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The XR space might not be buzzing with activity at the moment, but April Fool’s Day certainly brought some excitement to our realm! There have been a few noteworthy developments, and I’m here to ensure you don’t miss any of the highlights this week in the world of XR. Let’s dive right into it 🙂
Weekly Highlights
Upcoming Meta Smartglasses Might Break the Bank
Bloomberg has shed some light on Meta’s upcoming smartglasses, and the details are quite intriguing. The glasses, thought to be released this year under the codename Hypernova, appear to be a bulkier version of the Ray-Ban Meta, sporting a single display aimed at providing visual information in the lower part of your vision. The glasses will feature capacitive temples and a neural wristband for control and boast a camera upgrade likened to the iPhone 13 from 2021. In 2027, Meta plans to release a version with dual displays—one for each eye.
Here’s where things get unexpected: the glasses are ditching the Ray-Ban brand for a Meta label. Given the appeal of the Ray-Ban name and its distribution by Essilor Luxottica, this decision seems baffling. On top of that, they’re losing the affordability factor, with a projected price ranging between $1000 and $1400. Essentially, they are designed for checking notifications and capturing photos and videos, which might not justify the hefty price tag unless there’s an Apple logo attached.
Generally, the ones who buy such pricy gadgets in the early stages are developers eager to explore new tech. You’d think these glasses are intended for them, but surprisingly, the apps for the device will be curated by Meta, restricting developer interest.
Let’s hope this report is inaccurate because it’s difficult to see who these glasses are for if it turns out to be true. People can opt for Ray-Ban Meta for photos and videos, developers may pick more open smartglasses like Brillant Labs, and watches are available for those wanting quick notification access—all likely costing less than the Hypernova.
For more info, check reports from Road To VR, Upload VR, and Forbes.
Other Exciting Updates
April Fool’s Shenanigans in the XR World
After years of just a few of us stirring up April Fool’s mischief, this year saw a great collective effort from people and companies alike. In brief, I joked about launching Decagear, while Sebastian Ang (MRTV) claimed to be the new Pimax CEO in a video. Ndreams played on Synapse 2 but only for Google Cardboard, and Voodoo DE teased a cutting-edge device.
The tech space had fun too, with Razer’s standout April Fool’s gag: the Razer Skibidi, a headset allegedly able to translate Gen Z language. Imagine the relief for adults jumping into Gorilla Tag bustling with noisy kids!
Check out the links below for my favorite pranks!
For more info on these antics, view announcements from Decagear and Pimax, Voodoo DE’s preview, and more.
Are New US Tariffs Going to Raise Headset Prices?
As the stock markets face upheaval due to the new tariffs from the USA, it’s important to consider how these might affect electronics, including XR headsets. If the tariffs remain, American companies sourcing components or manufacturing in Asia could face higher BOM costs, pushing final prices up. This could mean, for example, that Quest 3S might start retailing for $500 when Meta’s current stock depletes.
Given that VR headsets are a luxury rather than a necessity, any price hike could severely impact sales, especially as XR adoption is still finding its feet. VR headset affordability has been crucial to their sales—think of Quest 2 and Quest 3S. Higher prices might stall progress further during these stagnant times, delaying XR’s breakthrough into mainstream acceptance.
Let’s hope these tariffs are a temporary measure. Thanks, Rob Cole, for some insightful links.
For more, check reports on how tariffs may influence the XR industry and computer markets.
Noteworthy Mentions
Apple Rolls Out Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro
Apple’s Vision Pro is now on version 2.4 of VisionOS, packed with new capabilities:
The expansive rollout of Apple Intelligence, providing features like text proofreading, rewriting, summarizing, and even image generation tools
A Spatial Gallery showcasing curated immersive photos and videos
A companion app for Vision Pro, validating Meta’s foresight
Enhanced guest mode, configurable by the Vision Pro owner via the companion app, which simplifies mirroring
Read more about VisionOS 2.4 from Road To VR and Upload VR.
The Flux in Quest’s Success
We’re experiencing mixed signals from the Quest ecosystem, with some elements prospering while others falter. Games like Gorilla Tag, I Am Cat, and the trending Animal Company are experiencing major success, with Animal Company even surpassing 100K in revenues on the Quest Store. Yet, other developers face declining market shares and industry layoffs are on the rise. Financially, Meta continues reporting a $2B spend on the Horizon Store, a figure shared over a year ago, hinting at stagnating revenues.
Explore more about Quest revenues, the success of certain games, and Animal Company’s ascent.
Switch 2 Spells Trouble for Nintendo Labo
Gamers have been buzzing about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, but there’s disappointing news for XR enthusiasts: the Labo accessory designed for the original Switch is incompatible with the Switch 2 due to its larger display, and there’s no immediate plan for a new Labo.
Exciting Developments in PSVR 2 Eye Tracking on PC
A developer, “whatdahopper,” has successfully developed a prototype enabling eye-tracking data from PSVR 2 to be used on PC. iVRy, known for its PSVR 2 to PC adapter, is exploring a similar solution. Their collaboration could make PSVR 2 the most affordable headset featuring eye-tracking, beneficial for VRChat fans and research entities exploring eye-based interactions and foveated rendering.
Dive into more on unlocking PSVR 2 eye tracking on PC.
Quest Community’s Impressive Camera Access Prototypes
Our vibrant Quest developer community continues pushing boundaries with camera access, resulting in phenomenal prototypes. Among them:
A demo voxelizing spaces around users
An app scanning physical objects on Quest to create rough 3D voxel models
A breakthrough tracking a physical ball while wearing the Quest
A mixed reality drone demo, using a webcam to see the user and take photos
These links offer even more exciting details on each of these innovations.
Revolution in Haptic Feedback with Synthetic Skin Research
An intriguing new study introduces a thin synthetic skin capable of providing haptic feedback, tested on fingertips, with inflatable dots simulating touch on different parts. Although promising, market availability remains a distant reality.
Discover more about this fascinating research.
Ruff Talk VR Gaming Showcase Event
Ruff Talk VR’s YouTube channel successfully hosted a VR gaming showcase spotlighting intriguing indie VR titles. Many highlights stem from this event, and you can view the entire showcase via the link here.
Upcoming Content Highlights
Anticipate Civilization VII VR, exclusive to Quest 3 and 3S, for $60 on April 10
Velociblaster, a game where you play as armed velociraptors, is now on the Quest wishlist; who knew we needed this game?
Train Sim World enters VR on Quest for $32, offering a genuine train-driving experience
The studio behind “Township Tale” teases its next venture: a dungeon-crawler game, REAVE
The Early Access puzzler Bearly Escape arrives May 1 on SteamVR and Quest 3, priced at $14.99
Expect Arcade racer Exer Gale’s Early Access on Quest by June
Horse management sim Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition launches on Steam and Quest on April 17
A devoted fan is re-creating Half-Life: Alyx on Quest 3, with the first scene available via sideload. Thanks, Rob Cole for the tip!
Explore more about Civilization VII, Velociblaster, Train Sim World, REAVE, Bearly Escape, Exer Gale, Rival Stars Horse Racing, and the Half-Life: Alyx recreation.
Content Reviews
Pinball FX VR captures the essence of pinball with a wide array of machines. Its mixed reality mode transforms rooms into arcade spaces
Wanderer: Fragments Of Fate is a rich puzzle game with great potential if combat and glitches are addressed
Upload VR confirms PSVR 2’s new Hitman World Of Assassination is indeed a worthwhile experience
Read more reviews on Pinball FX VR, Wanderer: Fragments Of Fate, and Hitman World Of Assassination.
Other Noteworthy Insights
ACE and SIG SAUER have developed a Quest controller that mimics a real gun’s shape and weight
The VR Squid Game experience at Sandbox VR has raked in over $30M in ticket sales
Don Hopper shared positive views on the Mocopi Pro tracking set at GDC
Virtual Desktop now enables virtual monitor creation for Mac, boasting impressive quality
A study indicates modern kids experience less motion sickness than adults in VR
HTC celebrates Vive’s 9th anniversary. Happy Birthday!
News from Partners and Friends
Mixed Reality Tech launches as a service offering XR application testing, providing QA on demand. Reach out if you need testing.
Some Fun in XR
The 96° FOV cure for motion sickness? Discover more humorous links
Imagine humans programmed using an LLM prompt? Explore the concept
Envision the future—a fun thought experiment
A quick way to differentiate a Terminator from a human—amusing content!
Support a Worthy Cause
Instead of asking for donations to my blog this week, I urge you to help those suffering in the Ukraine crisis. Consider donating to the Red Cross, and join me in supporting those in dire need. A massive thank you goes to all my generous Patreon supporters who keep me motivated:
Through your kindness, lives can be changed. Please, donate generously to the Red Cross in Ukraine through this link:
Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image by Razer)
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