Zuckerberg backtracks after Horizon Worlds backlash, claims Meta is 'capable of much more'
After a week of being pelted with tomatoes in the internet town square over the low-quality graphics of Meta's Horizon Worlds, Mark Zuckerberg has emerged from the slush to clear the air. Despite the unimpressive WiiU-like avatars and low-res virtual landmarks we've seen so far, Zuck claims Meta is capable of creating pseudo-realistic worlds in the metaverse.
Earlier this week, Zuck posted to Facebook announcing the release of Meta's platform Horizon Worlds in Spain and France. The post was accompanied by a "selfie" of Zuck's giant-eyed avatar in Horizon Worlds. Behind him sit appallingly simple renderings of the Eiffel Tower and Barcelona's Basílica de la Sagrada Família on the flattest plane of grass I have ever seen.
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The internet was in agreement: Given the $10 billion Meta poured into the metaverse, this was an embarrassing result.
But today, Aug. 19, Zuck took to Instagram and Facebook to say the post was published "very quickly" in celebration and that Horizon Worlds is "capable of much more," and is "improving very quickly."
To prove it, he included two photos, both presumably from within more advanced versions of Horizon Worlds: one of his "yassified" avatar and another of a vaguely Roman-esque ruin landscape.
I honestly have no idea what the ruins one is supposed to show us — maybe that Horizon Worlds is capable of graphics that come standard with most modern video games? But we can't deny it's a welcome upgrade. We'll keep an eye out, Mark.
Topics Virtual Reality Meta
Elizabeth is a digital culture reporter covering the internet's influence on self-expression, fashion, and fandom. Her work explores how technology shapes our identities, communities, and emotions. Before joining Mashable, Elizabeth spent six years in tech. Her reporting can be found in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, TIME, and Teen Vogue. Follow her on Instagram here.
