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Meta lays off hundreds of workers, including more from Reality Labs
Meta has laid off hundreds of employees, with a significant number from its Reality Labs division, which focuses on VR and the metaverse. These cuts come amid substantial investments in AI infrastructure and a reported workforce reduction plan. Several executives are also set to receive large, performance-tied compensation packages.
Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang and Sergey Brin join Trump's tech advisory panel
Leaders from major tech companies including Meta, NVIDIA, Dell, Oracle, Google, and AMD have joined an advisory council for former President Donald Trump, focusing on technology and science policy. The council, known as the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), will address emerging technologies and their impact on the American workforce. Several executives expressed honor in joining the council to help ensure US leadership in AI.
Meta And YouTube Lose Social-Media Addiction Lawsuit
A California jury found Meta and YouTube liable in a lawsuit alleging their platforms contributed to a young adult woman's social media addiction and mental health issues. The companies were found negligent in their design, failing to warn users of risks, and causing substantial harm. Meta was assigned 70% of the $3 million compensatory damages, with YouTube responsible for the remaining 30%.
Evening Mobilization
Google's Android Automotive is preparing for a significant expansion into vehicle systems. Separately, the creator of the metaverse has described Meta's virtual reality glasses as 'creepy'.
Evening Legal Briefs
Meta has been ordered by a jury to pay $375 million for violating New Mexico law in a child exploitation case. Separately, Baltimore is suing xAI concerning alleged deepfakes generated by its Grok AI.
Meta is letting creators fill their Reels with shopping links
Meta is enabling creators on Instagram and Facebook to add clickable shopping links directly within their Reels, allowing them to tag up to 30 products. This feature aims to simplify brand partnerships and affiliate marketing for creators, bringing Meta's platforms in line with competitors like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. While Meta is not currently taking a cut of sales, the data gathered could inform its advertising business.
Jury rules against Meta, orders $375 million fine in major child safety trial
A jury in New Mexico has found Meta liable for violating consumer protection laws related to child exploitation and safety, ordering the company to pay $375 million. The lawsuit alleged Meta knew its platforms put children at risk and failed to implement adequate safety measures. Meta plans to appeal the verdict, while the state intends to pursue a public nuisance trial.
There's a new Payday game coming later this year, and it's VR
Starbreeze Studios has announced Payday: Aces High, a new co-op heist game built specifically for virtual reality, set to launch in Q3 2026 for Meta Quest and SteamVR headsets. Developed by Fast Travel Games, this VR title aims to bring the signature chaos of the Payday franchise to an immersive format, despite ongoing challenges with Payday 3 and recent layoffs at Starbreeze.
Mark Zuckerberg is building an AI co-CEO as part of his continuing mission to free himself from the burden of human…
Meta is developing an AI agent to assist CEO Mark Zuckerberg with information retrieval and executive duties, aiming to reduce his reliance on human interaction. This initiative is part of Meta's broader strategy to integrate AI into its core operations and develop AI-native tools for employees, alongside plans for significant staff reductions.
With rumors pointing to Meta's next VR headset using pricey Micro-OLED displays, Valve's Steam Frame could…
Rumors suggest Meta's next VR headset, codenamed 'Phoenix', may feature expensive Micro-OLED displays, positioning it as a premium device similar to the Apple Vision Pro and potentially costing over $1,000. This shift in strategy could open opportunities for Valve's Steam Frame, which is confirmed to use LCD displays and may offer a more gamer-focused alternative if pricing remains competitive.
MMO Week in Review: EverQuest celebrates 27 years and a lawsuit settlement in its favor
EverQuest celebrated its 27th anniversary with a lawsuit settlement that favors Daybreak Game Company, keeping emulators offline. This week also saw layoffs at Amazon for Lost Ark developers, Facebook scaling back VR metaverse ambitions, and discussions around various MMORPG updates and industry trends.
The On & Off Again Saga of Horizon Worlds VR Support
Meta initially announced the removal of VR support for its social VR platform Horizon Worlds, only to reverse the decision shortly after. This marks a confusing turn for the platform's development and its commitment to VR.
You're about to lose your Instagram privacy, so you might want to grab a VPN
Meta is discontinuing end-to-end encryption on Instagram, raising concerns about user online privacy. This change highlights the importance of tools like VPNs for protecting personal data.
Solana Foundation President Announces the End of Crypto Gaming
Solana Foundation President Lily Liu has expressed significant doubts about the future sustainability of blockchain-based gaming, citing industry challenges and Meta's struggles with its metaverse projects. Liu believes blockchain technology's core strength lies in finance rather than gaming, advocating for a strategic redirection towards financial applications.
Virtual Reality Check
Meta has decided to keep its VR metaverse operational in a limited capacity for the foreseeable future, contrary to earlier expectations of closure. The article also briefly touches upon a deep dive into the PlayStation VR2 mode for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Morning Safety Dance
Meta is reportedly ending end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages, raising concerns about data privacy. Separately, federal agencies have disrupted large IoT botnets responsible for significant DDoS attacks.
Meta will move away from human content moderators in favor of more AI
Meta plans to significantly reduce its reliance on human content moderators over the next few years, transitioning to AI-based systems for content review. While humans will still handle critical decisions and training, the company believes AI can identify issues faster and more comprehensively, supporting a wider range of languages. This shift aims to improve efficiency and potentially reduce costs, though it may alter user perception of policy enforcement.
Meta isn't shutting down its VR metaverse after all
Meta has reversed its decision to shut down the VR version of its metaverse, Horizon Worlds, stating it will remain accessible for existing games for the foreseeable future. CTO Andrew Bosworth clarified that while the company is pivoting its metaverse focus towards AI and mobile experiences, VR and Horizon Worlds are not being abandoned. Meta continues to invest in VR technology and is working on its next two generations of VR headsets.
Meta discontinues Horizon Worlds VR as it focuses on mobile
Meta is discontinuing the VR version of its metaverse platform, Horizon Worlds, on June 15, 2026, shifting its focus entirely to a mobile-only experience. The VR version will be removed from the Quest store by March 31, 2026, making all associated worlds inaccessible. Meta Horizon Plus subscription perks will also be phased out by the end of March.
Games Inbox: Are people right to criticise Nvidia’s DLSS 5 tech?
Readers express concerns over Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology, with some criticizing its rollout and potential AI integration. The discussion also touches on the decline of VR gaming, nostalgia for the Xbox 360 era, and anticipation for upcoming game releases in 2026, including Grand Theft Auto 6 and Persona 6.
