Meta Unveils New Horizon Engine and Creator Tools for Horizon Worlds
Key Points
- Meta launches the Horizon Engine for better graphics and performance in Horizon Worlds.
- Meta Horizon Studio provides an editor with generative AI tools for creators.
- An AI assistant will be added to the studio later this year to handle natural‑language requests.
- Horizon Worlds is now available on both VR headsets and mobile devices.
- Meta introduced a $50 million creator fund to encourage development of new experiences.
Meta announced major upgrades to its Horizon Worlds platform, introducing a new Horizon Engine that delivers better graphics, faster performance, and higher concurrency for virtual reality experiences. The company also launched Meta Horizon Studio, an editor that lets creators build custom VR worlds using generative AI tools, with plans to add an AI assistant later this year. Horizon Worlds, now available on both VR headsets and mobile devices, is supported by a $50 million creator fund aimed at expanding its developer community.
Meta Expands Horizon Worlds Capabilities
Meta is rolling out a suite of enhancements to its Horizon Worlds platform, aiming to attract more creators and improve user experiences. The centerpiece of the upgrade is the Horizon Engine, a new game engine designed to provide higher‑quality graphics, faster performance, and greater concurrency for virtual reality. According to Meta, the engine enables more advanced VR worlds while supporting larger numbers of simultaneous users.
Meta Horizon Studio: A Creator‑Focused Editor
Alongside the engine, Meta introduced Meta Horizon Studio, an editor that empowers developers to craft custom VR environments. The studio already integrates generative AI tools that can produce textures and audio assets, streamlining the creative workflow. Meta has announced that an AI assistant will be incorporated into the editor later in the year, allowing developers to converse with a chatbot to request changes such as new environments or adjustments to AI‑driven non‑player characters.
AI‑Powered Development Demonstration
During a recent demonstration at Connect 2025, a developer interacted with an AI chatbot to modify a virtual scene, illustrating how natural‑language prompts can shape both visual and behavioral aspects of a VR world. This showcase highlighted Meta’s commitment to simplifying the development process through conversational AI.
Broadening Access: Mobile and Funding Support
Horizon Worlds, originally a VR‑only experience, has expanded to mobile platforms, broadening its potential audience. To further stimulate creator participation, Meta opened a $50 million‑dollar creator fund earlier this year. The fund is intended to support developers in building immersive experiences for the platform.
Strategic Outlook
Meta’s upgrades reflect an ongoing strategy to strengthen its presence in the metaverse space by improving technical foundations and lowering barriers for creators. By coupling a more powerful engine with AI‑enhanced tooling and financial incentives, Meta hopes to grow the ecosystem of Horizon Worlds experiences and increase user engagement across both VR and mobile devices.