Source: The Verge
Summary
Meta is changing the focus of its Horizons Worlds virtual reality platform to be “almost exclusively mobile”. The company will also separate its Quest VR platform from the virtual world. According to Meta, the shift is intended to make the platform more accessible to users. The move is seen as a significant change in the company’s VR strategy.
Our Reading
The announcement sounds ambitious. Meta is rebranding its VR strategy as “mobile-first”. Horizons Worlds will now focus on mobile devices, while Quest VR will be a separate entity. The company is essentially admitting that its previous approach wasn’t working. Because what’s new is often just a rehash of what didn’t work the last time.
Author: Evan Null
Rebranding the Same Old Thing
It’s not uncommon for tech companies to rebrand the same ideas and call it progress. Meta’s shift to a “mobile-first” strategy for Horizons Worlds is just another example of this. Instead of innovating, they’re simply rehashing what didn’t work before.
The “New” Strategy
Meta’s new strategy is essentially the same as the old one, just with a different wrapper. They’re still trying to make VR accessible to the masses, but now they’re doing it on mobile devices. Because that’s exactly what people want – more screen time on their phones.
Separating the Platforms
By separating Quest VR from Horizons Worlds, Meta is attempting to create the illusion of innovation. But let’s be real, it’s just a reorganization of existing technology. The company is trying to create a sense of excitement around something that’s not actually new.
Accessibility or Excuse?
Meta claims that the shift to mobile is intended to make the platform more accessible to users. But is it really about accessibility, or is it just an excuse to rebrand the same old thing? Either way, it’s not exactly a groundbreaking move.
Déjà Vu
This whole thing feels like déjà vu. Haven’t we seen this same script play out before? A company announces a “new” strategy, only to realize it’s just a rehash of what didn’t work before. Meta’s Horizons Worlds is just another example of this tired cycle.
