Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Zuckerberg Basically Giving Up on Metaverse After Renaming Entire Company “Meta”
Futurism ^ | December 5, 2025 | Victor Tangermann

Posted on 12/06/2025 11:58:06 AM PST by PJ-Comix

In October 2021, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that his social media empire was officially rebranding itself as “Meta” as part of a sweeping company-wide doubling down on virtual reality tech.

The head-scratching pivot has been nothing short of a disaster ever since, from blocky “Horizon Worlds” online environments filled with screeching children to never-ending rounds of layoffs and exorbitant losses.

All told, the company has lost more than $70 billion since the beginning of 2021 on its enormous long-term VR bet, a staggering sum that has left investors itchy and unimpressed as Zuckerberg has failed to convince the public of the high-fidelity virtual spaces he long insisted we’d be choosing to spend most of our time in.

Now, as Bloomberg reports, the company’s executives are eying gigantic budget cuts, as high as 30 percent, for the teams responsible for its Meta Horizon Worlds product and Quest VR headset — another nail in the coffin for Zuckerberg’s obsession that has been a major thorn in the sides of investors for years now. Layoffs could start as soon as January, but final decisions have yet to be made.

(Excerpt) Read more at futurism.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: computers; facebook; internet; meta; metaperverse; metaverse; virtuallyperverse; virtualzuckers; virtualzuckerverse; zuckerberg; zuckerborneverymin; zuckerverse
Message from Jim Robinson:

Dear FRiends,

We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.

If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you,

Jim


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last
To: PJ-Comix

He should be in prison for electioneering and sedition.


21 posted on 12/06/2025 1:21:43 PM PST by HYPOCRACY (Wake up, smell the cat food in your bank account. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PJ-Comix

I believe Tick Tock should go down in flames. It is a bain on civilized society.


22 posted on 12/06/2025 1:32:13 PM PST by A Navy Vet (USA Birth Certificate - 1789. Death Certificate - 2021? )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PJ-Comix
He put The Pigbook on-line and it made him enormously wealthy.

Doesn't mean he knows jack about anything else, least of all in the realm of computer science.

23 posted on 12/06/2025 1:34:49 PM PST by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mowowie

>I was super excited when I got it but after a few hours I barely have used it since.

“Social” was a total disaster; corporate use a fail; dedicated VR games (Beat Saber etc.) pretty good hits; but simulations (flight, driving) where seeing where you’re going is almost a must have.

“Almost” because in the competitive world where people are measuring milliseconds multiple monitors in a panoramic view might have an edge at the top levels.

By “competitive world” I don’t mean 14-year-olds throwing turtles at Mario. Ref. https://fastestlap.com/news/rig-to-ring-verstappen-just-changed-nurburgring-forever/:

VLN sporting director Christian Vormann didn’t try to hide the catalyst. “Since the launch of the DNLS in 2020, we’ve known sim racing is far more than casual entertainment,” he said. “It reproduces reality in a highly accurate way. More recently, Verstappen’s participation in an NLS race showed how crucial virtual preparation can be, especially on the demanding Nordschleife. His secret is sim racing. He’s completed countless laps on iRacing in the Green Hell, including DNLS events. It was no surprise he immediately felt comfortable.”

Nonetheless that wasn’t what Z had in mind, so...


24 posted on 12/06/2025 1:41:22 PM PST by No.6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: shaggy eel

I don’t know why people like you make fun of people on there. People connect with family about deaths, grieving, isolation issues and other serious reasons, daily but if this makes you feel superior I guess that is why you do it.


25 posted on 12/06/2025 1:58:48 PM PST by Beowulf9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: HYPOCRACY

“He should be in prison for electioneering and sedition.”

He absolutely should be. Instead, Trump gave him and his ilk seats of honor at the Inauguration, and hosts them in the White House. 🫤😡


26 posted on 12/06/2025 2:01:54 PM PST by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away". - B. Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: one guy in new jersey

Back around 2021 I recommended an investment to a friend based on my belief that “VR is going to be the future”. Fortunately for my friend, that recommendation was NVIDIA. His investment has grown 10x since that night, although of course it had little to do with VR.


27 posted on 12/06/2025 2:11:11 PM PST by The Duke (Not without incident)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: PJ-Comix

The stock has done really well. This reads like a sour grapes right wing article.


28 posted on 12/06/2025 2:12:57 PM PST by nwrep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Duke

A W is a W. Lol


29 posted on 12/06/2025 2:14:29 PM PST by one guy in new jersey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Bayard

For me, personally, I would like VT exercise equipment. Instead of just looking at the wall or tv it would be pretty fun being in a fantasy land.


30 posted on 12/06/2025 2:23:06 PM PST by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: No.6

Yea the games are really something else.
Very immersive


31 posted on 12/06/2025 2:57:12 PM PST by mowowie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Bayard

VR is filled with nothing but children pretending to be adults, old people pretending to be young, men pretending to be women, and all of them insane.


32 posted on 12/06/2025 3:07:09 PM PST by TexasFreeper2009
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Sure. I’m going to walk around with a 10-pound block strapped to my head and watch ‘virtual places’ with other players - who are mostly zombie characters standing stock still, half a dozen screaming kids, and a lot of other stupid pointless stuff. And pay for it. You bet.


33 posted on 12/06/2025 3:13:47 PM PST by Buck-Toothed Knuckle Dragger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PJ-Comix

And they kept telling us that Zucker was smart? Stupid is as stupid does.


34 posted on 12/06/2025 3:15:25 PM PST by Bullish (My tagline ran off with another man, but it's okay... I wasn't married to it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: one guy in new jersey

Is “Meta” another word for headache?


35 posted on 12/06/2025 3:17:36 PM PST by Bullish (My tagline ran off with another man, but it's okay... I wasn't married to it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Beowulf9
... but if this makes you feel superior...

,,, it doesn't but falling into the "people like you" category makes me feel less lonely :)

36 posted on 12/06/2025 3:48:04 PM PST by shaggy eel (A long way south of the border.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: shaggy eel

I have friends who have lost close family members, their husbands of a lifetime, who are speaking seeking comfort, people who are talking politics same as on here, why does everyone make fun of FB as if people stop behaving like people? FB has many people who talk about serious issues to them and connect for love and friendship.


37 posted on 12/06/2025 4:03:46 PM PST by Beowulf9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Beowulf9
why does everyone make fun of FB

,,, I'm feeling deflated now. I thought I was the only one.

38 posted on 12/06/2025 4:07:06 PM PST by shaggy eel (A long way south of the border.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: mowowie

I have a Quest 3, and the flight sims (and space pilot sims) are awesome.


39 posted on 12/06/2025 5:13:49 PM PST by Bikkuri
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Bikkuri

Yea the games can be incredibly immersive...I should ask for a gift card for Christmas and buy a few more...


40 posted on 12/06/2025 6:02:58 PM PST by mowowie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson