Meta lays off Reality Labs employees while continuing to hire hundreds more

Core Insights - Meta has laid off an undisclosed number of employees in its Reality Labs division, which focuses on hardware and virtual reality, as part of a restructuring effort [1] - The layoffs specifically impact Oculus Studios and the Supernatural team, which is responsible for the VR fitness app [1][2] - Despite the layoffs, Meta remains committed to investing in mixed reality experiences, including fitness and gaming [2] Restructuring and Layoffs - The recent layoffs follow a broader reduction earlier in the year, where nearly 4,000 roles were eliminated, including at least 560 employees from Reality Labs [3] - Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth emphasized that 2025 is a critical year for Reality Labs, determining the future of the company's metaverse ambitions [4] - The Reality Labs division has undergone reorganization, with new leadership and a focus on integrating with Meta's main business [5] Employment Opportunities - Despite the layoffs, there are still 495 open roles within Reality Labs, and affected employees are encouraged to apply for internal opportunities [6] - An internal email indicated that employees who do not seek new roles or are unsuccessful will have a termination date set for May 23, 2025 [6]