billions on VR and staking the company's entire identity on the metaverse, they can't even commit to keeping their flagship social platform running without immediate public embarrassment forcing their hand.

Meta says

The company is simply pivoting resources to where users actually are - mobile platforms. Keeping Horizon Worlds alive in VR shows they're still committed to the space while being realistic about current adoption. They're maintaining the platform for existing users while focusing development where it makes business sense.