Top story: Meta was going to remove VR from Horizon Worlds, then reversed its decision (more below).

24 March event: If you want to have a drink and do some networking in London, we have a general networking event in London on 24 March. Come if you wish!

30 April event: And on 30 April, if you want to hear about XR and wellbeing, come to the next main London meetup. If you are an expert on the topic and would like to speak, please send me an email at tom (at) immersivewire (dot) com.

What happened? Meta decided to close the VR section of its app Horizon Worlds, which sparked a lot of discussion about whether Meta's investments in "the metaverse" were even worth it. A few days later, the company's CTO announced that virtual reality will still be included, but as something people can access within pre-existing applications within Horizon Worlds.

What does it mean? I had a few thoughts on this. First, it may show that the actual number of people using VR is low, which is why they wanted to pull support in the first place. But after the public backlash, they felt that it was necessary to keep it a little bit longer. Second, it sparked an overblown argument whether metaverse ambitions are dead. In my view, it's more of a re-pivot on where its subdivision, Reality Labs, is focusing. Remember that it's also investing a lot within AR glasses as well as AI research - both of which will feature heavily in Meta's announcements over the coming years.

Broomy Hill Nursing Home has introduced VR headsets in partnership with Recreo VR to support residents with dementia and complex mental health needs through cognitive stimulation, memory recall, and relaxation experiences.

Colorado State University researchers found that using 3D virtual reality for anatomy education reduces students’ cognitive load compared to 2D learning, improving how they process complex spatial structures.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust has expanded its “Places to Escape” VR programme, using 360-degree local experiences to reduce patient anxiety during hospital stays.

Neilsland Primary School in Hamilton has used VR headsets in a targeted learning project to boost pupil engagement and increase attendance.

Rendever has appointed Nicole Will as Head of Marketing and Partnerships to expand access to its VR solutions for the aging population through strategic partnerships and ecosystem development.

The South Korean Army has integrated VR and sensor-based technologies into reservist drills at the Seocho Reserve Training Center to enhance realism, operational readiness, and performance tracking.