Meta fires 100 employees who were working on VR headsets
Meta is firing over 100 employees from its Reality Labs division, marking another big change in its approach towards building virtual reality (VR) and wearable products. The move is aimed at cutting down overlapping work within teams and reorganising internal functions for better efficiency, especially as the company continues to push forward in the competitive mixed reality space, Bloomberg reports.This latest downsizing primarily affects employees involved in the development of VR content for Meta's Quest headsets, as well as those working in operations and hardware-related roles. While Meta has not officially confirmed the number of job cuts, a company spokesperson acknowledged that some teams under Oculus Studios have undergone 'structural changes' that led to reduced team sizes.advertisement'Some teams within Oculus Studios are undergoing shifts in structure and roles that have impacted team size,' Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton said in an emailed statement. 'These changes are meant to help Studios work more efficiently on future mixed reality experiences for our growing audience, while still delivering great content for people today.'
Among those hit are team members who worked on Supernatural, a VR-based fitness application that allows Quest users to train with virtual instructors. The app, acquired by Meta in a $400 million deal, was once seen as a key part of the company's VR fitness ambitions. Following the layoffs, the team behind Supernatural confirmed that fewer workout sessions will be released each week.These job cuts are part of a larger trend at Meta, which has been steadily reassessing its priorities in the Reality Labs unit. The division, while ambitious, has faced growing pressure to justify its expenses — especially with VR adoption still far from mainstream levels. Earlier this year, the company also terminated around 3,600 roles across departments, calling it a performance-based decision.Despite the ongoing change, Meta says it is still committed to building immersive mixed reality experiences and plans to continue supporting both fitness and gaming efforts through its Quest lineup. Displaced employees are reportedly being encouraged to apply for other roles within the company.
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