META’s CTO Says The Metaverse Could be a ‘Legendary Misadventure’ as Total Loss Exceeds $60 Billion

A recently published document, originating from the Chief Technology Officer at META, suggests that the year 2025 may determine the fate of the Metaverse.

According to a memo obtained by Business Insider, it appears that the document dates back to November 2024. In this memo, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, allegedly communicated to his staff that the year 2025 is of utmost importance for the development of the Metaverse at Meta.

In the memo, Bosworth stated, “It’s crucial for us to boost sales, customer retention, and user engagement all around, but particularly within the Metaverse.

He went on, stating, “For our long-term aspirations to succeed, Horizon Worlds on mobile needs to make a significant impact. If you’re not aware of the historical significance, then you might be overlooking it. This year could very well decide whether this project will be remembered as a visionary achievement or a regrettable misstep.

According to Business Insider, Meta’s Reality Labs generated a record $1.08 billion in quarterly revenue during Q4, but it also posted its largest-ever quarterly loss of $4.97 billion. As of now, the Reality Labs division has amassed a total loss of approximately $60 billion since 2020.

In 2024, the total amount spent on video games and related hardware within the United States was approximately $58.7 billion, marking a minor decrease of 1% compared to the expenditure in 2023.

The full memo to employee’s reads:

2025: The Year of Greatness

2023 promises to be a pivotal year for me, marking my 8th year with Reality Labs. Our current product line-up is our strongest yet, and we’re building on that strength by introducing six more AI-powered wearable devices. The stakes are high as we strive to boost sales, customer retention, and user engagement across the board, particularly in Mixed Reality (MR). For Horizon Worlds on mobile to truly thrive is crucial for our long-term aspirations to succeed. If you’re not feeling the pressure of history bearing down on us, then perhaps you’re not fully aware of the situation. This year could well decide whether this endeavor will be remembered as groundbreaking visionary work or an epic misstep.

I’ve been going through “Insanely Great” again, Steven Levy’s account of the Macintosh computer’s history. This book highlights the tremendous endeavors of individuals who worked in teams of 1-3 to create a device that stands out as a defining symbol of the consumer era in personal computing. What intrigues me most is how people who parted ways with the project on less than ideal terms (the management wasn’t great) still hold their work there with an overwhelming sense of pride. There was a strong cultural ethos, instilled by a young Steve Jobs himself, that the work had to be “insanely great.

2024 marked our best year so far, but instead of basking in the glory, we understand that our accomplishments fall short of what truly matters. We haven’t left an impact on the world as we intended yet. The reward for doing well is the chance to excel even more.

Remarkable opportunities lie before us, as we dwell in an era marked by extraordinary technological advancements. By strategically investing, we’ve positioned ourselves right at the heart of these breakthroughs. It’s highly unlikely that many of us will encounter such chances again.

As a gamer, I’ve realized that greatness isn’t something that just falls into our laps. There are countless moments where we stand on the brink of an opportunity, but many of us fail to seize it. The truth is, for most, they don’t even bother pushing themselves to their limits. Instead, they settle for less than what they’re truly capable of.

At present, you should strive to excel more than ever before in your career. This means focusing on areas where you can improve and strengthening the skills that you already possess well. My hope is that when you look back on this period, you’ll feel proud knowing you gave it your all and seized every opportunity for growth.

A key insight I’ve gained recently is that smaller teams can produce exceptional work and often outperform larger, more funded ones. This is because they tend to move faster and yield better outcomes. Moreover, their members are typically happier! The reason is that small teams avoid the pitfalls of ‘design by committee,’ which can slow things down significantly. Being part of numerous documents or meetings becomes frustrating and counterproductive when your focus should be solely on achieving results.

The way forward is straightforward. It’s not necessary to innovate excessively to excel in this task. Instead, the majority of people in our organization should focus on effectively executing the tasks at hand. This is about achieving operational perfection, about demonstrating exceptional skill, and about infusing our products with genuine care. Ultimately, it’s all about taking pride in our work.

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2025-02-05 13:50