It’s a relatively quiet time in the XR world lately, but April Fool’s Day has spiced things up just a bit! There’s a handful of intriguing updates I’m going to delve into in this week’s roundup, so you won’t miss out on any of the exciting developments happening now in XR. 😊
Top news of the week
Meta’s Next Smartglasses Could Set You Back Up to $1400
Bloomberg has uncovered what might be Meta’s plans for their new smartglasses lineup, set to launch this year, and some details caught even me off guard. The upcoming glasses, codenamed Hypernova, are expected to be a heavier version of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, featuring a single display providing visual information to only one eye. To avoid obstructing your view, these visuals are designed to appear in the lower part of your field, so you’ll need to glance down to see them. These glasses can be controlled via capacitive temples or the included neural wristband. An upgrade in the camera department is expected, potentially resembling the iPhone 13’s capabilities from 2021. While the introduction of a dual-display model for each eye is set for 2027, which aligns with foreseeable advancements, the anticipated aspects don’t stop here.
What’s surprising is that the glasses won’t carry the Ray-Ban branding but will rather feature Meta’s, a peculiar choice considering the stylish appeal of Ray-Bans compared to a relatively less appealing Meta brand. This move seems risky, sacrificing key success drivers of the Ray-Ban Meta, such as Essilor Luxottica’s strong distribution network and appealing branding, not to mention its competitive pricing. The anticipated cost of $1000 to $1400 is steep, especially for devices lacking clear essential use cases, primarily aimed at showing phone notifications and capturing photos and videos. For such a premium, people might expect an Apple logo instead!
So, who would shell out big bucks for these early-stage, expensive tech toys? Mainly developers, who fancy experimenting with gadgets and claiming an early-advantage. Yet, ironically, this doesn’t even seem to cater to them, as Meta reportedly curates the available apps, much like the current Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
I’m crossing my fingers that Bloomberg got something wrong because, honestly, I’m left wondering who they’re targeting. Those interested in photography or videography have the Ray-Ban Meta; developers keen on exploring smartglasses can opt for more open alternatives like those from Brilliant Labs; and those wanting quick notification access might find a smartwatch more practical. In fact, the combined cost of all three alternatives could still be less than these new Hypernova glasses.
Find more insights from varied perspectives here: Road To VR, Upload VR, Forbes.
Other notable news
April Fool’s Day Brought Out the Jokes in the XR Space
This year, besides just me and a few other usual pranksters, a host of folks and companies decided to dive into the April Fool’s Day spirit. Here’s a quick roundup of what went down: I teased the release of Decagear, Sebastian Ang of MRTV claimed he’s the new Pimax CEO, while Ndreams announced Synapse 2 exclusively for Google Cardboard. Meanwhile, Voodoo DE shed light on a futuristic device. The tech realm outside XR joined in the fun too; Razer’s gag about launching the Razer Skibidi headset—which translates spoken language to Gen Z speak—was particularly amusing. A gadget like this could prove handy for adults caught in the chaotic world of Gorilla Tag and its vocal youngsters!
Dive into the laughs through these links: Decagear and Pimax headsets announcement, Sebastian Ang’s new role, VooDoo DE’s reveal, Synapse 2 launch, VRCDN’s fictional lawsuit, Puppeteering by Walkabout Minigolf, Top tech pranks of 2025.
US Tariffs Might Hike Headset Prices
Amid a grim ‘black Monday’, newly imposed US tariffs have sent shockwaves through global stock markets. It’s yet to be determined whether these tariffs are here to stay or merely a strategic push for negotiations. Should they persist, manufacturers of electronic gadgets, including XR headsets, could face increased component costs, inevitably leading to pricier retail products. Imagine a post-stock Quest 3S setting you back around $500.
Given VR headsets’ status as non-essential luxuries, reliant on accessible pricing for sales, such price hikes could slump sales even further; a dismal prospect amidst stagnant XR market conditions. Let’s hope this scenario proves temporary.
Continue the discussion: XR headsets and tariffs, Computer market impact, Potential chip tariffs.
News worth a mention
Apple Rolls Out Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro
Vision Pro’s recent 2.4 VisionOS update introduces several exciting tools, notably:
- Apple Intelligence, a suite that includes text proofreading, rewriting, summarizing, and image generation tools.
- Spatial Gallery, showcasing immersive photos and videos.
- A companion app for Vision Pro, possibly acknowledging Meta’s viewpoint.
- Enhanced guest mode features, making it easier to configure, activate, and manage through the companion app.
Check the updates: VisionOS 2.4 on Road To VR, VisionOS 2.4 on Upload VR.
The Quest Ecosystem: A Tale of Two Stories
The Quest ecosystem is currently a mixed bag. On one hand, games like Gorilla Tag, I Am Cat, and the phenomenal Animal Company are flourishing, the latter topping $100K in revenue on the Quest Store with aspirations of eclipsing Gorilla Tag. Conversely, some developers cite declining market shares and reduced financial liquidity within the Quest marketplace. Meta’s disclosure that Horizon Store spent upwards of $2 billion is less encouraging when realizing it’s the same figure cited over a year ago—a rather sobering fact.
Learn more here: Quest Revenue Update, Quest game successes, Animal Company’s revenue milestone.
Nintendo Labo Incompatible With Switch 2
Discussing the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s disappointing to note the larger new display spells incompatibility with the original Labo accessory. Currently, there are no signs of plans for a new version.
Details available here.
PC Eye Tracking for PSVR 2
A developer, “whatdahopper,” has successfully read eye-tracking data from PSVR 2 on a PC, collaborating with iVRy on a similar project. Should this innovation succeed, PSVR 2 might become the most affordable eye-tracking headset, useful not only for VRChat fans but also research centers exploring eye-based interactions and foveated rendering.
More about these developments: Eye Tracking for PSVR 2, iVRy’s efforts.
Quest Community’s Innovative Camera Access Projects
Each week, Quest developers blow my mind with their creative camera access projects. Here are some standouts:
- A demo creating voxel models of the surrounding space.
- Another demo for scanning physical objects to obtain rough 3D voxel models.
- A project that tracks a physical ball using the Quest’s system.
- A mixed-reality drone, debuting thanks to a clever use of a webcam for capturing self-portraits.
See these projects for yourself: Voxelization demo, 3D object scan, Ball tracking, Mixed Reality drone.
New Developments in Haptics
Groundbreaking research has introduced a thin synthetic skin capable of delivering haptic feedback. Currently tested on fingertips, it simulates various tactile sensations by inflating and deflating pressure points. However, commercial availability remains a way off.
Full story here.
The Ruff Talk VR Gaming Showcase
Ruff Talk VR’s YouTube channel hosted an impressive VR gaming showcase, spotlighting engaging indie VR content. Highlights from this showcase populate the following paragraph, but for the full experience check out their complete event here.
Content Updates
- Civilization VII VR launches exclusively for Quest 3 and 3S on April 10 priced at $60.
- Velociblaster, a multiplayer game casting players as armed velociraptors, can now be wishlisted on Quest. It’s the game we didn’t realize we needed.
- Train Sim World arrives on Quest for $32, offering a realistic VR train driving experience.
- “Township Tale” creators teased a dungeon-crawler extraction game titled REAVE.
- Bearly Escape, a claw-machine puzzler in Early Access, drops May 1 on SteamVR and Quest 3 for $14.99.
- Arcade racer Exer Gale enters Early Access on Quest this June.
- Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition gallops onto Steam and Quest on April 17.
- Enthusiasts are in the process of recreating Half-Life: Alyx on Quest 3. The first scene is available as a sideloadable APK, a testament to their commitment and love for the project.
Dig deeper: Civilization VII details, Velociblaster wishlist, Train Sim World debut, Reave introduction, Bearly Escape launch, Exer Gale release, Rival Stars release announcement, Half-Life: Alyx on Quest development.
Content Reviews
- Pinball FX VR: Delivers a solid variety of well-crafted pinball machines. The mixed reality mode lets you transform your space into an arcade, which is especially impressive.
- Wanderer: Fragments Of Fate: Offers intriguing puzzles, although combat and some bugs need polishing to capitalize on its potential.
- Hitman World Of Assassination (PSVR 2): Touted as an excellent game according to Upload VR’s review.
Gain insight into these games: Pinball FX VR review, Wanderer review, Hitman World review.
Other updates
- ACE and SIG SAUER have crafted a Quest controller mimicking the form and heft of real firearms. Learn more.
- Sandbox VR’s Squid Game experience has generated ticket sales exceeding $30M so far. Learn more.
- Don Hopper positively reviewed the Mocopi Pro tracking set at GDC. Learn more.
- Virtual Desktop now supports spawning virtual monitors on Macs, boasting impressive quality. Learn more.
- A study shows modern kids experience less motion sickness compared to adults. Learn more.
- HTC celebrates Vive’s 9th anniversary—happy birthday! Learn more.
Partner news and fun
Mixed Reality Tech Testing Service
An entrepreneur from the XR arena has launched “Mixed Reality Tech,” offering on-demand QA testing for XR applications. Their expertise spans multiple gadgets, delivering bug lists to streamline your product improvement. Need testing? Reach out here.
XR Fun
- Solve motion sickness—96°FOV has you covered! See more.
- Imagine coding humans with an LLM prompt… Funny scenarios.
- My path to the future… is this it? Find out.
- Spot a Terminator effortlessly here.
Support a Good Cause
As with last week, rather than solicit blog donations today, I urge you to extend assistance to those affected by ongoing conflicts. Contribute to the Red Cross to aid the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
Here’s a shoutout to my generous Patreon supporters, whose steadfast backing is invaluable:
[List of Supporters]
Now, here’s where you can make a difference: Red Cross Donation Link.
(Header image credits: Razer)
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