As March wraps up, the skies are clear, I’ve just hit ‘send’ on a project, and it feels like the perfect time to dive into the latest buzz in the world of augmented reality and virtual reality. Plus, we can’t skip over the whirlwind of excitement generated by Studio Ghibli-inspired AI…
Weekly Highlights
Samsung’s Potential XR Glasses Launch
Word from Korea’s ETNews is that Samsung might roll out XR glasses before the year is up. The specifics—whether they’re AR glasses or smartglasses—remain a bit murky. However, they promise comfort, along with cameras and sensors poised to map either the user or their surroundings. The project, dubbed Haen, or “coast” in Korean, hints that Samsung is brewing something remarkable. If both Project Moohan and Haen are announced soon, 2025 could mark Samsung’s triumphant return to XR.
More insights: Road To VR, Android Authority
Vivo’s New Vision Headset
Vivo has thrown its hat into the XR ring, announcing its mixed reality headset. Details are scant, reserved mainly to design similarities with the Vision Pro—name included. While we wait for its full reveal in mid-2025, it’s exciting to see another major player stepping into the XR arena.
Meta’s Quest Users & Media Consumption
Previously, I shared insights from Chris Pruett’s GDC talk about the shifting Quest ecosystem, heavily populated by younger players, indicating a move towards free-to-play models. Recently, I stumbled on a Meta blog summarizing the same topic, revealing a new wave of adults using headsets more for media consumption than gaming. This group—typically men in their 30s—are drawn to high-quality media experiences and seem poised to become significant contributors to the ecosystem by 2027. This shift suggests future Quest models might optimize for media, setting the stage for a battle with Apple over this audience. As developers, this evolving dynamic challenges us to decide where to focus our efforts amid shifting market trends.
Further reading: Meta’s official blog
Upcoming Events & Announcements
Apple’s WWDC Slated for June 9
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference will launch on June 9. Rumors hint that this is when we’ll glimpse the latest visionOS 3 features, destined for Vision Pro. Unfortunately, this conflicts with AWE, making it tough to follow both.
Pimax’s Crystal Super Release
Pimax has announced its Crystal Super headset, featuring wide-FOV and high resolution, will begin shipping on April 7. Kudos to Pimax for keeping its timeline on track.
PlayStation’s Spring Sale News
Until April 23, Sony’s running a Spring Sale showcasing thousands of games, including 60+ PlayStation VR2 titles like Alien: Rogue Incursion and Metro Awakening. It’s a perfect chance to stock up on some favorites.
Celebrating WebXR at The Polys
The Polys, now in its fifth year, celebrated excellence in WebXR—a tech that, while still maturing, holds incredible promise. Applause to the organizers for highlighting its potential.
Valve’s VR Conundrum
An editorial by David Heaney critiques Valve’s inertia in the XR content arena. Despite Alyx’s success five years ago, Valve hasn’t followed up. With resources and Steam’s reach, it’s baffling that Valve hasn’t continually enriched the VR ecosystem, and even more puzzling is the community’s silence on this omission.
Innovations with Quest Camera Access
The Quest’s new camera access is fueling fascinating experiments, like dynamically adjusting virtual lighting based on real-world conditions or enabling real-time visual filters. Among those experimenting—myself included—are creators pushing the boundaries of mixed reality experiences.
Upcoming Content Releases
– ILM and Lucasfilm are shaping “Star Wars: Beyond Victory,” a mixed reality pod racing adventure exclusive to Quest and Quest 3S.
– Hitman World of Assassination, a VR DLC for PlayStation VR2, is getting positive reception.
– Meta has shelved System Shock 2 VR, pointing to a broader pullback in VR game funding.
– RoboCop: Streets of Anarchy is a no-go due to IP rights issues—talk about a letdown.
More details: Star Wars, Hitman, System Shock 2, RoboCop
New Content on the Horizon
From HARD BULLET’s Quest 3 debut to Avatar-inspired Elements Divided launching April 23, pioneering developments continue. Notably, No Man’s Sky: RELICS updates to include alien paleontology, and resist’s dystopian journey hits PlayStation VR2 on April 10.
Reviews and Insights
– Pinball FX VR excels in recreating pinball with VR/MR elements.
– Boxed Out captivates with its Tetris-inspired puzzle design.
– Final Fury offers an engaging fighting experience.
– Roboquest VR is a promising work-in-progress adaptation.
Industry Trends & Tidbits
– Infinite Reality’s $200M Napster acquisition for virtual concerts raises eyebrows—and questions about where this funding was when creators scouted similar ventures.
– Pico 4 Ultra has rolled out a substantial update featuring 3D photo conversion.
Other Noteworthy Developments
– Cyan, behind Myst, faces layoffs amidst emerging VR challenges.
– Sony introduces Ocellus for virtual productions, evolving camera tracking.
– An intriguing Reddit thread highlights XR content’s male-dominated slant and ponders future shifts.
Sharing the Love
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(Header image by Vivo)
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Feel free to share this post with fellow innovators and stay tuned for more XR adventures!
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