‘I’ve Been Emotionally Preparing Myself for This for a While’: A Top Horizon Worlds Creator Reacts to the Platform’s VR Shutdown

Why It Matters

The closure threatens the revenue streams of VR creators and signals a strategic retreat for Meta, reshaping the competitive landscape of social virtual reality.

Key Takeaways

• Horizon Worlds VR access ending, Meta shifting focus
• Emorgul’s games amassed ~50 million visits
• Creators must relocate content to alternative platforms
• Meta’s metaverse strategy faces credibility setback
• Community loss may accelerate competition in VR social spaces

Pulse Analysis

Meta’s decision to pull the plug on Horizon Worlds’ VR component marks a pivotal shift in its long‑standing metaverse ambitions. Launched in 2020, Horizon Worlds was positioned as a free, user‑generated social universe, but dwindling daily active users and mounting development costs forced the company to reevaluate its consumer VR roadmap. By ending the VR experience while keeping the mobile version alive, Meta aims to consolidate resources around its core advertising business and emerging AI initiatives, effectively conceding ground in the immersive social market.

For creators like Eugene “Emorgul” Morgulis, the shutdown is more than a platform change—it threatens a livelihood built on millions of player interactions. Emorgul’s Element Battling series, which attracted roughly 50 million visits, generated revenue through Meta’s creator fund and in‑experience purchases. With the VR layer disappearing, developers must quickly adapt their assets for mobile or migrate to competing ecosystems such as Roblox, Decentraland, or emerging WebXR hubs. The transition entails technical re‑tooling, audience re‑engagement, and potential revenue gaps, underscoring the fragility of creator‑centric business models dependent on a single platform.

Industry observers see Meta’s retreat as both a cautionary tale and an opening for rivals. Companies that have invested in cross‑platform tools or open standards stand to capture displaced creators and users seeking continuity. Meanwhile, investors are scrutinizing Meta’s broader strategy, questioning whether the company will double down on AI‑driven experiences or explore new monetization pathways beyond VR. For creators, diversifying distribution channels and building community assets that transcend any single headset will be essential to weather future platform volatility.