As March wraps up, it’s a glorious day, fresh off a project delivery, making it the perfect time to dive into some thrilling updates in the AR and VR realms! Plus, I can’t resist mentioning the buzz around the "Studio Ghibli" AI phenomenon.
Weekly Highlights
Samsung’s Upcoming XR Glasses
There’s a buzz from South Korean magazine ETNews about Samsung prepping to release XR glasses by the end of the year. While it’s not entirely clear if these will be AR glasses or smartglasses, they promise to be comfortable, equipped with cameras and sensors for user and environment tracking. The project, known as “Haen” (which translates to "coast" in Korean), isn’t Samsung’s first XR venture. It seems they’re readying something big, and only time will reveal what’s coming. If they unveil both Project Moohan (an MR headset) and Haen this year, 2025 could mark Samsung’s grand return to XR.
Further Details: [Samsung XR glasses — Road To VR] [Samsung XR glasses — Android Authority]
Vivo’s Vision Headset
Renowned smartphone maker Vivo has announced its foray into the mixed reality space with its new headset, the Vivo Vision. Though details are sparse, the exterior design evokes a familiar look, resembling the Vision Pro. Officially launching mid-2025, it’s exciting to see another major player enter the XR arena.
Meta’s Media Focus for the Quest
Reflecting on my discussions last week about Chris Pruett’s presentation at GDC, the Quest ecosystem is leaning into free-to-play, largely influenced by its young user base. This week, exploring a Meta blog post summarizing Pruett’s talk, I stumbled upon an intriguing detail previously overlooked.
A growing demographic of mainstream adults is using the Quest for media and entertainment. Unlike the VR Elite, they don’t see themselves as core gamers. For them, the headset extends their TV—a high-fidelity media consumption tool. Predominantly 30-something men, they love sports, action flicks, and concerts, using the Quest not just for gaming, but as a premium platform for movies and shows. By 2027, Meta predicts they’ll significantly influence the ecosystem, potentially shifting focus from meme games to extensive media consumption, similar to Apple’s vision with the Vision Pro.
This could mean the Quest 4 will pivot towards optimizing movie experiences, possibly challenging Apple more directly. For developers, navigating these evolving market dynamics poses questions: where should my focus lie? How do I align with Meta’s future support? Games or movies? It’s tough sailing in this ever-evolving digital landscape…
Heads-Up: [Quest Media Focus Insight]
Noteworthy Tidbits
Apple’s Upcoming WWDC
Mark your calendars for June 9th when Apple kicks off its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Rumor has it, they’ll introduce visionOS 3 with exciting new features for the Vision Pro. A slight disappointment: the event coincides with AWE, making it impossible to attend both.
Shipping Alert: Pimax Crystal Super
Chinese tech company Pimax is set to start shipping their high-res Pimax Crystal Super headset with a wide field of view on April 7th. Kudos to Pimax for keeping to their timeline.
Snag Deals at Sony’s PlayStation Spring Sale
Until April 23rd, enjoy Sony’s PlayStation Spring Sale, offering thousands of games, including over 60 PlayStation VR2 titles like Alien: Rogue Incursion and Metro Awakening. Time to snag some deals…
The Polys Celebrates WebXR
The Polys, now in its fifth edition, this year spotlighted WebXR’s finest. It’s pivotal, celebrating a tech with vast potential, despite its infancy. Big applause to the organizers for shining a light on this.
Valve’s MIA in the XR Game Space
David Heaney takes a critical look at Valve’s XR contribution—specifically its sparse game production. Since the release of Alxyx five years ago, Valve has been notably absent in new releases. Given its resources and stake in Steam’s success, why isn’t Valve driving VR content more aggressively? And why is everyone so hush-hush about it?
Innovations with Quest’s Camera Access
Experimentation with Quest’s newly enabled camera features has led to exciting user-generated experiments. From real-world copy-pasting to dynamic lighting in virtual environments, creative developers (myself included) are pushing boundaries.
Catch the Latest in the Star Wars Gaming Universe
ILM and Lucasfilm announced another immersive Star Wars endeavor with Star Wars: Beyond Victory. Mystery surrounds it, but it promises mixed reality experiences exclusive to Quest devices—with podracing, no less!
Hitman VR Comes to PlayStation VR2
Hitman World of Assassination is now available for PlayStation VR2 as a DLC for $10. Early reviews suggest IO Interactive has finally hit the mark with this VR chapter.
Project Cuts and Missteps
Meta’s decision to pull the plug on the VR version of System Shock 2, alongside several other projects, aligns with whispers of scaling back investment in certain VR genres. The developers behind the RoboCop VR game also faced a setback, unable to secure rights to continue the project.
Up-and-Coming Game Releases
From the adrenaline-packed HARD BULLET coming to Quest 3, to mystery-rich TimeLab VR delving into the Hindenburg tragedy, the pipeline is brimming with thrilling content awaiting players.
Explore updates and discover VR’s unique offerings growing and evolving across platforms—take for example, the strength in titles like No Man’s Sky: RELICS and the delayed yet anticipated Vertigo 2.
Content Reviews: Gaming and Beyond
Reviews highlight the VR pinball recreation in Pinball FX VR, the intriguing puzzle mechanics of Boxed Out, and Roboquest VR’s promising adaptation journey from flatscreen to VR. Each game provides a gripping sense of embodiment and entertainment in the virtual world.
Miscellaneous Industry Insights
From Infinite Reality’s Napster acquisition to expand into virtual music concerts, to Sony’s Ocellus camera for virtual productions, the XR industry remains rich with innovation and strategic maneuvers.
These pursuits paint a vibrant picture of XR’s present and future versatility and growth. Meanwhile, pioneers like Cyan face challenges with layoffs, though they continue at the forefront with their immersive story-driven games.
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Supporting change—whether through innovative tech or charity—fuels progress. Endless thanks to my Patreon supporters who make these updates possible. Here’s how to donate:
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(Header Image Courtesy of Vivo)
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