Another metaverse is set to die in June
Multiple metaverse platforms are discontinuing operations, highlighting the continued decline of virtual world projects that garnered significant industry attention. Holoearth, which launched in 2024, is shutting down, while Meta announced in March that the VR version of Meta Horizon Worlds will close in June. These closures mark another setback for the metaverse sector, which has struggled to gain sustained user engagement despite substantial corporate investment.
The failures validate early skeptics of the metaverse trend, including PC Gamer’s Wes Fenlon, who predicted the virtual world concept would not materialize into mainstream technology. The closures stand in stark contrast to Mark Zuckerberg’s 2021 rebranding of Facebook to Meta, a move that positioned the metaverse as the company’s primary strategic focus. Despite this high-profile backing and significant resource allocation, the metaverse initiative has failed to achieve meaningful adoption or cultural significance.
These shutdowns reflect a broader pattern across the industry: while metaverse projects have persisted quietly in operation, many are now discontinuing services. The market has demonstrated limited demand for virtual world platforms, raising questions about the viability of metaverse-based business models and entertainment experiences. The closures underscore how major corporate bets on emerging technology trends can fail to materialize, regardless of capitalization or industry hype.