While the XR space hasn’t been buzzing with activity lately, April Fool’s Day certainly brought some excitement! Besides that, we’ve had a few intriguing developments this week. Let’s dive into them all in this roundup, ensuring you catch every noteworthy event in XR. 😊
Top News of the Week
Meta’s Upcoming Smartglasses: A Pricey Proposition
Bloomberg has spilled the beans on what Meta might have in store for its new smartglasses set to launch this year, and the details are somewhat surprising. The model, codenamed Hypernova, is essentially a chunkier version of the Ray-Ban Meta. It features a single display for delivering information to one eye. To keep your view uncluttered, you’ll need to glance down to see the display, which sits lower in your vision. These glasses can be controlled via capacitive temples or with a neural wristband included with the package. An upgraded camera similar to the iPhone 13’s is expected to be part of the deal. A dual-display version (one for each eye) is also on the cards for 2027, aligning with what we anticipated regarding the evolution of Meta’s smartglasses.
The curveball comes in the form of branding and pricing. The glasses will carry Meta’s name rather than the sought-after Ray-Ban moniker. This poses a dilemma, as many users are drawn to the stylish allure of Ray-Bans, while the Meta brand isn’t quite as trendy. This shift and the reported price range of $1,000 to $1,400 strip away two of the key factors behind Ray-Ban Meta’s success: its fashionable branding and a robust distribution network via Essilor Luxottica. The low price point was another appealing factor, now seemingly compromised. What’s more, these are fundamentally eyewear meant for viewing phone notifications and creating photos or videos, a utility that usually doesn’t warrant such a hefty price unless it sports an Apple logo.
So, who would buy such high-priced devices at an early stage? Generally, it’s developers eager to tinker with new tech for that first-mover edge. However, even that doesn’t apply here since the device’s suite of apps is curated by Meta, much like current Ray-Ban Meta offerings, which limits developer interest. Here’s hoping this report is off the mark (grain of salt advised) because it’s hard to imagine who would jump at this purchase. Photo and video aficionados can stick with Ray-Ban Metas, developers can opt for more open smartglasses like those from Brilliant Labs, and for quick phone notification access, a smartwatch will suffice—all potentially cheaper than a Hypernova.
You can tap into more details via these sources: Road To VR, Upload VR, Forbes.
Other Relevant News
A Laughing Matter: April Fool’s Across XR
This year, April Fool’s Day saw quite the variety of pranks in the XR space, a welcome change from past years where only a few brave souls, myself included, dared to jest. Among the playful antics: I humorously announced the Decagear’s launch, Sebastian Ang claimed the Pimax CEO title, OnReality teased Synapse 2 exclusively for Google Cardboard, and Voodoo DE showcased a cutting-edge device.
And it wasn’t just XR poking fun — the entire tech world joined in. Razer’s Razer Skibidi sketch, promising to translate speech into Gen Z lingo and back, was particularly amusing. It could indeed be handy for adults entering Gorilla Tag amid shrieking pre-teens. Dive headfirst into more giggles through the links below featuring my top picks of April Fool’s gags!
Explore more pranks from my announcement of Decagear and new Pimax headsets, to VooDoo DE’s exclusive preview and the Synapse 2 Google Cardboard venture.
Tariffs’ Potential Toll on Headset Prices
Amidst global stock exchange turmoil, these freshly introduced US tariffs are shaking things up. It’s still uncertain if they’ll stick around or serve as leverage in international negotiations. If upheld, these tariffs could spell trouble for electronic goods, XR headsets included, particularly for American firms sourcing parts or utilizing Asian manufacturing. The increased bill of materials cost might lead to a heftier price point for retailers, possibly pushing Quest 3S to $500 post-stock depletion.
VR headsets, desirable but non-essential, are price-sensitive in their sales. Quest 2 and Quest 3S succeeded due to their attractive pricing. Hiking headset prices could dampen sales, stalling XR progression already on shaky ground. Here’s hoping for a temporary status quo to avert a setback in XR advancements.
For further insight, browse articles on the tariffs’ impact on XR headsets, the computer market, and potential future chip-related tariffs.
Noteworthy News
Apple’s Leap Forward with Vision Pro
The latest iteration of VisionOS, version 2.4 for Vision Pro, boasts some impressive enhancements, including:
- Apple Intelligence: This feature brings advanced functionalities like text proofreading, rewriting, summarizing, and even generating images.
- Spatial Gallery: Enjoy a curated collection of stunning immersive photos and videos.
- A Companion App: A nod of sorts to Meta’s foresight, this app accompanies the Vision Pro.
- Guest-Friendly Features: Owners can configure guest mode via a companion app, plus initiate screen mirroring more seamlessly.
Find more information from Road To VR and Upload VR.
A Mixed Bag for Quest
We’re navigating contrasting tides in the Quest ecosystem. On one hand, games like Gorilla Tag and I Am Cat are smashing success records, with Animal Company just crossing an impressive $100K in Quest Store revenues, vying for the top spot. Conversely, some developers report dwindling shares, layoffs are happening, and there seems to be a financial contraction affecting market liquidity. Perhaps pointing to the influx of younger, free-to-play game enthusiasts, Horizon Store revenues are stuck at the $2B mark shared over a year ago by Meta.
- Dive deeper into Quest revenues and game triumphs.
Nintendo Labo’s Compatibility Conundrum
Buzz surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 has been inescapable this week. Yet, for XR fans, there’s a drawback: the larger display on the Switch 2 renders previous Nintendo Labo accessories incompatible, and there’s no word yet on new Labo releases for the latest console.
- More info on the Switch 2 discussion.
Progress in Eye-Tracking on PC with PSVR 2
Developer "whatdahopper" made strides by successfully retrieving eye-tracking data from PSVR 2 on a PC. Collaborating with iVRy, they’re pushing to make PSVR 2 the most affordable eye-tracking headset for VRChat users, research centers, and others keen on eye interactions or foveated rendering.
- Explore more about PSVR 2 eye-tracking innovation.
Inventive Quest Camera Projects
The Quest dev community never fails to impress. Creators are pushing boundaries with camera tech, producing remarkable projects such as:
- Space voxelization demonstrations.
- Demos letting users scan and produce 3D voxel models of physical objects.
- A ball-tracking prototype while using Quest.
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An MR drone enabling self-portrait photography, using a webcam to capture the author from the MR drone’s perspective.
- Check out these incredible links for more.
A Glimpse at Emerging Haptic Feedback Technology
A compelling research project presents ultra-thin synthetic skin providing haptic feedback, complete with adaptive pressure points to simulate physical interactions on fingertips. Although not commercially available anytime soon, it’s a cutting-edge glimpse into future tactile tech.
- Explore further details on this research.
Ruff Talk VR Gaming Showcase Highlights
Ruff Talk VR managed to put on a fantastic showcase that shone a spotlight on some indie VR gems. Below are sneak peeks of content news pulled from the event:
- “Civilization VII VR” hits Quest 3 and 3S on April 10, priced at $60.
- “Velociblaster,” a multiplayer riot featuring weaponized velociraptors, is now available for Quest wishlist.
- “Train Sim World” delivers true-to-life train-driving thrills on Quest for $32.
- The creators of “Township Tale” teased "REAVE," a thrilling dungeon-crawler extraction game in development.
- “Bearly Escape,” a light-hearted claw-machine puzzle, lands on SteamVR and Quest 3 on May 1 for $14.99.
- "Exer Gale," an arcade racer, joins Quest Early Access this June.
- “Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition” trots to Steam and Quest on April 17.
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An ambitious project seeks to bring “Half-Life: Alyx” to Quest 3—a labor of love. The first scene is now available to sideload as a tribute to Half-Life enthusiasts.
- Dig deeper into these titles and more at the provided links for each game.
Content Reviews You Might Like
- “Pinball FX VR” excels in delivering an exceptional pinball adventure with a diverse array of machines and an innovative mixed reality mode allowing you to place machines in your space arcade-style.
- “Wanderer: Fragments Of Fate” offers well-crafted puzzles and enormous potential as a game, yet needs tweaks to combat elements and several bugs disrupting the experience.
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Upload VR confirms that the “Hitman World Of Assassination” on PSVR 2 stands tall as an impressive gaming experience!
- Find more in-depth reviews via the links.
Additional Tidbits
- ACE and SIG SAUER have teamed up to create a Quest controller that mimics the size and heft of a real gun.
- Sandbox VR reports $30M in ticket sales for their “Squid Game VR” experience.
- GDC attendee Don Hopper shares his positive hands-on review of the Mocopi Pro tracking system.
- “Virtual Desktop” showcases the ability to create virtual monitors for Mac, and the quality is striking.
- A study reveals modern children show less susceptibility to motion sickness than adults.
- HTC celebrates nine years of Vive—happy birthday!
Partner and Friend Insights
Mixed Reality Tech Testing Service
A startup named “Mixed Reality Tech” has launched, founded by familiar faces within the XR space. Offering on-demand QA testing for XR applications, they review across various headsets, cataloging bugs for developers to streamline improvements. If in need of testing, reach out and learn more.
Some XR Humor
- [Humor Link] Solve motion sickness with 96° FOV!
- [Humor Link] Humans programmed with LLM prompts – a what-if?
- [Humor Link] Glimpses into my future – can you relate?
- [Humor Link] Spot a terminator from a human in one easy step!
Supporting Positive Causes
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A huge thanks to my Patreon supporters for backing my endeavors:
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(Header image by Razer)
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