Meta Removes Over 100 Gorilla Tag Clones from Horizon Store

What's Happening?

Meta has conducted a mass delisting of Gorilla Tag clones from its Horizon Store, removing over 100 such games in two separate waves on September 30 and October 9. This action appears to be a deliberate effort to manage the proliferation of clone games on the platform. The delistings follow a similar move by VR sideloading platform SideQuest, which stopped accepting Gorilla Tag clones in 2022. Meta has not commented on the delistings, which are part of ongoing discussions about curation and discoverability on the Horizon Store.

Why It's Important?

The removal of Gorilla Tag clones from the Meta Horizon Store highlights the challenges of digital storefront curation and the impact of clone games on discoverability. By taking action against clones, Meta is attempting to maintain the quality and originality of content available to users. This move could influence other digital platforms to adopt stricter curation policies, affecting developers who rely on these platforms for distribution. The decision also underscores the tension between open publishing models and the need for quality control in digital marketplaces.

What's Next?

As Meta continues to address the issue of clone games, developers may need to adapt their strategies to ensure their original content stands out. The ongoing delistings could lead to further changes in Meta's curation policies, potentially affecting how new games are approved and listed. Developers might face increased scrutiny, prompting them to focus on innovation and originality to secure a place on the Horizon Store.

Beyond the Headlines

The mass delisting of Gorilla Tag clones raises broader questions about intellectual property rights and the ethical implications of cloning popular games. As digital platforms grapple with these issues, there may be increased pressure to develop more robust systems for protecting original content and supporting creative developers. This could lead to legal and policy changes that redefine the landscape of digital game distribution.