Meta Horizon Worlds is a free virtual reality, online video game with an integrated game creation system developed and published by Meta Platforms. On this multi-player virtual platform, players move and interact with each other in various worlds that host events, games, and social activities. The game works on Oculus Rift S and Meta Quest 2 headsets.
In February 2022, Meta reported Horizon Worlds had an estimated 300,000 users; yet, by October 2022, The Wall Street Journal was reporting less than 200,000 monthly users. Horizon Worlds has received mixed reviews, with critics citing bugs and an unenjoyable environment that degrades the user experience.
In August 2023, Meta announced a new first-party studio called Ouro Interactive to build Horizon Worlds games. Its first title Super Rumble has largely received favorable feedback from users and media outlets. It utilizes new creation features such as asset imports and TypeScript that are not yet available for general creators.
Gameplay
The game may be played with an Oculus Rift S or Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset and uses full 3D motion via the motion capture system of the headset and two hand-held motion controllers, which are required to interact with objects in the game. In October 2022, Meta announced that they will be launching a web version, allowing users to access the game without a headset as well. Players can explore the space around them within the confines of their physical floor-space, while roaming further by using controller buttons to teleport a short distance or to move continuously through the virtual space.
According to Meta, users can create their own avatar, with a custom face and outfit, to represent themselves in the virtual world. All players begin at the hub (also known as the “plaza”), where they can take portals to different worlds created by other users. An integrated game creation system allows users to create new worlds. Users can also create their own personal space, which is a world private to only them. The game’s website lists other features such as taking a picture within the game, joining a party with friends, and blocking users.
Venues
Part of Horizon Worlds is a world named Venues which is used for live events such as concerts or sports games. Meta has formed multiple partnerships to be able to show various content. On October 13, 2022, the UFC announced a partnership with Meta. Users with a UFC Fight Pass will be able to watch live and on-demand events on Horizon Worlds. The UFC debuted the live, virtual reality events on Horizon Worlds with LFA 144 on October 14, 2022. Horizon Worlds will stream live music events as part of its partnership with Tidal, as announced by Meta on October 25, 2022. The platform will stream a live concert series featuring artists who are part of Tidal's emerging artist platform called Tidal Rising. On January 23, 2023, Meta announced an extended partnership with NBA which allows Horizon Worlds users to watch NBA games for free. It also added a dedicated NBA Arena.
Development
The development of Horizon Worlds (formerly called Facebook Horizon) followed earlier social VR apps by Facebook (Oculus Rooms, Oculus Venues, and Facebook Spaces) and focused more on user-generated content than these earlier apps. Facebook announced Facebook Horizon as a new social virtual world at the Oculus Connect 6 conference in September 2019. In August 2020, Facebook announced that more users will receive access to an invite-only beta phase. In an interview with Scott Stein in January 2021, Facebook Reality Labs head Andrew Bosworth conceded that the experiences in Facebook Horizon are not ready for the public and expressed concern that "[i]f you don't have… something driving a lot of people to the place, then you run the risk they're not going to get it."
In August 2021, Facebook released the open beta of Horizon Workrooms, a collaboration app targeted at teams managing remote-work environments. The app offers virtual meeting rooms, whiteboards and video call integration for up to 50 people. On 7 October 2021 Facebook changed the name Facebook Horizon to Horizon Worlds. After an invite-only beta phase, the game was released in the U.S. and Canada to people 18 years or older on December 9, 2021.
In February 2022, Mark Zuckerberg stated that a mobile phone version of Horizon Worlds would launch later in 2022. He has also announced plans for Horizon Worlds to expand to the web.