Inside Meta's million dollar bet on Metaverse

As tech giants double down on immersive worlds, the big question in Silicon Valley is whether Meta can finally push the metaverse into the mainstream.

After rebranding from Facebook in 2021, Meta invested billions into virtual reality hardware, including its Quest headsets, and into Horizon Worlds, its social VR platform. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly framed the metaverse as the next evolution of the internet — a place where work, gaming, shopping and socializing blend into one digital universe.

But adoption has been slower than expected. Critics point to high hardware costs, limited daily use cases and competition from AI-driven platforms stealing investor attention. While Meta continues refining lighter headsets and mixed-reality features, many consumers remain unconvinced they need a virtual world in their everyday lives.

Still, industry analysts say the long game may favor Meta. As younger users grow up with immersive gaming and virtual identities, demand could shift. The real test will be whether Meta can make the experience seamless, affordable and genuinely useful — not just futuristic.

For now, the metaverse remains a bold bet. Whether it becomes mainstream may depend on patience, innovation and timing.