Metaverse collapse accelerates as Meta slashes Reality Labs, ending its $73B VR gamble in favor of AI.
Matilda
Well, There Goes the Metaverse!
Metaverse Collapse: Meta Abandons $73B VR Dream In a stunning reversal of one of tech’s most expensive bets, Meta has effectively pulled the plug on its metaverse vision—laying off 1,500 Reality Labs employees, shuttering top VR studios, and halting new content for flagship apps like Supernatural . After pouring over $73 billion into virtual reality with little to show for it, the company is now pivoting hard toward artificial intelligence. If you’ve wondered whether the metaverse is dead, the answer is clearer than ever: yes, and Meta just turned off the lights. Credit: Facebook (via CNET) Why Meta’s Metaverse Bet Failed So Spectacularly When Facebook rebranded as Meta in 2021, CEO Mark Zuckerberg framed the metaverse as the next evolution of social connection—a digital universe where people would work, play, and hang out using avatars in VR headsets. The idea was seductive: tap into Gen Z’s love for immersive worlds like Fortnite and Roblox , while escaping the baggage of Facebook’s tarni…
