Meta Launches AI-Powered Game Creation Tools for Horizon Platform

Meta has introduced two new development tools designed to make game creation more accessible through AI assistance. Horizon Create is a mobile app, while Horizon Studio offers a browser-based option with more granular controls for creators who want greater precision.

Both tools allow creators to generate complete 2D or 3D mobile games from AI prompts. According to Meta, the generated games include progression systems, balanced difficulty, art direction, and multiplayer functionality that creators can refine to their standards. Users can sign up for early access through a waitlist.

A key part of Meta's strategy is distribution. Games created through these tools will be playable natively within Facebook and Instagram feeds, eliminating the need for users to download a separate app or leave the social platform. Meta stated that "someone scrolling through Instagram can tap a clip of your game and be in a multiplayer session within seconds." Games that are "engaging, stable, culturally relevant, and keep players coming back" will receive more prominent recommendations.

This announcement reflects Meta's ongoing effort to revitalize Horizon, which originally launched as a VR platform before pivoting to focus on mobile. Horizon has struggled to gain traction compared to competing platforms. The Verge reported in early 2022 that Horizon had reached approximately 300,000 monthly users, significantly behind competitors like Roblox, which has 123 million daily active users.

Meta is not alone in pursuing AI-assisted game development. Roblox, the vastly more popular platform, is also making a significant push into AI-powered creation tools, including a feature in its mobile app that allows users to generate games through prompts.