Meta is closing its VR workplace app amid Reality Labs layoffs

Meta has announced the closure of its virtual reality workplace application, Horizon Workrooms, as part of significant layoffs within its metaverse division. The company revealed in a blog post that access to Workrooms will be terminated on February 16, with all related user data set to be deleted thereafter. Originally launched in 2021 to facilitate remote collaboration among teams in a virtual environment, Workrooms represented Meta's ambitious foray into the metaverse. However, its shutdown is tied to broader restructuring efforts within Reality Labs, the division responsible for developing VR headsets and the VR-centric social network Horizon Worlds. Reports indicate that Meta plans to reduce its workforce in Reality Labs by approximately 10% to 15%, affecting around 1,500 of its 15,000 employees. The financial toll of the metaverse initiative has been substantial for Meta, with losses exceeding $70 billion since 2020. The company has faced multiple rounds of job cuts as it reallocates resources and focus towards artificial intelligence. In a memo shared with Business Insider last year, Meta's Chief Technology Officer stressed that 2025 would be a pivotal year for the company's metaverse ambitions. While Workrooms aimed to foster collaboration and connection in a virtual space, the platform has since evolved into a broader social platform that integrates various productivity tools. Additionally, Meta announced that its Horizon managed services will cease to be available for purchase starting February 20, though existing customers can expect support until 2030.