Meta Shifts Strategy by Discontinuing In-Headset Building Tool for ‘Horizon Worlds’

Meta has just rolled out a preview version of a brand-new Desktop Editor for Horizon Worlds, offering world creators a platform that closely resembles the game development engine Unity. This PC-based tool is touted to be much more powerful, making it easier to craft higher-quality virtual worlds than its previous editor, which was native to Quest. Meta is now phasing out that older VR editor.

For Horizon Worlds to thrive, Meta is counting on reaching a broader audience. So far, it hasn’t quite captured the attention it envisioned on Quest. While in 2023, Meta made the platform available on mobile and desktop, finally bringing non-VR users on board since its initial beta launch in 2021, the experience has remained primarily VR-focused. That dynamic, however, seems to be shifting.

The newly launched Desktop Editor opens up possibilities for developers experienced with traditional game engines like Unity to create and publish virtual worlds. Meta advises in its developer resources that the old VR tools are now considered outdated. They urge developers to transition to the Desktop Editor and other PC-based creation tools.

Interestingly, creators can still review scenes in VR while working in the desktop editor, though having a VR headset isn’t a necessity anymore. The exciting takeaway? Horizon Worlds users and creators are no longer bound to VR headsets.

This development comes on the heels of a leaked memo from Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, earlier this month, emphasizing the critical need for the mobile version of the app to take off for any long-term ambitions to succeed.

Adding to this momentum, Meta recently announced its plan to launch a hefty $50 million fund aimed at driving content creation within Horizon Worlds. This move is designed to ignite engagement amidst challenges faced by standalone VR studios.

Moreover, this strategy reveals Meta’s commitment to Horizon Worlds, as it not only invests money into developer tools that many are already comfortable with but also seeks to capture the thriving community of younger Quest users. These younger gamers often gravitate towards free-to-play and socially-driven experiences—exactly what Meta seems to be aiming for with Horizon Worlds.