I’m here to tell you that the dreaded "CES sickness" is real and unfortunately, it doesn’t vanish as soon as CES wraps up. Nonetheless, my dedication to bringing you the latest in XR news triumphs over this pesky cold. So, here’s a roundup of XR updates you’re sure to enjoy!
Top News of the Week
The Autumn of XR Continues
It’s a challenging time for immersive technologies right now. The market is stagnant, making it tough for businesses to thrive. There’s a shared belief that AR/VR will be key technologies in the future, but for now, they’re still quite niche. I’ve touched on this in a previous article about the current state of our industry.
This week confirmed many of my earlier observations:
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The developer of PowerWash Simulator VR has decided to cease updates for the game just 14 months post-launch due to development costs outweighing revenues.
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Soul Assembly, creators of Drop Dead: The Cabin and Just Dance VR, are cutting 15% of their workforce.
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Omdia and Sensor Tower report that Meta Horizon app downloads dropped by 27% on Christmas Day 2024 compared to 2023. This suggests fewer holiday purchases of VR, possibly because users didn’t find enough reason to upgrade from the Quest 2 to a 3 or 3S. Black Friday sales on Amazon echoed this trend.
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Counterpoint research highlights a 4% dip in the global VR market in Q3 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
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Former Sony exec Shuhei Yoshida didn’t mince words in an interview, expressing "regret" over the PS VR2.
- The F.Reality podcast has concluded after a magnificent seven-year run.
In light of all these developments, Blair Renaud, the mastermind behind LOW-FI, took to X to share his concerns and the uncertainties looming over the future. He’s just one of many developers who feel like they’re on an unstable ship at sea and he’s certainly not alone.
However, there were some rays of hope amongst the grim news:
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A Forbes article lauds the metaverse, noting that younger generations prefer it as a social platform over traditional social media.
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Counterpoint’s analysis also pointed out that the Apple Vision Pro had more shipments than initially estimated, particularly internationally. If shipments matched sales, the Vision Pro’s sold units align with Apple’s projections.
- Beat Saber is closing in on 10 million copies sold on Quest.
We need to brace ourselves for a challenging couple of years. Despite attending CES, I didn’t see much indication that AR/VR tech trends will shift soon, with smart glasses being a possible exception. I’ve included some positive snippets here to remind you that there’s hope and things will eventually improve—it just takes time. For now, our focus should be on pushing through.
Other Relevant News
Microsoft is Forcing the Windows 11 24H2 Update
The inevitable has happened: Microsoft is now pushing the Windows 11 24H2 update on all Home edition devices. Why does this matter to us in the XR community? The update removes Mixed Reality support, effectively sidelining all Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Users who have been delaying this update are finding it increasingly difficult to avoid it. While those with Pro versions or in enterprise environments might still have options, Home users are largely out of luck. Sending all the virtual hugs to the WMR users out there!
ASUS Releases a New Trailer for AirVision M1 Glasses
ASUS just dropped a captivating trailer for their AirVision M1 smart glasses. These aren’t new—they’ve been around since CES 2024—but they’ve caught my attention, and I wanted to share the news. The AirVision M1 offers a 3DOF experience that places a virtual screen right in front of your eyes. Featuring 1100 nits brightness, 60% lens transparency, TÜV Rheinland certification, and built-in speakers, they’re compatible with Windows PCs and Rog Ally handheld consoles. Weighing only 87g, these glasses also allow for a virtual multi-screen setup thanks to their companion app. Priced at $700, they’re a bit more than the $600 XREAL One Pro.
News Worth a Mention
Palmer Luckey Teases an Announcement
In response to Blair Renaud’s X post, Palmer Luckey hinted at a VR-related announcement coming soon. He’s been hinting at a VR headset for military applications—and maybe that explosive Quest Pro we’ve seen shots of. Either way, color me intrigued!
Somnium Space Updates Headset Pricing
Facing manufacturing challenges, Somnium Space has increased their headset prices by a substantial €5–700. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Somnium VR1 Visionary Edition: €3000 + VAT
- Somnium VR1 Titan Edition: €3400 + VAT
- Somnium VR1 Ultimate Edition €4300 + VAT
Meta’s New High-Efficiency Red MicroLED
Meta and Plessey have unveiled a groundbreaking red MicroLED display, touted as "the world’s brightest" for AR glasses. Packing a whopping 6 million nits with low power consumption, this innovation is crucial for AR glasses intended for outdoor use. Achieving this with red displays—which inherently lag behind blue and green in brightness and efficiency—is a significant technological leap. Plessey’s CEO, Dr. Keith Strickland, hailed it as "a major breakthrough in AR tech development."
Developers Use Ray-Ban Meta for Chess
Young visionaries Caden Li and Eddy Xu have tapped into the potential of Ray-Ban Meta glasses to elevate chess. Their glasses’ camera analyzes the board and streams it to an AI, guiding players on moves via audio through the device’s speakers. It’s a fantastic example of smart glasses augmented by AI. It’s time we see more open and programmable smart glasses encouraging more creations like this.
VR Helps Jayden Daniels Achieve Sports Stardom
Jayden Daniels, after leading the Washington Commanders to a significant NFL playoff win, shared how VR headsets play a crucial role in his training. It’s yet another testament to VR’s effectiveness in professional sports development.
Some Content Tidbits
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GRIM, a survival game inspired by Rust, enters early access on Quest and SteamVR this week.
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Tablecraft, a "mad science" VR sandbox, promises no-limits fun with chemical elements, now in early access on Quest.
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The VR puzzle game Lovesick, where you play a bassist who’s burnt out, lands on Meta Quest headsets on March 6.
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Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon hits Meta Quest on February 6, with a Steam release this spring.
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PSVR 2 shooter Firewall Ultra got an unexpected update despite its studio closing down last year.
- Upload’s XR News Round-Up offers more minor XR updates.
Content Reviews
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An Upload article celebrates Iron Rebellion for its spot-on mech emulation—balancing usability with that heavy mech feel.
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Arken Age shines with its lively presentation and satisfying combat.
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Assetto Corsa EVO launches in Early Access but still faces numerous issues.
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The Thrill Of The Fight 2 takes an interesting spin on multiplayer boxing.
- Human Within might just be an example of how not to do branching storylines.
Additional News
Meta has pulled the app for viewing achievements within the headset, much to developers’ and users’ dismay.
An oddity this week: the small LED next to Quest 3S cameras is puzzling users.
The Visor headset remains shrouded in mystery, with mixed reviews and Discord bans causing a stir for those merely asking for the release date.
Michael Gschwandtner is experimenting with affordable AR glasses paired with his Nintendo Switch.
News from Partners and Friends
There’s a workshop on the musical metaverse happening during the IEEE International Symposium on the Internet of Sounds in L’Aquila, Italy from October 29-31. If you’re working on themes like "Musical XR systems for networked interactions," consider submitting your work. It’s a chance to connect with others in your field!
XR Fun
Here’s a bit of humor to lighten your day: Comparing Meta hardware to Meta software? Funny stuff. And there’s chatter about a new QA test for future Quest devices. Have a laugh with these quirky insights.
Donate for Good
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Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image derived from a Microsoft image)
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