In a fresh wave of job cuts, Meta has laid off more than 100 employees from its Reality Labs division, continuing a trend of streamlining operations and refocusing its long-term strategy. The impacted roles span several teams, including Oculus Studios — responsible for developing immersive virtual reality content — and the Supernatural team, which manages Meta’s popular VR fitness app.
This downsizing comes amid ongoing internal restructuring across Meta, as the company tightens performance expectations and redistributes resources. Reality Labs has been one of Meta’s most ambitious — and costly — ventures, with billions invested in developing technologies aimed at powering the metaverse, including VR and AR hardware, software, and content. However, profitability and mainstream adoption have remained elusive, prompting leadership to reassess priorities.
According to internal sources, these layoffs are not part of a mass layoff wave like those seen in 2023 and early 2024, but rather targeted adjustments aimed at aligning teams with updated strategic goals. While some projects have been scaled back or sunset entirely, others — particularly those tied to mixed reality experiences and new Quest headset innovations — remain in active development.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has consistently emphasized 2025 as a year of “efficiency and focus.” In previous statements, he made it clear that Meta’s investments will increasingly concentrate on core technologies with the potential for near-term impact, including artificial intelligence and productivity-enhancing tools, while still maintaining a foundational commitment to the metaverse.
Despite the cuts, Meta is still hiring aggressively in other areas of Reality Labs, with hundreds of open positions posted. This suggests a reallocation of resources rather than a retreat from the metaverse strategy altogether.
The recent layoffs, while smaller in scale compared to previous rounds, mark another chapter in Meta’s ongoing evolution as it tries to balance visionary innovation with financial discipline. For those affected, the company is reportedly offering severance packages and support for job transitions.
