# Mark Zuckerberg's original metaverse vision is effectively over after ~$80 billion and a company rename

_Monday, March 23, 2026 at 3:35 AM EDT · Tech & Business · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

Mark Zuckerberg's original vision for the metaverse is effectively over after Meta spent approximately $80 billion and renamed the entire company around the concept, the New York Times reported.

Meta's Horizon Worlds virtual reality social platform failed to attract a meaningful user base despite years of development. The company has shifted its focus to AI, which now dominates its product roadmap.

The pivot represents one of the most expensive strategic retreats in corporate history.

## Sources

- [NYT](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/technology/the-long-farewell-to-mark-zuckerbergs-metaverse.html)

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