One day after announcing plans to end its immersive virtual reality (VR) platform, Horizon Worlds, Meta has reversed course. In a video AMA on Instagram, Meta’s chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth announced that the company will continue supporting the platform for existing games and users.

The decision came as a surprise following Meta's February announcement of shifting investments away from its metaverse and VR efforts, which included layoffs in its Reality Labs division. Despite this, Bosworth cited fan feedback as a driving force behind the reversal.

While new creations in Horizon Worlds are not possible, existing user-generated content will remain accessible. Meta plans to introduce new features such as virtual concerts through the TV app found in the Quest Store, indicating some ongoing support for the platform.

Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at IDC, speculates that the future of Horizon Worlds remains uncertain, albeit for the foreseeable future. Bosworth acknowledged that most consumer and creator energy had shifted towards mobile platforms, suggesting a limited focus on the VR aspect moving forward.

Despite the continued support, uncertainty surrounds how long this will last given Meta's ongoing cost-cutting measures in its metaverse initiatives. As such, the company’s commitment to keeping Horizon Worlds alive may be seen as a balancing act between fan satisfaction and financial prudence.