I’m back in China for a short while and had the delightful chance to watch a lively street performance celebrating the lunar new year, featuring the iconic dragon and tiger. It’s been quite a feast here—I’m eating so much that I’m joking I’ll burst soon. Honestly, not a bad way to go! As I send you all my best wishes for the year of the Snake, let me dive into the top XR stories from the past week. (UPDATE: This newsletter is a bit late because I fell really ill for a couple of days after drafting part of it. Thankfully, I’m just now back on my feet to finish writing it. Re-reading my cheerful intro gave me a smile—sorry for the delay, hope you all still love this content!)
Top news of the week
Meta had a great Q4 2024
Meta released its impressive financial results for Q4 of 2024, but there’s more beneath the numbers. Reality Labs hit a milestone with $1.08 billion in quarterly revenue, its highest yet. The festive season usually gives Meta’s sales a boost, with the Quest series being a popular holiday gift. Indicators were pointing to a successful quarter—like the Meta Quest app topping the iOS charts, Batman Arkham Shadow garnering 1 million players, and the Quest ranking as Amazon’s best-seller for 2024. Despite some tough conditions for MR/VR, we were surprised to see such extraordinary results. One thing we overlooked was the impact of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. With Zuckerberg mentioning sales of over a million units of Ray-Ban Meta, translating to over $300M in sales, these glasses became a significant contributor. Even if Meta nets only 30% of these revenues, it’s a substantial figure. This shows two trends: MR/VR is hanging in there, growing ever so slightly but still waiting for that breakthrough innovation; and the smart glasses market, though perhaps a bit overhyped, is on the rise. Zuckerberg is optimistic about the future of Ray-Ban Meta, forecasting sales of up to 5 million units in the next release. He also mentioned Horizon Worlds showing growth, with plans for striking visual enhancements, although this focus can challenge developers on the Horizon Store. Another point of concern is Meta’s high expenses: $6.05 billion this quarter, largely driven by R&D efforts for consumer AR glasses and subsidizing device costs. Interestingly, it seems the more Meta sells, the more it loses. As Road To VR states, "Since Q4 2020, Meta has spent $69 billion on Reality Lab, earning only $9.19 billion in return." Expenses are expected to grow as Meta pursues its vision for the 2030s.
To explore more about these developments: Meta’s Q4 2024 financials, Reality Labs’ revenues and losses, and Horizon Worlds advancements.
Other relevant news
Apple is still finding its best strategy for glasses
According to renowned tech journalist Marc Gurman, Apple’s journey with AR glasses faces ongoing challenges. Although committed to developing AR glasses, Apple recently scrapped plans for tethered models that would connect to iPhones, due to excessive battery drain. Attempts to connect these to Macs met with poor reviews, leading to further delays. However, Apple’s dedication remains, with a team in Santa Clara working on advanced microLED displays for AR applications. These innovative displays hold promise for Apple’s vision, but a release is expected no sooner than 2028. Within Apple’s Vision Products Group, there’s some discontent, reflecting a lack of direction, which can be tough on morale. Embracing cutting-edge tech is often fraught with setbacks, but persistence can lead to breakthroughs.
Further information about Apple’s work with microLEDs and AR glasses plans.
Apple Vision Pro is one year old!
Recently, my timeline was abuzz with Apple enthusiasts celebrating the first anniversary of the Vision Pro. Joining in the fun, a hearty Happy Birthday to Vision Pro seemed fitting. This device has spurred fresh competition in XR, pushing others to hasten their XR developments.
See more details about Vision Pro’s anniversary celebrations.
News worth a mention
VRChat introduces age verification
VRChat just unveiled age verification for VRC+ subscribers through the service provided by Persona. Users can opt to verify their age using official documents or a facial photo, which then allows access to age-restricted environments and displays an adults-only badge. This step marks a significant moment in social VR, addressing long-standing complaints about unverified users affecting the experience. But here’s the dilemma: will people sacrifice some privacy for a more refined interaction environment? And how will creators engage with this feature given that it’s currently for a limited audience? Only time will tell if this encourages more adult-only spaces, but it’s an intriguing first step. (As an aside: I once proposed a similar solution at VRROOM and met with resistance, with concerns about data sharing for age verification in social VR.)
Check out more about VRChat’s age verification initiative.
XReal One or Apple Vision Pro?
Scott Stein’s comparison of the XReal One glasses with Apple’s Vision Pro raises interesting points. The XReal One is a competitive alternative for viewing experiences, praised for its lighter design and price point compared to the Vision Pro. While the Vision Pro boasts superior specs like a broader FOV and brighter colors, is it worth the significant price difference if you’re primarily after a display? This review is thought-provoking, challenging the need for a high-cost purchase when simpler needs can be met affordably.
Learn more about what reviewers say about XReal One glasses.
Viture releases Pro XR glasses
Viture unveiled its Pro XR glasses with notable features like 1920×1080 micro OLED displays, a 46° FOV, 49 PPD, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Priced at $459 with a current $50 discount, these glasses offer a promising blend of performance and affordability.
Discover more about Viture’s latest release.
The Logitech Pen is a good tracker for the Meta Quest
Developers often use a Quest controller to track objects in XR, but now the Logitech MX Ink pen offers a fresh solution. Some videos I watched recently demonstrated the pen’s capability to track alongside the controllers with the Meta Quest. This dual-tracking capability enables unique experiences and integrations, sparking curiosity about future applications. (Thanks to Rob Cole and A.K. for sharing the insightful videos.)
Get more insights on using the Logitech Pen as a tracker.
Haptikos aims to be a new contender in the XR haptics scene
Emerging from stealth mode, Haptikos, with bases in Sunnyvale and Athens, presented a prototype hand exoskeleton. This innovation is part of the Haptik OS ecosystem, designed to offer haptic feedback and precise finger-tracking. While current prototypes are priced at $2500, the team aims for a more accessible $1000 price by 2026. I recall testing an early version privately at AWE, and even back then, the functionality showed great promise.
Learn more about Haptikos’ exciting developments.
Meta aims at firing all leakers
Meta has made clear its intention to crackdown on internal leaks, threatening to dismiss any employees responsible. Citing ongoing leaks as a reason for less openness, Zuckerberg remarked, “We try to be really open and then everything I say leaks. It sucks.” Ironically, this comment surfaced in a leaked meeting.
Read more about Meta’s internal policies on leaks.
Integrating Quest passthrough and ChatGPT
The innovator behind the best methodology for Quest passthrough is on the verge of launching an integration of the Meta Quest 3 camera with OpenAI’s GPT-4o. Combining passthrough with AI could revolutionize user interaction, making the potential applications vast. With great anticipation, we’re looking forward to what this integration will offer!
Explore more on this upcoming integration.
New bad news for VR
Unfortunately, the VR scene is facing challenges, as seen with three recent reports. Orbus VR, the pioneer VR MMO from 2017, is closing its doors. Fast Travel Games is cutting 30 jobs due to underwhelming sales in 2024. Meanwhile, Vertigo Games is offloading its arcade service Springboard VR to Synthesis VR as a reorganization effort.
Further details about these developments: Orbus VR’s closure, Fast Travel Games layoffs, and the Springboard VR acquisition.
Some news about content
- COLD VR is set to release on February 11.
- Aces of Thunder, an aerial combat VR game, is heading to PSVR 2 and PC VR in 2025.
- Demeo introduces a standalone game adaptation called DEMEO X DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: BATTLEMARKED.
- Cave Crave, a climb-inspired spelunking sim with a claustrophobic twist, is available for preorder on the Horizon Store for $13.
- Trailblazer: The Untold Story of Mrs. Benz, featuring Daisy Ridley, will launch on Quest this March.
- Beyond Blue: After the Storm, the VR sequel to the 2020 game Beyond Blue, is now on the Meta Store for $15.
- Darknet: Remastered, a classic VR title, is now on Quest for $9.99.
- Craftrium lets you create an interactive aquarium using augmented reality with your Apple Vision Pro.
- Synth Riders is debuting a Kendrick Lamar Experience in time for Super Bowl LIX, exclusively on Apple Vision Pro.
- Farming Simulator VR offers an all-new farming adventure for VR, launching February 28 on the Horizon Store.
- Vacation Simulator and Cosmonious High from Owlchemy Labs are now $19.99 across various platforms.
- Ahoy! delivers an emotional narrative experience available on the Apple Vision Pro.
- Upload VR’s XR News Round-Up covers broader XR industry updates.
Check more: Expanded news on upcoming VR content and platform releases.
Some reviews about content
Road To VR previewed Path of Fury: Episode I — Tetsuo’s Tower, describing it as a thrilling game on rails that offers a unique fitness challenge set in an 80s action style. StageTime VR is a burgeoning multiplayer karaoke experience offering promising features like spatial audio, and it’s showing promising potential.
Learn more about Path of Fury and StageTime VR.
Other news
March marks the return of the VR Games Showcase, promising an exciting lineup from XR Games. There’s also a reveal of Mindshow’s virtual animation tool targeted at enterprises.
XR4Europe released several reports on the XR landscape across Europe, offering valuable insights.
XR Bootcamp conducted a comprehensive comparison of smartglasses available in the current market.
Version 74 of the Quest is facing critique for reportedly complicating the user interface even further.
Samsung’s "Beyond" trademark raises speculation, although it’s unlikely to reuse headset names already in circulation.
Astronauts are benefiting from using HTC headsets to alleviate solitude in space.
For more details on all these topics, keep an eye on our expanding news coverage.
News from partners (and friends)
Exciting times as Google Blocks has been revived as Open Blocks by the dedicated team at Icosa Foundation. This follows their successful revival of TiltBrush as Open Brush. Now available on the Horizon Store and open source on GitHub, Open Blocks aims to stay free and open source forever. Alongside, they’re also working on an Icosa Gallery to succeed Google’s Poly. Kudos to their continued innovation and commitment to accessible creativity!
Discover more innovations from Icosa’s new initiatives.
Some XR fun
There’s a hilarious mix-up involving a cave simulator that might be more than meets the eye… Check it out for a good laugh!
Donate for good
This week, while I won’t prompt donations for my blog, I’d urge you to consider aiding those affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Red Cross is diligently working to provide humanitarian support. If you’d like to contribute, I’ve included the link below.
Before I conclude, a heartfelt thank you to my patrons for their unwavering support:
(A listing of patrons follows here)
And here’s that donation link:
Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image by Meta)
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