Well, there goes the metaverse!

Meta’s VR ambitions face major setbacks

The metaverse is on its last legs as VR is eclipsed by AI. But that’s not the only thing that went wrong for Meta’s VR ambitions.

Meta’s massive investment and failure to generate demand

Meta burned $73 billion on VR, couldn’t extract platform rents fast enough (47.5% take before there was an economy), and is now doing away with its Reality Labs projects.

Consumer rejection of VR platforms

Consumers have largely rejected Meta’s VR offerings, leading to a significant reversal in the company’s strategy that once centered on the metaverse concept.

Industry reaction and broader implications

The shift signals a broader trend where AI is outpacing VR in innovation and adoption, raising questions about the future of immersive digital environments.

來源：https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/19/well-there-goes-the-metaverse/