Meta, the technology group behind Facebook and Instagram, expanded Horizon Worlds into Spain, signaling a first major stride toward the long-anticipated metaverse. The move sets the stage for a shared virtual space where people can play and socialize, connected through immersive experiences in the metaverse concept Meta is pursuing.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the rollout in a post showcasing his Horizon Worlds avatar alongside samples of virtual recreations, including recognisable landmarks like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The message underscored the platform as a bridge to a broader virtual ecosystem where creativity, socializing, and collaboration can unfold in 3D environments.
From this week onward, Horizon Worlds will be accessible to users aged 18 and over in both Spain and France. These two countries become the first European markets to host Meta’s social VR platform, following its earlier presence in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where the service already connects hundreds of thousands of participants each month.
Horizon Worlds stands as one of several virtual reality apps Meta has introduced while shaping what it calls the metaverse. The concept envisions an immersive internet where users inhabit digital spaces as if they were truly inside them, engaging in games, concerts, meetings, and other social activities. The broader field blends real and virtual elements in what many describe as a parallel reality, a place where people spend significant time online and brands experiment with new forms of interaction and commerce.
Earlier this year, Zuckerberg confirmed that the parent entity had rebranded several products and services under the Meta umbrella, consolidating Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Oculus under a single corporate identity. The aim of the pivot was to align the company with its virtual reality vision while addressing scrutiny about the impact of social platforms on user well‑being and public discourse. The shift remains part of a broader effort to invest in immersive technologies and establish a cohesive strategy across its growing line of hardware and software offerings.