Meta AI game tools Horizon Create Studio target Unity Roblox
Meta unveiled AI-powered game creation tools Horizon Create and Horizon Studio, enabling text-to-game generation on mobile and web.
Meta introduced Horizon Create and Horizon Studio, AI-powered tools for generating playable games via text prompts on mobile and web platforms. The announcement was made this week at the Meta Connect conference. Both tools use the Meta Horizon Engine to translate natural language into games that can be shared on social media. They share a common backend, allowing assets, systems, and iteration history to move between mobile and web workflows.
Horizon Create is a mobile app, while Horizon Studio is a browser-based tool with more detailed controls. When published, games are automatically distributed to Facebook and Instagram. Discovery will be driven by engagement metrics. All generated content passes through Meta's content safety systems and receives automated age ratings.
Meta plans to monetize games through in-game purchases and its Horizon Creator Fund. Selected creators are already testing the apps with financial support from that fund. Early access is rolling out gradually, with broader availability planned for the near future. Additional monetisation details are still to come.
The company positioned the tools as a challenge to traditional development. Meta said: "Traditional game development demands months of work, expensive hardware, and specialised skills." The tools aim to remove those barriers, competing directly with platforms like Unity, Roblox, and AppLovin.
VR Glasses target simplified development
Meta announced new VR glasses designed to streamline VR development for studios. The glasses support Unity 6.6 and use OpenXR, allowing developers to migrate existing Quest projects. Teams can use familiar tooling like the XR Interaction Toolkit, XR Hands, and the XRI Simulator.
The hardware is scheduled for release in Spring 2027 with a retail price of $1,299.99. It features a 5K infinite display using micro-OLED technology and is lighter than the Meta Quest 3. The glasses do not include straps or heavy hardware. Several studios are already building titles for the platform.
Industry competition and market impact
The market reacted swiftly to Meta's announcements. Gaming stocks fell after the AI game-building tools were unveiled. Roblox Corporation dropped 1%. Unity Software Inc. fell 5%. Unity provides game development software, while Roblox offers a platform for user-generated games. AppLovin focuses on mobile game marketing and monetization.
Roblox had introduced its own agentic AI feature in Roblox Studio earlier this year. That tool converts text prompts into game design documents. Meta's new tools represent a direct move into the accessible creation space long dominated by these platforms.
Early access to Horizon Create and Horizon Studio will roll out gradually with broader availability planned for the near future.
