The XR Weekly Roundup (Dec 2, 2024): Leak of Valve Roy Controllers’ 3D Models, Black Friday VR Offers, and More!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all my American pals! Although we don’t observe Thanksgiving here in Italy, I know it’s a significant celebration in the US, Canada, and other places. I hope every one of you who celebrated had an amazing time with loved ones. For those who didn’t partake, I hope you snagged some fantastic deals during Black Friday! Personally, I upgraded to a new phone since my current ones were beyond repair and unsuitable for work. The decision was solidified when a friend in Helsinki jokingly asked if there was a fund to help me get a new phone – LOL. Before diving into this week’s XR updates, a quick note: I finally have a Bluesky account! Feel free to connect with me there if you’re on that platform. I’ve noticed it’s getting tougher to engage with real people on X, hence trying out Bluesky… let’s see how that goes! For now, I’m here to stay on X as well, so you can find me actively on both platforms.

Top News of the Week

Roy Controllers 3D Models Found in SteamVR Files

In a recent find by dataminers, 3D models of the Valve Roy controllers were discovered within the SteamVR files, confirming the ongoing development of these products which had leaked a few weeks ago. This indicates that Valve is inching closer to launching the Deckard headset. Given that the models are already circulating within SteamVR, a full headset kit release could very well be on the horizon for 2025. These models match previous leaks, showcasing controllers equipped with bumpers, a D-pad, thumbsticks, buttons, and various triggers, ultimately forming a comprehensive gamepad design. This configurement empowers users to navigate the extensive Steam game library on a large display through the headset using the Roy controllers.

Additionally, the datamining revealed that Valve is employing Arcturus Technologies’ innovations for inside-out tracking. A 2020 video demonstrated this technology’s prowess in delivering reliable inside-out tracking and precise stereo passthrough, making us optimistic about the Deckard headset’s capabilities in mixed reality experiences.

For more details, you can explore these links: [Valve Roy controllers 3D models found inside SteamVR], [Valve Roy controllers using Arcturus technology], and [Arcturus Technologies 2020 showcase].

Other Relevant News

Discover Cyber Monday Deals!

The VR bargains from Black Friday/Cyber Monday are still rolling! Below, you’ll find several irresistible offers on hardware and software. Here are some standout deals I’ve stumbled upon:

• PSVR 2 has dropped to $350, bundled with the excellent game "Horizon Call Of The Mountain". It’ll be fascinating to see the headset sales spike at this price level, considering prior discounts significantly boosted sales.

• Pico 4 Ultra comes with Pico Motion Trackers, three games, and a one-month VRChat Plus subscription – all wrapped up in a significant package.

• Some stores in the US are offloading the Quest 3S for $299.99, including a $75 gift card.

• HTC is gracing customers with several discounts: the Vive Focus Vision includes a free DisplayPort adapter and 4-5 game bundles; Vive XR Elite receives a $100 discount ($150 off if bundled with three Vive Ultimate Trackers), and the Vive Pro 2 secures a $400 discount on the full bundle, or $200 off just the headset.

• Over on the Horizon (Quest) Store, using the code ‘BFCM24’ at checkout grants up to 40% off selected games, and yes, the code can be reused!

For more insight, check out these links: [All VR game discounts on Quest, Pico, SteamVR, and PlayStation stores], [See all discounts on the Horizon Store], [VR headset deals for Black Friday], [Best Black Friday deals for Meta Quest], [PlayStation VR deals], [HTC Vive deals], and [KIWI Design Black Friday offers].

Apple May Have Been Experimenting With XR Since 2008

Most of us are aware that Apple toiled away on the Apple Vision Pro for nearly seven years prior to its release. While this may seem extensive, it aligns well with Apple’s doctrine of debuting a product only when it’s ripe. Interestingly, the roots of this development might dig back even further. According to a resurfacing report from Mac World, Apple filed a patent back in 2008 pertaining to a VR headset bearing a vague resemblance to the Vision Pro. The patent suggested a wearable display simulating a virtual environment using smart sensors responsive to head and eye movements, thus adapting video to create an immersive experience.

While big corporations tend to patent extensively for various strategic reasons, this finding isn’t direct proof of the Vision Pro being underway 16 years ago. However, it underscores Apple’s early interest in immersive technologies, predating even the Oculus Rift. This insight into Apple’s historical R&D activities speaks volumes about their long-term vision.

VRChat Introduces Age Verification

In an exciting update, VRChat has joined hands with an organization named Persona to implement an age verification system through a government ID and a device camera. While not mandatory for all platforms, this verification is required to access specific instances marked with the ‘Age Verification’ option. For those verified as over 18, an optional badge can indicate "Verified 18+" on their profiles.

The feature will be gradually rolled out, ironing out any initial issues, and VRChat is coordinating with event organizers for age-verified trial events. This step marks a critical moment in social VR. For years, there’s been demand for clearly segregating age groups within the community, allowing adults to engage more freely in mature dialogues and activities without inadvertently including younger users.

Introducing optional age verification seems a strategic move by VRChat, enabling privacy-conscious individuals to continue enjoying the platform without feeling compelled to share their ID. It’ll be intriguing to observe how many users opt for this verification, considering earlier hesitancies among companies about ID sharing.

For more details, check here.

News Worth a Mention

Pimax Launches Crystal Super and Prime Subscription

Chinese manufacturer Pimax has begun taking orders for its Pimax Crystal Super, a headset boasting exceptional resolution on paper. Here are its specifications:

• Interchangeable Optical System: Available
• Weight: Approx. 815g (with headstrap)
• Resolution: 3840x3840x2
• PPD: 57
• Refresh Rate: 72Hz/90Hz
• FOV: 120° (Horizontal)
• Mode: PCVR
• Screen: QLED+MiniLED (Local Dimming)
• Eye-tracking: Available
• IPD Adjustment: Auto
• Foveated Rendering: Dynamic

With 57 PPD, the Crystal Super promises an incredibly lifelike VR experience, potentially reaching "retina" quality visuals. The headset features interchangeable optics allowing easy swapping of the lens+display bundle. Two additional optics sets are available, each with unique specifications: one with a slightly lower PPD but offering a 135° FOV, and another employing micro OLED displays.

Pimax has a track record of innovative yet complicated deliveries, often characterized by delays and misunderstandings. Before forming an opinion, it would be helpful to see reviews of this device in action to evaluate its performance genuinely. Notably, this impressive device will demand something along the lines of an RTX 8090 on your PC 😛.

Priced around $1700, you have the option to pay $999 upfront, with the balance in monthly installments of $32.99 for a 24-month Pimax Prime subscription, after which the headset is fully yours to enjoy subscription-free. However, the subscription aspect has raised eyebrows within the PC VR community, particularly due to its unclear purpose and terms surrounding refunds if the headset is returned.

For further reading, follow these links: [Pimax Crystal Super announcement], [Pimax Crystal Super official page], and [Concerns about Pimax Prime from Road To VR].

XREAL Is Launching New AR Glasses

XREAL is ramping up anticipation for a new glasses release on December 4th at 10:00 AM EST. Although it remains uncertain whether these will be 3DOF glasses for media or 6DOF augmented reality glasses, speculation leans toward the latter.

For more details, you can find more information here.

Virtual Reality for Insects

Discovering that even insects enjoy an upgraded VR setup this week was mind-blowing. Researchers at Flinders University are utilizing a tiny CAVE virtual reality environment for studying insect behavior, offering them virtual scenarios to gauge their responses, possibly paving new paths for understanding animal behaviors.

For more insights, have a look here.

A Virtual Lollipop

As an enthusiast in VR sensory experiments, I couldn’t resist mentioning a fascinating new project out of the University of Hong Kong: a virtual lollipop. By infusing hydrogels with flavor chemicals and controlling their release via iontophoresis, users can taste an array of flavors, such as sugar, salt, cherry, and more. Nonetheless, the choice of including durian among these is a mystery only nature can fathom.

Check out more here.

Tom Emrich’s New Book Is Out

Renowned in the AR realm, Tom Emrich has unveiled his latest book: "The Next Dimension: How to Use Augmented Reality for Business Growth in the Era of Spatial Computing." Packed with insights from various industries like automotive, fashion, and entertainment, it highlights AR’s value across the marketing funnel. Having long admired Tom’s predictions in the AR scene, I highly recommend this read for entrepreneurs exploring AR ventures.

For more on Tom’s book, read here.

A New Mod Lets You Play Halo in VR

Thanks to a mod available on GitHub, you can now embark on the complete Halo: Combat Evolved campaign via PC VR. This modification introduces features like full 6DOF motion controls, adaptable weapon-aiming modes, and customizable controllers. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many thrilled to relive the Halo experience in VR.

Dive into more details [here](VR mod for Halo: Combat Evolved) and check out this [enthusiastic Reddit post](An enthusiastic Reddit post about this VR mod).

Some News About Content

Here’s a fresh scoop on some upcoming VR content:

• "Home Sports," a mixed reality sports game reminiscent of Wii Sports from Resolution Games, is set to release on Meta Horizon Store for $20 on December 11th.

• The official Premier League Player game, powered by Rezzil, debuts on the Meta Quest platform on December 3.

• "Trivia Crack World," a VR multiplayer trivia game, is now available on Quest for $10.

• "Spatial Web Shooter," a Vision Pro experience, turns you into Spider-Man, shooting webs from your wrists, delivering a fun mixed reality encounter (credit to Ivan Aguilar for the alert).

• Upload VR has shared its latest XR News Round-Up post listing significant XR updates.

For additional info, these links might help: [Home Sports on Road To VR], [Home Sports on Upload VR], [Premier League Player], [Trivia Crack World], [Spatial Web Shooter], and [XR News Round-Up].

Some Reviews About Content

"Trombone Champ: Unflattened" has successfully transitioned its fun elements from the flat version into VR gameplay – quite the entertaining experience!

For further reading, find more info here.

Other News

• Miroslav Kotalík showcased Zero V2, the second edition of his open AR glasses set to hit the market.

  Learn more here.

• The ANNAPRO A2 strap significantly heightens the comfort level of the Apple Vision Pro.

  Discover more details here.

• Recent statistics suggest that the PCVR market is stagnant, with only marginal growth.

  Explore further here.

News from Partners (and Friends)

GroKit Core is a low-code development platform from 3lbXR designed to accelerate your XR application creation in Unity. While not entirely no-code, it fills in many critical functionalities, leaving you to focus only on high-level coding tasks. GroKit Core handles intricate behaviors like interactions, physics, and multiplayer, making development a breeze. Learn more on the [Grokit Core official website] and their [tutorials].

Some XR Fun

SUPER BLACK FRIDAY DEAL! Grab the Quest at this insane price! [Funny link]

They are the same headset [Funny link]

A laughter-packed XR fails compilation just for you! [Funny link]

Donate for Good

As with last week’s closing remarks, I gently implore you to consider assisting those impacted by the ongoing war. Please consider donating to the Red Cross to aid the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. I’ve included the donation link below. Also, a heartfelt thank you to all my Patreon supporters whose generosity keeps me going:

[List of Patreon donors]

Link to donate: [Support The Red Cross in Ukraine]

(Header image by Upload VR)

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