VR Weekly Recap (December 31, 2024): Meta Quest Headset Issues, Pimax’s New Release, and Other Highlights!

As we wrap up this year, it’s a great time to look back on the past twelve months and reflect on what’s been an eventful 2024 in the world of XR. I’ve actually penned a couple of articles diving deep into my experiences at various XR events and pondering the state of XR this year (spoiler: it’s a mix of highs and lows). If you haven’t seen them yet, now’s a good time to catch up. Meanwhile, don’t forget to enjoy the New Year’s celebrations with your loved ones. Here’s to a fantastic 2025 filled with joy and success!

Top News of the Week

Some Meta Quest Headsets Faced Trouble Over Christmas

It’s been quite a rollercoaster holiday for Meta Quest users. The recent v72 update reportedly caused some headsets to become inoperable. The situation primarily impacted devices needing extensive updates due to falling behind on previous ones. Owners found themselves staring at a boot screen warning that the device couldn’t be trusted and wouldn’t start. Given that several of these gadgets were newly unwrapped Christmas gifts, the timing couldn’t have been worse, stirring quite the online hubbub.

Initially, Meta’s response wasn’t the swiftest—perhaps because many were off for the holidays. Customer service initially turned away those with devices out of warranty. However, after considerable outcry, Meta acknowledged the glitch, addressed it, and started offering fixes—even providing support for devices beyond warranty. If your device is still out of commission, you can replace it with a free Quest 3S and receive some credits for the Horizon Store.

Ultimately, Meta handled the debacle reasonably well, albeit belatedly. But it’s worth pondering what genius thought rolling out a significant update during peak holiday downtime was wise. Tech managers often avoid deploying critical updates near vacations to avoid similar mishaps.

[More info on the Quest issue] [More details on the device restoration]

Other Relevant News

Pimax Introduces Its Compact Dream Air Headset

Pimax seems to be on a roll, releasing new gadgets every other week. This time, they’ve unveiled the Dream Air, a sleek and more compact headset compared to their usual offerings, which dominantly boast large field-of-views.

Dream Air is marketed towards enthusiasts of models like the BigScreen Beyond and similar, featuring innovative tech like hand tracking, eye tracking, automatic interpupillary distance adjustments, and even self-adjusting straps—a first in the field.

There’s also an intriguing option to add an external unit named Cobb, powered by a Snapdragon XR2 chip, enhancing its standalone capabilities.

As shared by Road To VR, it boasts:

• Resolution: 13MP per-eye with vibrant colors
• Refresh rate peaks at 90Hz
• Smart comfort features like pancake optics and prescription lens options

Priced at $1900—following their typical two-year subscription model—the release is slated for mid-2025, with Pimax quite optimistic about meeting this deadline thanks to existing tech from their Crystal Super line. However, skeptics foresee delays, as is often the case with their releases.

The headset’s unveiling has elicited mixed reactions. Some appreciate the ambition, while others question Pimax’s rapid product releases. Notably, observers allege that Pimax swiftly responds to market trends to snag customer attention from rivals. Despite the buzz, their competitive pricing seems to strike a chord, with the Pimax Crystal Light leading the value-for-money race in PCVR markets.

Dream Air might be Pimax’s reaction to the rising interest in the MeganeX SuperLight 8K, aiming to explore markets prioritizing clarity and user comfort over expansive fields of view. Only time will tell if Dream Air will fulfill its promise. Stay tuned…

[Further reading on Dream Air launches] [An analysis on Pimax’s strategy]

Meta Plans to Include Displays in Ray-Ban Meta Glasses

The Ray-Ban Meta glasses have enjoyed notable success this year. Enthusiasm for these devices might get another boost with reports suggesting Meta’s plans to integrate displays showing notifications and AI outputs. Though there were initial hesitations from Ray-Ban’s creators due to bulk concerns, if they come on board, we might see a stylish, widely available set of smart glasses soon.

[More details]

Expect Exciting Announcements at CES

CES, one of the year’s blockbuster tech events, kicks off next week. Equipped with insider know-how and promising announcements, including a tantalizing hint from Sony, expect a flood of XR-related unveilings. I’ll be there, bringing you firsthand reports straight from the show.

[Details on DPVR’s mystery reveal] [Insights from Sony’s CES keynote]

News Worth Mentioning

Meta Horizon App Leads the Holiday Download Charts

The Meta Horizon app became one of the most downloaded apps this holiday season, hitting top spots in several countries and indicating healthy Quest headset sales.

[Read more]

Pico Introduces SecureMR, a Privacy-Focused Solution for Passthrough APIs

Pico’s SecureMR promises developers new ways to leverage passthrough analysis while maintaining user privacy. Instead of access to raw camera frames, developers supply ML models for safe execution. However, if competitors like Meta offer freer access to camera data in the coming year, Pico’s approach might face challenges.

[Discover more]

Magic Leap One’s Imminent Shutdown

Magic Leap has announced the upcoming deactivation of servers crucial for Magic Leap One, marking the end of functionality for these headsets. It’s a sad end for a device that sparked creativity and innovation in augmented reality, leaving users with little more than a costly memento.

[Further details]

Access Free LiDAR Data Worldwide

Last week, I highlighted Tokyo’s free release of its city’s point cloud data. Due to its success, several other countries reportedly offer accessible LiDAR data. This treasure trove could be instrumental in projects involving digital twins and virtual positioning systems.

[Explore the data]

Road To VR Recognizes Its Games of the Year

Road To VR, a leading XR authority, published its acclaimed Games of the Year list. The award for best Quest game rightfully went to Batman: Arkham Shadow, though the full list had some unexpected picks.

[Check it out]

Fanatical’s New VR Game Bundle Offers Big Savings

Fanatical has curated a special "Build your own Quest VR Bundle," offering significant discounts on selected games. You can access them at marked-down prices in various combinations—ideal for expanding your game library economically.

[Shop the bundle]

Exciting Content Updates

• Warpfrog, creators of “Blade & Sorcery,” tease a new game promising physics-based interactions.
• "Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable” launches its complete edition, receiving mixed reviews.
• Game Night emerges as an engaging multiplayer experience for Quest users.

[Learn more]

Other News & Fun Tidbits

Samsung’s latest XR headset may have Find My Device capabilities, and hidden gems are being discovered in the most unexpected places. Stay amused with our favorite XR-related funnies and memes.

• Discover newfound details about Quest’s startup animation
• Have a laugh with Meta’s Horizon Worlds antics
• Catch up with Pimax’s quirky design evolution

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(Header image by Pimax)

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