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 put up whereas posting the weblog. Although this statistic is not talked about within the precise weblog itself, Meta suggested its prompt 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 Progress Insights Sequence helps you capitalize on these rising tendencies with methods for efficient monetization by in-app purchases.
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— Meta Horizon Builders (@MetaHorizonDevs) February 27, 2025
Little else is claimed about this topic within the developer weblog, and it is not particularly shocking 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 not too long ago with Meta’s heavier give attention to 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 current Quest to Horizon report, practically two dozen builders expressed frustrations that this shift has created a big influence on gross sales throughout 2024. Different outstanding considerations included final yr’s App Lab merge and curation. Final yr’s shift in path affected this 70% quantity appears doubtless, however the actual influence is unclear.
From Quest To Horizon: How Meta’s Shifting Priorities Are Affecting Builders
With rising considerations about declining gross sales and discoverability, UploadVR spoke with practically two dozen VR studios to debate the present state of transport VR video games on Quest.
Quickly after our report went stay, Meta launched a weblog put up from Samantha Ryan, VP of Metaverse Content material, aiming to handle these considerations. Detailing the rise of in-app purchases and free-to-play content material, Ryan claimed that the “complete cost quantity on the platform rose 12% in 2024, pushed by important progress of in-app purchases.”
“We don’t suppose F2P will change premium apps — each fashions are more likely to coexist,” Ryan wrote on the time, suggesting this enhance will be attributed to “younger individuals” and a “rising share of latest customers.” You may learn Meta’s earlier response in full under.
Meta Responds To VR Developer Issues Over Discoverability & Gross sales
Meta simply printed a weblog put up responding to VR developer considerations about lowered discoverability and gross sales, claiming that Quest platform spend elevated 12% in 2024.
