It has taken more than $70 billion in losses, multiple years of market skepticism, slow hardware adoption, and declining enthusiasm from consumers — but Mark Zuckerberg finally seems to be acknowledging what analysts have been predicting for months: Meta’s Metaverse gamble is not working as expected.

A new report from Bloomberg reveals that Meta is preparing to cut Reality Labs’ budget by nearly 30%, marking the most significant shift in strategy since the company rebranded from Facebook to Meta in 2021. These cuts are part of Meta’s 2026 annual budget plans, discussed at a series of executive meetings held last month at Zuckerberg’s Hawaii compound.

The move represents a dramatic retreat from the vision that defined Zuckerberg’s ambitions for the future — a world of interconnected virtual experiences accessed through VR headsets, smart glasses, and immersive environments.

Reality Labs: A Costly Dream That Failed to Take Off

Reality Labs, the division responsible for Meta’s Metaverse ambitions, includes:

• VR hardware such as the Quest headsets
• Ray-Ban smart glasses developed with EssilorLuxottica
• Horizon Worlds, Meta’s VR social platform
• Upcoming AR glasses

Despite years of R&D and aggressive marketing, the Metaverse never reached mainstream adoption. Sales remained modest, interest faded, and Horizon Worlds failed to retain users beyond niche gaming communities.

Industry analysts say the lack of traction is undeniable. The Metaverse that Zuckerberg promised — a bustling, interconnected digital universe — simply hasn’t materialized.

The financial impact has been staggering:
$70+ billion in operating losses across four years, making it one of the most expensive product bets in tech history.

Not surprisingly, Meta’s stock jumped 4% after news of the possible budget cuts, signaling investor relief. As analyst Craig Huber put it:
“Smart move, just late… This is a major shift to align costs with a revenue outlook that never matched management’s expectations.”

With cuts as deep as 30%, layoffs are expected as soon as January, especially within the VR division.

A Company Pivoting Hard Toward AI Superintelligence

Meta’s Metaverse retreat isn’t happening in isolation — it comes at a time when the company is fighting to stay competitive in the global AI arms race.

After its Llama 4 model received a lukewarm response, Meta has ramped up spending and reorganized its AI divisions under the new Superintelligence Labs.

Key highlights of Meta’s AI pivot:

• Up to $72 billion committed in capital spending for AI initiatives this year
• Aggressive hiring across Silicon Valley, with multimillion-dollar offers made directly by Zuckerberg
• Plans to invest $600 billion in U.S. infrastructure and jobs over the next three years, largely for AI data centers
• A renewed push to build the compute infrastructure needed for future superintelligent systems

Zuckerberg openly stated during an earnings call that Meta is “front-loading capacity” to prepare for an AI-driven future.

Even Reality Labs is being reimagined through the AI lens — especially after Zuckerberg hired Alan Dye, a longtime Apple design executive, to lead a new creative studio within the division.

In a post on Threads, Zuckerberg said:
“We’re entering a new era where AI glasses and other devices will change how we connect with technology and each other.”

This statement alone signals how deeply AI will shape Meta’s hardware roadmap beyond the Metaverse.

The Irony: Meta Was Renamed for a Vision That Is Now Shrinking

When Facebook became Meta in October 2021, the reasoning was clear: the company wanted to symbolize its commitment to building the Metaverse.

Three years later, that same division is facing massive cuts.

The rebranding — once touted as the gateway to the “next chapter of the internet” — now represents one of the most expensive strategic misfires in tech history.

What Comes Next for Meta?

If the proposed budget cuts go through:

• VR development may significantly slow down
• Horizon Worlds could receive limited investment
• AR glasses may remain in early stages
• Meta will prioritize AI innovation over virtual reality

This shift doesn’t necessarily mean Meta is abandoning the Metaverse entirely — but it is no longer the company’s primary bet.

Zuckerberg’s new focus is clear:
AI superintelligence, compute hardware, and next-generation devices powered by AI.

And while the Metaverse may have faded from the spotlight, Meta’s aggressive push into AI signals a new chapter — one where Zuckerberg hopes the investment will pay off sooner rather than later.

Just like Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay, Discord has now introduced its own year-end recap feature called Checkpoint—a personalized activity summary highlighting how you used the platform throughout 2025.

The feature officially rolled out on December 4, 2025, and many users have already begun sharing their Wrapped-style stats online.

If you haven’t checked your Discord Checkpoint yet, here’s a complete step-by-step guide on how to view it on mobile and desktop.

How to Check Discord Checkpoint (Mobile App)

Before you begin, ensure that your Discord app has been updated to the latest version.

Step 1: Update your Discord mobile app

Visit the App Store or Google Play Store and download the latest update.

Step 2: Open the app and tap your profile picture

Your profile icon is located at the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Step 3: Look for the Checkpoint tab

After tapping the profile icon, a new Checkpoint banner or tab should appear below your account details.

Step 4: Tap to view your recap

Your personalized Discord Checkpoint compilation will begin immediately—showing your activity highlights from 2025.

How to Check Discord Checkpoint (Desktop or Browser)

The recap is also accessible on both the Discord desktop app and the web version.

Step 1: Open Discord on PC

You can use the desktop app or simply log in via a browser.

Step 2: Look for the flag icon

On the top right corner of the window, you’ll see a small flag icon—this is the Checkpoint trigger.

Step 3: Click the icon

Once clicked, Discord will begin generating your Checkpoint recap automatically.

Why Isn’t My Discord Checkpoint Showing?

If you don’t see the feature yet, there are a few reasons why:

1. The rollout is gradual

Discord’s Checkpoint is not yet available to all users. Some accounts may receive access in the coming days.

2. Your app might need an update

On mobile, the feature is only available on the latest version of Discord.

3. Not enough user activity

If you haven’t used Discord enough throughout the year, the system may not have sufficient data to create a recap.

The countdown has officially begun — at least that’s what Spotify wants millions of users to feel. As December rolled in, the world’s most influential music-streaming platform dropped a vague but thrilling teaser on its official social pages: “Coming Soon.”

No date.
No hints.
Just enough mystery to send the internet spiraling.

For a feature that has evolved into a global cultural ritual, Spotify Wrapped is no longer just a summary of your year in music — it’s a personal storytelling moment, a pop-culture scoreboard, and a viral content magnet all wrapped into one.

A tradition built on anticipation — and perfectly timed suspense

The Swedish streaming giant quietly encouraged users to update their app, writing: “Get the updated app to experience 2025 Wrapped at its best.”

This subtle prompt has historically signaled that Wrapped is days — sometimes hours — away. And while no official date has been revealed, Wrapped has consistently launched in the last week of November or the first days of December.

Wrapped release timeline:

• 2024: December 4
• 2023: November 29
• 2022: November 30
• 2021: December 1
• 2020: December 1
• 2019: December 5
• 2018: December 6

Given this pattern, it’s clear 2025’s edition is imminent.

A cultural phenomenon: Why Wrapped matters more each year

Since its debut as “Year in Music” in 2015 and its rebrand to Wrapped in 2016, the feature has grown from a simple recap to a global social media storm.

The platform’s team has openly acknowledged Wrapped’s emotional and cultural sway. In a previous press statement, Spotify described it as a “celebration of the fans, artists, and creators who made this such an amazing year.”

This is why Wrapped has become a landmark moment:

• It turns your listening habits into an identity badge.
• It fuels social sharing across X, Instagram, and TikTok.
• Artists like Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and Drake gain instant bragging rights.
• And every year, the feature evolves.

In 2024, Spotify introduced “Music Evolution,” a visual breakdown of how your taste changed month by month — a feature many expect to return in a more advanced form this year.

When does Spotify stop tracking Wrapped data? A misunderstood mystery

Contrary to viral posts claiming Spotify stops counting streams on October 31, the company has repeatedly clarified that Wrapped data is collected well beyond Halloween.

In an interview with Mashable in 2024, Molly Holder — Spotify’s Senior Director of Product for Personalization — explained:

“We collect listening data up until a few weeks before the launch of Wrapped. We try to include as much time as possible.”

This means your late-autumn music binge still counts toward your Wrapped.

How to check Spotify Wrapped 2025 once it drops

Once Spotify flips the switch — likely any day now — users simply need to:

1. Update the Spotify app.
2. Open the app and wait for the Wrapped pop-up.
3. Or search “Wrapped” directly inside the app.

Wrapped typically includes:

• Top songs
• Top artists
• Listening minutes
• Top genres
• Personality-based “listening character”
• Special video messages from artists

And judging by the teaser, Spotify seems set to add another surprise or two this year.

Why the excitement hits harder in 2025

Wrapped is no longer just a digital feature; it’s a shared cultural moment — a collective reveal. Even critics of Wrapped admit there’s something undeniably satisfying about comparing one’s music DNA to millions of others.

Social media trends confirm it:
Wrapped fuels memes, fandom wars, friendships, heartbreaks, and identity flexes — all within 48 hours of release.

Spotify knows that. And the silence is intentional.

Wrapped is not late…
Wrapped is dramatic.