The XR Weekly Roundup (November 12, 2024): Smartglasses Gain Momentum, Meta Reduces Game Funding, and More!

The buzz around smartglasses is still going strong. After the Ray-Ban Meta sensation, it seems every tech giant wants a piece of the action. Mark Gurman has revealed that Apple is throwing its hat into the ring, developing their own smartglasses to rival Ray-Ban Meta, with a potential launch in 2027. While details are pretty thin, these glasses are expected to boast features like environmental awareness, hinting heavily at AI capabilities. Apple’s entry into the market is bound to stir things up. Luxottica’s alliance with Meta has made their glasses a fashion statement, and Apple, being a style icon itself, could effortlessly attract its own fashionable followers. Meanwhile, Samsung and Google are also rumored to be crafting their own versions of smartglasses. Over in China, Baidu might surprise us at the Baidu World event with their own offering, complete with cameras and voice interaction features built on Baidu’s Ernie foundation model.

Meta isn’t sitting still, as it’s expanding the Ray-Ban Meta line, opening a pop-up store in Los Angeles dedicated solely to these glasses and planning another in Phoenix come January. These aren’t just any stores; they’re laden with experiences like comedy nights, live podcasts, and even cooking classes, all styled around their glasses. It’s apparent that the smartglasses craze is providing fertile ground for lots of experimentation. Who knows if this trend will stay or fade, but for now, it’s all the rage.

Switching gears to Meta’s content funding strategy, there’s a significant shift happening. According to The Information, Meta is prioritizing lifestyle content over gaming in the XR space. Consequently, funding cuts have forced studios like Monks and Atlas V to downsize drastically. It’s an unfortunate turn for those who had banked on Meta’s support. It’s worth speculating if a different approach by Meta could have softened the blow for those studios. But looking at the big picture, this pivot could position Meta not just as a gaming hub but as a leader in everyday tech utilities. After all, Meta’s sights are set on redefining technological platforms beyond just gaming.

In other intriguing developments, Miroslav Kotalík has taken innovation into his own hands by building his own pair of AR glasses dubbed “Zero,” powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero. These glasses play videos, music, and more. He’s already planning a second iteration to add features like YouTube and Twitter. It’s a project showing what can be achieved with a bit of creativity.

In the realm of virtual screens, Apple’s Vision Pro is making waves with its Panoramic Display feature, offering Mac users an ultra-wide virtual experience equating to two 4K monitors, enhancing productivity and saving space. This should particularly excite designers who typically splurge on high-end screens, now having an extensive virtual alternative. However, Mac users might still need third-party software for window management, as Apple’s own isn’t ready for that yet.

There’s more excitement from LIV, which has unveiled a Creator Kit for the Quest, courtesy of their Unity SDK. This kit allows players to capture VR footage from every angle sans a PC, potentially generating viral content with applications like Gorilla Tag. It’s a feature that can save developers considerable time.

Meanwhile, EgoTouch is enhancing haptic feedback by turning your palm into a touch interface, differentiating between light touches and firm presses. This could be a step forward in creating more immersive controls in VR. And in a fascinating leap, Osmo claims it can “teleport” scents, translating odors into data and re-creating them elsewhere. Though it’s still a nascent technology, the potential for virtual reality applications is exciting.

Over at the PlayStation Store, those with a PSVR 2 headset can snag games at major discounts, some exceeding 40%. It’s a great opportunity to expand your gaming collection without breaking the bank.

Metro Awakening is catching the community’s attention this week, garnering praise for its immersive environment, despite some gameplay hiccups. Nonetheless, it’s a must-try, especially with commendable accessibility features like its arachnophobia mode.

Next up, the djay app makes a landing on Meta Quest, inviting users to embrace their inner DJ and mix tracks in a vivid VR setting. Even better, it supports existing DJ hardware integration, broadening its appeal to real DJs who want to experiment virtually.

There are also a few noteworthy updates in content release schedules. Alien: Rogue Incursion for Quest 3/3S is pushed to next year, while the PCVR and PSVR editions stick to their December release. Human Within is set for a January release on Quest, promising an interactive VR experience that dives deep into humanity’s relationship with AI. Plus, offerings in the VR landscape continue to expand, promising a vast array of experiences from horror puzzles to reality-blending games.

Other noteworthy news includes Photon’s new free sample on multiplayer collaboration in mixed reality, a petition for open-sourcing WMR gaining traction, and Julie Smithson stepping up as the CEO of METAVRSE.

With MatchXR around the corner, scheduled for November 19th in Helsinki, it’s a prime time to explore the Nordic XR scene. Plus, DeoVR is hosting a VR Jam in Slovenia on November 13th, promising immersive VR exposures, networking with VR enthusiasts, and gaming sessions.

Finally, it’s worth making a call for kindness as I appeal for donations to the Red Cross to support the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Huge thanks to my Patreon supporters, whose generosity keeps the wheels turning. If you’d like to help, I’ve included a link to make a donation to this essential cause.