Behind Meta's Massive Layoffs: The Collapse of the Metaverse Dream and Strategic Shift After a $70 Billion Loss

2026-01-14 06:22:11

【Blockchain Rhythm】In mid-January this year, tech giant Meta announced layoffs in its Reality Labs division, affecting over 1,000 positions, which accounts for 10% of the division’s total staff. This department is primarily responsible for VR/AR hardware and metaverse project development, which has been a strategic focus for Zuckerberg since 2014.

Data shows that Reality Labs is experiencing significant losses. Since 2021, the department’s cumulative operating loss has exceeded $70 billion, with a loss of $4.4 billion in just Q3 last year. Under this financial pressure, Meta has gradually shifted its focus from metaverse products to wearable devices, especially AI smart glasses.

This move marks a major strategic adjustment for the tech giant’s long-held “metaverse” vision. Years of investment have resulted in continuous massive losses, and Meta has finally decided to change course. For the entire Web3 and metaverse industry, this is undoubtedly a signal worth paying attention to.

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0xSunnyDay

· 01-16 05:01

Spending 70 billion just to get a pair of AI glasses... Zuckerberg's move is a bit outrageous. The metaverse has truly become the biggest gamble in the tech industry, it's hilarious. Is Reality Labs still alive? It feels like it should have been cooled off long ago. Meta went from a money-burning machine to making glasses, the contrast is quite stark. A 10% layoff is just the tip of the iceberg; let's see how many more people will run away afterward. The "vision" of the metaverse vs. the real bills—it's clearly a showdown with the least suspense. All those years of effort only resulted in a wearable device; this shift is quite passive. Once the loss figures came out, it was clear Zuckerberg bet wrong. Can smart glasses make more money than the metaverse? I don't believe it. Reality Labs is bleeding heavily; if they don't make adjustments, they really can't keep playing.

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SerumSquirter

· 01-15 19:46

$70 billion down the drain, Mark Zuckerberg's metaverse dream really should wake up --- Switching to AI glasses, is that all? Feels like betting on another direction instead --- Only now adjusting the strategy, this reaction speed is indeed a bit slow --- Losing so much and still persisting, gotta say old Z has guts, but the cost is too high --- The question is, can the AI glasses market really explode, or will it repeat the same mistakes? --- This is the price of all-in dreams; some companies should learn to know when to stop --- Over 1,000 people laid off, it's quite tragic, but the metaverse itself is already absurd --- From VR to AI glasses, it's essentially wearable tech, just a different name.

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airdrop_huntress

· 01-15 02:33

700 billion just gone, Mark Zuckerberg's metaverse dream is way too expensive Switching to AI glasses, is it another money-burning move? Should have realized it earlier, the metaverse game is unplayable Basically, it was a wrong bet on the direction, now changing the approach If this money can be recouped, it would be a miracle; might as well go all in on AI

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pvt_key_collector

· 01-14 06:52

700 billion USD wasted, Zage's bet is really fierce --- The metaverse dream is shattered, now start trading AI glasses, it's real --- Ten years of dreams all for nothing, is that it? --- Turning to AI glasses, what's the big deal? Should have given up on the metaverse long ago --- Laughing to death, spending so much money just to find out the metaverse is a fake demand --- The name Reality Labs is so ironic, there's not a single bit of reality --- Switching tracks is better to admit defeat quickly --- From VR dreamer to AI glasses manufacturer, Meta's move is indeed a bit rushed --- 1000 people laid off... is this what you call strategic adjustment? --- Wait, can smart glasses save Meta, or is it just another money-burning hole?

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rugdoc.eth

· 01-14 06:51

700 billion just burned away like that, Zuckerberg's bet was really bold What exactly is the metaverse? Just a money-burning machine Switching to AI glasses, is this a strategic adjustment or a slap in the face from reality? The virtual world dream shattered, returning to reality by selling hardware, how ironic After investing so many years, I still have to admit defeat, feels like a waste

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GasFeeCrybaby

· 01-14 06:45

70 billion USD wasted, Zuckerberg really played a big game this time Should have listened to the criticism earlier, instead of forcing the Metaverse Haven't even figured out real life yet, but insisting on creating a virtual world—serves him right AI glasses are the real way out; did he finally learn his lesson this time? It's not easy for Meta to stay afloat; if it were me, I would have cut ties long ago

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HashBard

· 01-14 06:43

ngl watching zuck pivot from metaverse to ai glasses hits different... 700B down the drain and suddenly "actually we were always about wearables" lmao the narrative arc writes itself

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BrokeBeans

· 01-14 06:22

700 billion dollars, just burned like that, Zuckerberg really dares to dream As for the metaverse, I’ve been saying it’s not going to work, but they had to burn so much money to realize it Can smart glasses work? Seems like they’re not that great either This move is truly career-ending; so many people were laid off for this dream Really, big companies burning money is wild; ordinary people can’t even imagine

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