Sure thing—let’s dive into this, even though it feels like just another week in the XR world. Or maybe it was just the holiday hangover, who knows? Anyway… I’m buzzing because I’ve got some epic trips on the horizon. But that’s for another time. Let’s get to the few nuggets of XR news I dug up for you!
Kicking things off with the headliners!
(Image by Meta)
Meta’s Reality Labs: Not Quite a Blockbuster Quarter
Alright, so let’s talk about Meta and their Reality Labs. This past quarter was rough—revenues fell 6% compared to the same time last year. Not earth-shattering, but still, it bites. The Meta Ray-Ban Glasses were the real lifesavers here. Total losses… whew… $4.2 billion. Can you say ouch? The Quest 3S? Yeah, not flying off the shelves as much as expected. Kinda like that party that was supposed to be hot but fizzled.
Everyone’s vibing with the new Ray-Ban Meta shades, though. Apparently, sales tripled! Zuckerberg’s all in, saying this could be the next big thing, while VR takes a bit of a backseat. Smartglasses are the future—or so they say. Draw your own conclusions!
More on Horizon Store’s Camera Access!
Guess what? You can now unleash your creativity on the Horizon Store with camera access! Yep, merge that real with the virtual like never before. I’m seeing some wild stuff, like that 3D camera hack from ImmerGallery. Gotta love innovation, right? Sure, privacy is a thing, but Meta insists on consent-first policies, so let’s hope they mean it.
A Peek into Quest’s Future
Running out of hacker spoilers, Upload made Luna spill the beans directly on future Quest features. New UI, window sharing, eye-tracking authentication… just imagine Quest 4. Here’s hoping they don’t mess it up.
Pimax Connect is Coming
Oh, Pimax is ready to entertain us again with some juicy news. They’ve got this event—Pimax Connect—super original, right? Can’t wait for more headsets… said no one ever. But still, they’re teasing us with the Pimax Dream Air. We’ll see!
MeganeX 8K: A Bumpy Launch
Launched and… kind of flopped. Reviews are mixed. Fit issues, small sweet spots for lenses—yikes. It’s complicated. If it works, fantastic! If not, good luck. No refunds. So, there’s that.
Infinite Reality Mysteries
Reportedly scored a $3B investment. Yeah, that’s a hefty chunk of change for a company without a blockbuster. Forbes sniffed around a bit—I’m intrigued, and maybe a bit confused. Sterling Select’s behind the cash flow, but their strategy? Beats me.
Quest 3’s Live Meshing: A Deep Dive
Last time I mentioned live meshing on Quest 3. Got a name for you: Julian Triveri. He’s not using camera access, just some clever Depth APIs. Drains the battery like it’s nobody’s business but cool as ice!
Parting Remark on Horizon Worlds
If Horizon Worlds bugs you… there’s a hack to block it. Reddit’s on it. Simple and sweet, but who knows how long till Meta patches that hole.
EA Pulls the Plug on Rally Games
Codemasters, the legends behind rally games, just paused their momentum. Sad for us VR folks, missing out on some adrenaline-packed driving. It’s a hit in the feels for sure.
Tidbits: New Content
- Psytec’s Titan Isles vs. Windlands 3: They had reasons.
- Remnant Protocol on the horizon for Quest and Steam—partnered with Meta.
- Legends BMX hits Quest on May 8.
- Surviving Mars: Pioneer drops on the same day.
Quick Content Reviews
- Elsewhere Electric: A quirky, spooky roguelike—VR meets mobile.
- I, Robot: Puzzle fun for retro lovers—arcade nostalgia.
- Immerrock: Cool idea, but tech’s not quite ripe for lag-free jam sessions.
Random Picks & Tech Teases
- Apple Vision Pro is shaking things up with apps like Godot, Homerise, and Lowe’s design tool.
- Motorola phones now vibe with VR. Sweet tech marriage.
- Star Wars MR audio insights from Meta.
Friend Shoutout: Under the Pillow
Congrats to Georgy Molodtsov hitting the Quest Store with “Kitten Mormitten.” I chipped in a little help, so I’m cheering for it! Go check it out if you can. Multiplayer is now a thing with Open Brush, too!
Careers and Fun: Phygtl & Laughs
Phygtl’s hiring (Unity devs, heads up!). And there are some laughs to be had—Quest 3 and fun links sprinkled in. Who doesn’t need more chuckles?
Heartfelt Ask: Help Out If You Can
Lastly, if you’ve got any pennies tucked away, consider helping those in need because of the conflict in Ukraine. Red Cross is doing some good work. Seriously. Before I go, a big thanks to all Patreon supporters. You guys rock—no joke.
👋 Till next time, keep it real!
