Meta says that over 70% of time spent on Quest headsets is now in free-to-play apps.
Alongside a brand new developer weblog targeted on monetizing in-app purchases throughout the Horizon platform, Meta shared the 70% determine in an X publish whereas posting the weblog. Although this statistic is not talked about within the precise weblog itself, Meta suggested its advised monetization methods are “mirrored in the truth that we’re seeing a big shift in time spent on free-to-play apps on the platform.”
Free-to-play apps are gaining traction, now accounting for over 70% of time spent on Meta Quest. 🚀 Our new Development Insights Sequence helps you capitalize on these rising tendencies with methods for efficient monetization via in-app purchases. ✨ Click on beneath to be taught extra. 👇 pic.twitter.com/qxH0kdekrl
— Meta Horizon Builders (@MetaHorizonDevs) February 27, 2025
Little else is alleged about this topic within the developer weblog, and it isn’t particularly stunning information when it has been clear that Meta’s actively pushing a free-to-play technique on Quest. Whereas free-to-play platforms like VRChat have been obtainable on Quest for years – it is also unclear if this counts apps like Steam Hyperlink – that is been extra outstanding lately with Meta’s heavier deal with selling Horizon Worlds, doubtless as a way of boosting headset retention.
Nonetheless, that focus has led to growing criticisms from builders who imagine this strategy has considerably harmed discoverability of paid apps. In our latest Quest to Horizon report, practically two dozen builders expressed frustrations that this shift has created a big impression on gross sales throughout 2024. Different outstanding issues included final yr’s App Lab merge and curation. Final yr’s shift in route affected this 70% quantity appears doubtless, however the precise impression is unclear.
From Quest To Horizon: How Meta’s Shifting Priorities Are Affecting Builders
With rising issues about declining gross sales and discoverability, UploadVR spoke with practically two dozen VR studios to debate the present state of delivery VR video games on Quest.
Quickly after our report went reside, Meta launched a weblog publish from Samantha Ryan, VP of Metaverse Content material, aiming to deal with these issues. Detailing the rise of in-app purchases and free-to-play content material, Ryan claimed that the “whole fee quantity on the platform rose 12% in 2024, pushed by vital progress of in-app purchases.”
“We don’t assume F2P will exchange premium apps — each fashions are prone to coexist,” Ryan wrote on the time, suggesting this enhance may be attributed to “younger individuals” and a “rising share of recent customers.” You may learn Meta’s earlier response in full beneath.
Meta Responds To VR Developer Considerations Over Discoverability & Gross sales
Meta simply printed a weblog publish responding to VR developer issues about decreased discoverability and gross sales, claiming that Quest platform spend elevated 12% in 2024.
