Can Meta's Metaverse Ambitions Extend Beyond Zuckerberg's Unclear Vision?

The widespread ridicule of Meta's flagship metaverse product, Horizon Worlds, is a significant setback, but it may not be a fatal blow to the company's ambitions. Despite the negative headlines and low user engagement, Meta can still learn from this experience and apply those lessons to its broader metaverse strategy. The company's ideas about the metaverse have never been limited to Horizon Worlds, which was always intended as an experimental platform for testing metaverse concepts. However, the failure of Horizon Worlds to gain traction has raised questions about Meta's overall approach to the metaverse and its ability to articulate a clear vision for this technology. The company is still trying to run before it can walk, with its user experience ambitions not matched by its current technology. The hardware and software required to access Horizon Worlds are cumbersome, uncomfortable, and lacking in visual fidelity, making it difficult for users to engage with the platform for extended periods. Meta needs to address these fundamental problems and develop a clearer understanding of what the metaverse will actually be and how it will benefit consumers and businesses. The company's lack of a clear thought leader with a coherent vision for the metaverse is a significant issue, and the dominance of Mark Zuckerberg's personal passion for the project has led to a lack of direction and mission. To succeed, Meta needs to base its metaverse development on proper research, data, and analysis, rather than trying to appease its CEO's personal preferences.