As March comes to a close and the sun is shining, it’s the perfect time to dive into the latest and greatest in augmented and virtual reality. I’ve just wrapped up a project and can’t wait to share some intriguing news from the past week, including a nod to the swirling "Studio Ghibli" AI chatter.
This Week’s Highlights
Samsung’s XR Glasses on the Horizon
Word from ETNews, a Korean publication, hints that Samsung is gearing up to release XR glasses sometime this year. While specifics are scarce, it appears these could be a blend of AR glasses or smartglasses, equipped with cameras and sensors for tracking. Their codename, "Haen," translates to "coast" in Korean. This isn’t Samsung’s first foray into XR, so it’s exciting to see what’s brewing and when it might hit the market. With potential announcements of both Project Moohan and Haen in the cards this year, 2025 might just see Samsung making a stylish return to the XR arena.
Vivo’s New Vision Headset
The tech giant Vivo has teased its upcoming mixed reality headset, tagged as Vision. It’s clear the design draws inspiration from the Vision Pro, even borrowing the name! The full reveal is set for mid-2025, and it’s promising to see Vivo jumping into the XR competition.
Meta’s Quest Users Turning to Media
I touched on Chris Pruett’s GDC talk last week, and I’d like to revisit it with some fresh insights. Meta seems to notice that many Quest users, particularly adults in their 30s, are engaging more with media and entertainment than hardcore gaming. These individuals aren’t the VR purists but rather see the Quest as an extension of their TV for watching favorite films, sports, and concerts. This demographic is growing fast, and by 2027, they’re poised to become a significant part of the ecosystem. This shift could mean that Meta will optimize the Quest 4 for movie viewing, positioning itself against Apple’s Vision Pro. Developers, including myself, are beginning to ponder whether to pivot focus toward these trends as the XR landscape rapidly evolves.
Apple’s Upcoming WWDC Event
Mark your calendars for June 9th, as Apple gears up for its Worldwide Developers Conference, where they might unveil visionOS 3. It’s unfortunate it coincides with AWE, making it tough to keep an eye on both events.
Pimax Crystal Super Set to Ship
From China, Pimax is on track to ship its wide-FOV, high-res headset, the Pimax Crystal Super, starting April 7. It’s encouraging to witness timely delivery from the brand.
PlayStation’s Spring Sale
Sony is running its Spring Sale until April 23. It’s loaded with PlayStation games and over 60 VR2 titles like Alien: Rogue Incursion. Perfect time to stock up!
Celebrating WebXR with The Polys
The Polys have celebrated another year, highlighting the best in WebXR. This tech might be in its early days, but its potential is vast. Kudos to the organizer for spotlighting this innovation. Meet this year’s standout winners through the link below.
Valve’s VR Game Drought
David Heaney critiques Valve’s silence in the XR gaming sphere, particularly since its last major release, Alxyx, five years ago. Despite having resources and a stake in Steam, Valve hasn’t continued to leverage VR. This raises the question: why is Valve so quiet, and why isn’t the community holding them to account?
Experimenting with Quest’s Camera Access
Developers are clamoring to explore newly released camera access on Quest. There’s buzzing excitement around projects that allow real-world copy-paste, dynamic lighting for virtual items, and more. I’m thrilled to share these innovative projects and can’t wait to see what’s next.
Content Developments to Watch
ILM and Lucasfilm are crafting a new immersive Star Wars game, exclusive to Quest, called Star Wars: Beyond Victory. Meanwhile, Hitman World of Assassination has made a strong start on PlayStation VR2. However, it’s got a bit bittersweet with Meta pulling funding from System Shock 2 VR and other projects, suggesting a strategic pivot.
More Exciting Releases and Updates
Shooter sandbox HARD BULLET is gearing up for its Quest 3 debut this spring, while No Man’s Sky: RELICS drops interesting alien paleontology content. Resist is set for PlayStation VR2, and Onward’s big 2.0 upgrade has landed. Plus, a host of other releases and updates are lined up that you won’t want to miss.
Reviews Worth Reading
Discover insights on the dynamic experiences with Pinball FX VR, puzzle challenge Boxed Out, and more, from various reviews, ensuring you pick the best experiences for your VR adventures.
In Other News
Infinite Reality’s $200M acquisition of Napster aims to elevate virtual concerts, Pico 4 Ultra gets massive upgrades, and Sony introduces a fresh camera tech for virtual production. Also, Meta’s new AI model offers exciting capabilities for converting images into volumetric worlds.
Chrono Craft: Augmenting Reality in Motion
Chrono Craft offers a unique bus tour, weaving stories with augmented views through its windows in Beijing’s Yuanmingyuan Park. It’s an innovative way of storytelling, bridging physical and digital realms.
And lastly, a kind reminder to consider supporting the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Every bit helps, and the link is just below.
(Header image courtesy of Vivo)
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