Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-27 01:21Core Viewpoint - Meta's adjustment of its metaverse business has significantly impacted its Chinese partner, GoerTek, leading to budget cuts and potential layoffs within the company [2][3][12]. Group 1: Impact of Meta's Actions - Meta is reportedly reducing its investment in the metaverse, resulting in the elimination of over 1,000 positions in its Reality Labs [3][12]. - GoerTek's Alpha Labs, a key R&D center, has seen all its budgets cut, with layoffs expected to range from 30% to 50% across various departments [4][5][14]. - The potential financial loss for GoerTek due to Meta's order cuts could exceed 10 billion yuan [5][14]. Group 2: GoerTek's Business Overview - GoerTek's main business segments include precision components, smart acoustic devices, and smart hardware, with the latter accounting for 60% of overall revenue [6][14]. - The smart hardware segment, which includes VR, MR, and AR products, has been the fastest-growing area, previously experiencing growth rates of over 85% from 2020 to 2022 [15][17]. - However, in 2023, the smart hardware business saw a decline of 6.93%, marking a significant downturn from previous years [8][17]. Group 3: Historical Context and Future Outlook - GoerTek has previously faced challenges due to order cuts, notably a "black swan" event in 2022 linked to a major client, resulting in losses of 2 to 2.4 billion yuan [9][17]. - The company has invested 24.5 billion yuan in R&D over the past five years, focusing on VR and AR technologies, which have yielded significant market shares [17][18]. - The shift in strategy from major tech players like Apple and Meta regarding MR and the metaverse may hinder the short-term returns on GoerTek's substantial investments in these technologies [18].