Khaberni - Meta is striving to make game development as accessible as jotting down an idea on a phone, after revealing two new tools that employ artificial intelligence to turn text commands into playable games, without the need to deal with traditional game development engines or have advanced programming experience.
The company announced Horizon Create and Horizon Studio at its annual Meta Connect 2026 conference, which concluded last Thursday, in a move aimed at expanding the base of individuals capable of producing and distributing games through the Meta ecosystem.
Game Ideas Start from a Text Command
The tools rely on built-in creation capabilities within Meta Horizon Engine, where a user can describe the game they want in natural language, while the system transforms this description into a playable experience. According to Meta, it is possible to create both 2D and 3D games that include environments, characters, gameplay mechanics, progress systems, and levels of difficulty, in addition to supporting multiplayer gameplay.
The role of text commands does not stop at creating the initial version of the game; the user can continue to interact with the system to change the style of graphics or characters or narrative or progress system, then test the result and make further modifications. In this way, game development becomes an iterative process that begins with describing an idea, then experimenting with what AI has created and steering it towards the desired outcome.
Horizon Create.. A Game Studio in Your Phone
Horizon Create arrives as an app dedicated to smartphones, allowing starting a project from a text description or from a preset template. After submitting the idea, the system builds the game in the background, allowing the user to continue using their phone or operate other projects until they receive a notification that the version is ready for testing. The tool also allows working on more than one project at the same time.
Create allows modifying the experience elements using natural language, where a user can describe the desired change in characters, environment, graphics style, narrative, or player progression, instead of having to implement these changes manually within complex development tools. Meta states that the process does not require a traditional game engine or coding.
Horizon Studio.. Greater Control via the Browser
Horizon Studio, on the other hand, is an editor that operates through a web browser, offering a broader level of control over the project. Besides text commands, the user can visually modify the scene, arrange elements, replace digital assets, and adjust parameters that control game behavior and layout.
Meta links both tools within a single workflow, allowing transferring the project between the phone and the browser while retaining assets, systems, and a history of modifications. This facilitates starting with a quick idea on the phone and then moving on to more detailed tools when necessary.
From Game Creation to Reaching Players
The strategy focuses not only on creating games but also on how they reach the audience, with Meta stating that games produced using these tools are eligible for distribution across Facebook, Instagram, and Horizon, making it possible for a user to discover the game within the platforms they already use.
The company introduces a different model for game distribution, where a person watching a game clip on Instagram can move to playing the game, including multiplayer sessions, without the need to download a separate app or leave the platform.
In addition, Meta notes that the proliferation of games within its platforms will be influenced by engagement levels, stability, and player return, with opportunities to generate revenue from in-game purchases and the Horizon Creators Fund. The company stated that more details about the revenue opportunities will be announced later.
What Changes for the User?
The significance of the new tools lies in shifting part of the game development process from an environment that depends on technical knowledge to an interface that relies on natural language, instead of the user starting by learning a game engine, writing codes, and setting up assets, they can begin with describing the idea, then use artificial intelligence to build an initial version and modify it incrementally.
However, this does not mean that artificial intelligence has eliminated the need for human intervention, as the user remains responsible for defining the idea, testing results, modifying the design and gameplay mechanics, and making creative decisions before publishing.
Horizon Create and Horizon Studio are still in the early access phase, as Meta mentioned that availability is gradually expanding, and those interested in the experience can register on a waiting list. Therefore, these tools currently represent an expanding experience, not a complete public launch for all users.
Thus, Meta places the smartphone at the heart of the game development cycle, from ideation and generation to testing and revision, leveraging artificial intelligence to reduce technical barriers in game creation, and directly linking the creation process to its own social distribution platforms.
