VR Weekly Wrap-Up (2024.12.02): Leak of Valve Roy Controllers, Black Friday Discounts, and Additional Highlights

Hey there, and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all my American buddies! While we don’t have Thanksgiving here in Italy, I know it’s a huge deal in the US, Canada, and some other places. To everyone who celebrated, I hope you had a fantastic time with your loved ones. For those who didn’t partake, I trust you snagged some awesome deals during Black Friday! I grabbed a couple of things myself, most notably a new phone since my old one was on its last legs. It was a bit embarrassing when a friend in Helsinki joked about setting up a donation to get me a new one!

Before we jump into this week’s XR updates, I have an announcement to make: I’m now on Bluesky! Feel free to follow me there if you’re using that platform. Engagement on X has been a bit slow for me lately, so I’m giving Bluesky a shot. But don’t worry, I’m not leaving X anytime soon, so you can continue to catch me there as well.

Top News of the Week

It seems dataminers have been digging into SteamVR’s code and stumbled across 3D models of Valve’s Roy controllers, which have been rumored for a while now. This discovery hints that Valve might be in the final stages of developing these controllers, suggesting that the launch of their Deckard headset could be right around the corner. The presence of these models in SteamVR files might indicate a possible 2025 release for the full headset kit. These 3D models confirm earlier leaks, showing that the controllers come equipped with bumpers, a D-pad, thumbsticks, buttons, index triggers, grip triggers, and system buttons. Essentially, these controllers combine to form a gamepad, allowing players to enjoy the Steam game library on a large screen through the headset. Additionally, it looks like Valve is incorporating technology from Arcturus Technologies for inside-out tracking, which is promising, considering their 2020 video showed reliable tracking and stereo-corrected passthrough.

Other Relevant News

The Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales haven’t petered out yet, so there are still plenty of VR discounts to check out! Here are some highlights:

• PSVR 2 has dropped to $350 and comes bundled with the excellent game Horizon Call Of The Mountain. It’ll be interesting to see how this price cut impacts sales, especially given the previous discount led to a significant uptick.
• Pico 4 Ultra includes Pico Motion Trackers, three games, and a month of VRChat Plus, all wrapped up in one hefty package.
• Some US stores are offering the Quest 3S for $299.99 and throwing in a $75 gift card.
• HTC has also joined the fray with discounts: The Vive Focus Vision includes a free DisplayPort adapter and a bundle of games; the Vive XR Elite sees a $100 reduction, or $150 if bundled with three Vive Ultimate Trackers; the Vive Pro 2 comes with a $400 discount for the full set or $200 off for just the headset.
• On the Horizon (Quest) Store, you can use ‘BFCM24’ at checkout for up to 40% off select games, which can be used multiple times!

It’s a packed sales event, and definitely worth checking out if you’re in the market for VR hardware or games.

Apple’s XR Journey

Did you know Apple might have been dipping its toes into the XR world for way longer than we’d thought? While it took about seven years to develop the Apple Vision Pro, hinting at Apple’s tactic of perfecting rather than pioneering, turns out they might have started even earlier. A Mac World journalist recently uncovered a 2008 patent by Apple for a VR headset. This early patent talked about wearable displays that create the illusion of a virtual environment using smart sensors — quite forward-thinking for 2008, don’t you think? While patents are filed for various reasons, this does hint at Apple’s long-standing interest in immersive tech, well before Oculus Rift hit the scene. It’s fascinating!

VRChat’s New Age Verification Feature

VRChat is taking a significant step by partnering with Persona to introduce age verification through government ID and a device with a camera. Not all users will have to verify just yet, but those wanting access to certain age-restricted instances will. Users who verify could also add a “Verified 18+” badge to their profiles. This phased rollout is wise, allowing for bug resolutions before deploying to the broader user base. Partnering with event organizers also allows for trial runs in age-verified environments. This is a crucial evolution for social VR spaces, as it caters to separate age groups, letting adults interact more maturely and kids have their kind of fun. It’ll be interesting to see the uptake, considering privacy concerns, but making verification optional for specific worlds seems a prudent approach.

News Worth a Mention

• Pimax has unveiled its Crystal Super headset, boasting impressive specs. However, as usual, with Pimax, the delivery and customer handling often veer towards the unpredictable. Let’s see how it actually performs once reviews roll in!
• XREAL is cooking up something new for December 4th – new AR glasses. The anticipation is building, and we’ll know soon enough whether these are for media consumption or more dynamic AR experiences.
• Here’s an amusing find: someone engineered a Virtual Reality setup for insects at Flinders University. This micro-scale VR environment helps study insects’ behaviors in a controlled way. Incredible, right?
• There’s some quirky research from Hong Kong University about a virtual lollipop that releases flavors like sugar, salt, and yes, inexplicably, durian.. through iontophoresis for a multi-sensory VR experience.

Tom Emrich’s New Book Release

Tom Emrich, a well-respected name in the AR world, has just launched his new book, “The Next Dimension: How to Use Augmented Reality for Business Growth in the Era of Spatial Computing.” Packed with insights from pioneering brands, this book sounds like a goldmine for anyone interested in integrating AR into their business strategy.

A Modder’s Paradise with Halo in VR

Thanks to a mod on GitHub, you can now dive into the entire Halo: Combat Evolved campaign in VR. This mod unlocks full 6DOF motion controls, two-handed weapon handling, and more. With fans raving on Reddit, it sounds like a must-try for any Halo enthusiast.

Exciting Content and Reviews

• Get ready for Home Sports, a multi-sports game coming to the Meta Horizon Store on December 11th for $20.
• Premier League Player game hits Meta Quest on December 3rd, and Trivia Crack World, a VR multiplayer trivia experience, is out on Quest for $10.
• There’s also a new Web Shooter experience for Vision Pro, channel your inner Spider-Man in mixed reality!

Other Developments

There’s a lot buzzing around the XR world, from Zero V2 AR glasses by Miroslav Kotalík to the ANNAPRO A2 strap for Apple Vision Pro. Even as the PCVR market shows little growth, developers are still pushing the envelope.

Community and Fun

Finally, I’d like to give a shoutout to all my Patreon supporters. Your support is invaluable, and it goes a long way in helping out the less fortunate too. Consider making a donation to the Red Cross for their humanitarian work in Ukraine. Details are below for those willing to contribute.

I hope you found these insights both informative and a little fun, and remember to keep exploring the engaging world of XR!