Today marks the finale of Carnival celebrations, and the streets here in Italy are brimming with people enjoying the festivities. Meanwhile, I’m opting to indulge in some delicious traditional sweets that are emblematic of this time of year. There’s another reason to revel today: Feedspot has ranked my blog as the third best in their list of top 60 Virtual Reality websites, right behind the industry giants Road To VR and Upload VR. I must admit, if you look at the list closely, some perplexing inclusions stand out, like the now-defunct Oculus website. Also, I’m aware that there are other outstanding VR publications like MIXED that didn’t make the cut. Truthfully, while I don’t believe I deserve the third spot, possibly not even the fourth or fifth, I’m going to savor this moment. This acknowledgment is a gratifying nod to my eight years of dedication as a blogger. And a heartfelt thanks to all of you; your support has been pivotal in reaching this milestone!
Top News of the Week
Valve Deckard’s Potential 2025 Release and Price
There’s a fresh nugget of gossip swirling about Valve Deckard that surprisingly didn’t originate from our usual sources. This time, it’s courtesy of data miner “Gabe Follower," who has a reputation for reliable intel, suggesting that Valve Deckard might hit the shelves in 2025 with a price tag of around $1200. Additionally, Gabe Follower hints at the inclusion of new games or demos, possibly from the beloved Half-Life series, optimized for Deckard. The headset is likely to utilize SteamOS, much like Steam Deck, enabling users to play SteamDeck games in VR on a large display. It’s fascinating that the Roy controllers paired with this device mirror gamepad controls, ensuring gaming familiar to the Valve aficionados. Despite its premium pricing, sources claim the device will sell at a loss, implying it boasts high-tech specifications tailored for true VR enthusiasts.
Sony’s Permanent Price Cut for PSVR 2
Sony’s made a bold move by permanently reducing the price of the PSVR 2 headset. Now, at $400 (€450 / £400 / ¥66,980), buyers can either grab the standalone headset or get a bundle with the Horizon Call of the Mountain game for the same price. Considering PSVR 2 had a hefty price that surpassed even the PS5, this adjustment seems advantageous. Sales picked up pace when temporary discounts were applied, so a lasting price drop should further bolster its reach. While its library of exclusive games isn’t vast, the increasing range of available titles and PC compatibility enhances its attractiveness. I predict a more prosperous ecosystem for PSVR 2 ahead.
Meta’s Free-to-Play Strategy on Quest
Meta’s urging developers to focus on free-to-play games to cater to the youthful audience of Meta Quest. As stated in a recent social media post, free-to-play games now constitute over 70% of the time users spend on Quest. Following this trend, games like “Mannequin” by Fast Travel Games have been made free, and Owlchemy Labs’ “Dimensional Double Shift” recently hit half a million downloads. However, I couldn’t help but notice a few aspects about Meta’s claim. The hefty promotion of free content like Horizon Worlds inevitably inflates these statistics. Moreover, it’s curious that revenue statistics weren’t highlighted, which could be telling. Even if some games boast high playtime, profit margins might not be as remarkable. I’m interested to know the average revenue of free-to-play games on the Horizon Store, which would better guide developers.
Introducing Meta’s Aria Gen 2 Glasses
Meta has unveiled the Aria Gen 2 glasses, an upgrade of the previous Project Aria. Although these glasses aren’t commercial products, they pack numerous sensors designed for research, capturing data to train AI models requiring user-perspective insights. The new version boasts enhanced sensors like RGB, position-tracking, and eye-tracking cameras, alongside updated internals such as a custom Meta chip for better on-device operations like positional and hand tracking. Weighing just 75g and offering 6-8 hours of usage, these glasses are set to expand their reach to research centers later this year.
Refresh of Meta’s Business and Educational Offerings
Meta has revamped its programs for educational institutions and corporations. The long-anticipated Meta For Education program is now officially launched, helping schools procure headsets complete with a content catalog and comprehensive management services. Meta’s stats claim that using VR significantly boosts student engagement and academic performance. Alongside these educational updates, Meta also introduced a refreshed enterprise suite dubbed “Horizon Managed Solutions,” offering device management compatibility with third-party MDM solutions. While enterprise prices are slightly higher than consumer models, optional lifetime access purchases could make education offerings more enticing.
News Worth Noting
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HTC’s VIVERSE Worlds: HTC has rolled out “VIVERSE Worlds," a web-based platform meant to be the "YouTube of 3D Content," allowing seamless integration into websites and harnessing advanced streaming for optimal performance.
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AMD’s Grafik Card Launch: AMD has revealed its RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT cards, poised to rival NVIDIA’s offerings with competitive pricing and robust specs to support future immersive tech.
- Windows Games on Pico 4 Ultra: Thanks to Winlator, a Windows emulator for Android, players can now enjoy classics like Crysis and Fallout 3 directly on the Pico 4 Ultra headset.
Controversies in XR
The community buzzes with dissatisfaction about the Horizon Store’s curation, overwhelmed by mediocre Gorilla Tag replicas. Of the recent 126 titles, 57 have names echoing “gorilla” or “tag,” which is simply exasperating.
Meta Discontinues Move
Meta is phasing out Move, citing reliance on outdated technology. This shutdown is bittersweet, particularly given how Move displaced start-up YUR’s offerings only to be left in the lurch years later. A stark reminder about investing in passionate ventures.
Advancements in Realistic Avatars and Experimental VR Tastes
Meta Reality Labs and Munich University released Avat3r, a system crafting strikingly realistic avatars from just a handful of photos. Meanwhile, Ohio State University is exploring virtual taste, using an e-taste interface to simulate flavors, marking a step forward in sensory VR experiences.
Spotlight on The VR Critic
For VR enthusiasts looking for thoughtful reviews, Dr. Luke Buckmaster has unveiled “The VR Critic,” a site housing over a hundred insightful reviews. Four years in the making, Luke’s dedication paints a promising future for this site.
Content News
Some highlights include Steam’s Next Fest offering a slew of free VR demos, the upcoming launch of Symphoni, a novel rhythm game, and the anticipated release of GORN 2. Meanwhile, Beat Saber celebrates with a Kendrick Lamar DLC, and Orion Drift opens its doors in Early Access, inviting players to explore its bold vision.
Reviews and Developments
Feedback from Steam Next Fest suggests that VR demos face significant challenges, while Orion Drift earns cautious optimism. Retronika impresses with variety, and Detective VR offers a unique mixed reality experience, albeit with room to grow.
Other Industry Tidbits
Anticipation builds for GTA 6’s metaverse ambitions, VR’s potential to boost lucid dreaming, and industry discussions surrounding PC VR’s financial viability. Additionally, whispers suggest Google’s work on boards for future Qualcomm XR chipsets.
Fun and Community
Humor and community spirit thrive within XR circles, from playful exchanges with AI to tongue-in-cheek insights on Horizon Worlds and VR studio challenges.
Giving Back
In light of global challenges, I encourage you to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine through the Red Cross. It’s donations like yours that make a difference. And as always, thank you to my loyal Patreon supporters for their invaluable contributions!
Support the Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image credit: Afference)
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