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Meta Weighs Up to 30% Cuts to Metaverse Budget for 2026, Report Says

Unconfirmed budgeting talks follow years of steep Reality Labs losses alongside a pivot toward AI initiatives.

Overview

  • Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the talks, reports Meta executives have discussed cutting Reality Labs spending by as much as 30% for 2026, though plans are not finalized.
  • The deepest reductions are expected in the virtual reality group that makes Quest headsets, with Horizon Worlds also affected, and layoffs could begin as early as January.
  • The potential changes emerged from Meta’s annual budget process, including November strategy meetings at Mark Zuckerberg’s Hawaii compound, where most teams were asked to find 10% savings.
  • Investors reacted positively to the reports, lifting Meta shares roughly 3% to 6% and adding about $69 billion in market value.
  • Reality Labs has accumulated more than $70 billion in losses since 2021 as Meta shifts emphasis to AI models and AI-linked hardware, including recent hiring of Apple design leader Alan Dye; the company declined to comment.