XR Weekly Highlights (December 23, 2024): Meta Gears Up for Competition, Niantic Enhances Spatial Intelligence, and More!

As we approach the festive season and the year’s end, I’m gearing up to send warm holiday wishes your way tomorrow. But today, I’m going to play Santa for a bit and bring you not one, but two exciting giveaways of keys for some fantastic XR games! Dive into this roundup to learn how you can snag these cool freebies.

Highlights of the Week

Meta Reflects on 2024 and Eyes 2025 Competition

Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, Meta’s CTO, recently shared an insightful post discussing the company’s successful 2024 and what’s on the horizon. This was echoed by Mark Rabkin from Meta’s MR/VR division and Janko Roettgers from the Lowpass newsletter. While much of it is familiar—like details about the Quest 3S, the budget-friendly mixed reality headset—some gleanings are noteworthy gems. Here’s what I’ve extracted for you to save you from wading through it all:

• Quest 3S Performance: The Quest 3S is doing well. Boz noted, “Sales were strong over Black Friday, and we’re gearing up for even more activations over the holidays.” I’ll be keeping an eye on how these numbers compare to the Quest 2 figures from past years.

• New User Demographics: It’s not just Quest 2 users upgrading. According to Rabkin, many Quest 3S buyers are new to the platform, indicating that this affordable option is attracting newcomers to MR/VR.

• A Younger Audience Influences Trends: With many kids now using Quest, the store’s dynamic is shifting, favoring different experiences than those preferred by millennials. Rabkin pointed out the surge in social and co-op multiplayer games like Gorilla Tag, while adults are branching out into more entertainment.

• Focused Development Initiatives: Meta is honing in on popular genres, funding a broader array of games in social, entertainment, free-to-play, and more. If you’re pitching for Meta funding, consider including these features in your proposal.

• Leading Apps: The top apps on the Quest 3S include Gorilla Tag, YouTube VR, and Horizon Worlds, which indicates sustained interest in consuming media content and highlights Horizon Worlds gaining traction against rivals like VRChat.

• Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Meta’s smart glasses have gained popularity, especially with the new AI features. Bosworth hinted at expanding AI assistants beyond simple prompts, moving towards proactive assistance in daily life—a fascinating yet privacy-concerning development.

• Facing Competitors: With Apple and Google stepping into the XR space, Meta feels the heat. Bosworth acknowledged, “There are real stakes now. If we slip, we could lose our leadership position.” While challenging for Meta, this competition is bound to benefit users and developers.

Other Key Developments

Spatial Intelligence Gaining Traction

Spatial Intelligence, a rising trend in combining AI with XR for enhanced spatial awareness, is seeing exciting developments. For example:

• Niantic’s Geospatial Models: Niantic explains their work on Large Geospatial Models that use AI to piece together spatial information, even when detailed scans are limited.

• NYU’s Spatial Understanding Study: Researchers at NYU developed VSI-Bench to assess AI’s spatial understanding capabilities, offering insights into improving AI’s 3D spatial awareness.

Notable Mentions

• Blackmagic Design is opening pre-orders for its 8K VR180 camera, a must-have for professional studios eyeing the Apple Immersive Video format.
• Meta’s new SDK feature, “Audio To Expression,” enhances avatar animation with just voice audio input.
• Users have reportedly found a solution to the Quest-on-Steam VR stuttering issue by disabling Motion Smoothing.
• Tokyo’s Metropolitan Government offers a free point cloud of the city for potential use in XR applications.
• Meta’s Winter Sale is on, offering big discounts on popular VR games.
• Upload VR’s end-of-year awards celebrate the standout VR and AR games of 2024.

Game Released and Reviews

• Alien Rogue Incursion and Other Releases: Although not a massive hit, Alien Rogue Incursion offers a spooky atmosphere with some caveats like repetitiveness. Meanwhile, titles like Behemoth shine with compelling boss fights but have their own set of pacing issues.

• SUPERHOT-Inspired Games: COLD VR, although preachy somewhat, offers a unique twist over SUPERHOT VR but could use some polish.

Content News

• There’s a variety of upcoming and newly released VR content. Highlights include COLD VR available for pre-order and new mixed reality experiences like Figmin XR on Apple Vision Pro.

News from Partners

• PatchWorld’s latest update enhances its live jamming experience with hand tracking and OSC protocol support, now available at a discounted rate.
• If you’re attending CES, join me and DeoVR for an exciting afterparty.
• Take part in our giveaways for games like Home Sports and Party Versus, offering immersive and fun party games experiences.

Some Fun XR Moments

• Explore quirky and humorous XR-inspired content and enjoy lighthearted takes on the VR world through shared amusing links.

Supporting a Good Cause

This week, I’m not asking for support for my blog but urging you to contribute to those affected by the war in Ukraine. Please consider donating to the Red Cross and making a difference. A heartfelt thank you to my patrons and your generosity.

Feel free to reach out if you have inquiries or thoughts inspired by the updates. Until next time, keep playing and exploring the frontiers of XR!