The Metaverse Says Goodbye: The Closure of Horizon Workrooms

The End of an Era? 📉

I recently came across a very interesting video titled “Finally the METAVERSE is DEAD”, and it makes a lot of sense given the latest news coming from Meta.

If you were betting on virtual reality meetings as the future of work, this news implies a significant shift.

Goodbye Horizon Workrooms 👋

Meta has officially confirmed that Horizon Workrooms will be discontinued as a standalone app on February 16, 2026.

Launched in 2021, Workrooms was Meta’s big bet to bring the office into the virtual world. The idea was ambitious: expressive avatars, virtual whiteboards, and the ability to see your computer screen inside VR. However, it seems adoption wasn’t as high as expected.

Why is Workrooms closing? 🤔

This move is part of a broader restructuring within Meta’s Reality Labs division. According to reports, the company is:

1. Cutting costs: There have been budget cuts and layoffs in the division.
2. Shifting focus: Investment is moving from pure VR towards wearables and AI-powered smart glasses.
3. Simplifying: Remote desktop functionality is now integrated into the Quest OS, making parts of the app redundant.

What if I use Workrooms?

If you are an active user, you have until February 16, 2026, to download any important data. After that date, you will lose access.

Meta is not offering a direct first-party replacement for multi-user meetings but recommends third-party alternatives such as:

• Microsoft Teams Immersive
• Zoom Workplace
• Arthur

My take

It’s interesting to see how the “Metaverse” narrative has shifted. From being “the inevitable future” to seeing its own flagship tools shut down. Perhaps the future isn’t living inside a headset, but having a digital layer over the real world (Augmented Reality) with lighter devices.

What do you think? Did you ever use Workrooms?