As March bids us farewell on a lovely day, I find it the perfect time to dive into the hottest AR and VR news from the past week. And yes, we can’t ignore the buzz around Studio Ghibli’s AI craze.
Major Highlights of the Week
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Samsung’s Rumored XR Glasses Launch
There’s a strong buzz that Samsung might be unveiling XR glasses later this year, as per a report from the Korean outlet ETNews. While it’s unclear if these are AR glasses or smartglasses, they’re expected to be comfortable and include cameras and sensors for tracking purposes. The project is currently codenamed "Haen," meaning "coast" in Korean. This isn’t Samsung’s first XR venture, so anticipation is building to see what the official announcement brings.
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Vivo Joins the Mixed Reality Arena
Vivo, the smartphone giant, has teased its mixed reality headset, the Vivo Vision. While specific details are sparse, the design closely mimics the Vision Pro. Officially set for a 2025 release, it’s exciting to see another major player enter the XR competition.
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Meta’s Quest Headset Targeting Entertainment
I’ve previously shared insights from Chris Pruett’s GDC talk about the Quest ecosystem trending towards free-to-play, driven by a youthful user base. A new article on Meta’s blog highlights a different emerging demographic: mainstream adults using the headset for media consumption. Predominantly men in their 30s, they use the Quest similarly to a high-end TV for watching movies and shows. This could signify a shift in Meta’s future plans, possibly with more features tailored for this audience.
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Apple’s Upcoming WWDC 2025
Mark your calendars for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, where they’re rumored to unveil visionOS 3. Although it overlaps with AWE, sparking some scheduling conflicts, it promises exciting updates.
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Pimax Crystal Super’s Imminent Shipping
Pimax has announced the April 7th shipping date for its high-resolution Pimax Crystal Super headset. It’s commendable how the company has adhered to a timely rollout.
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PlayStation Spring Sale Alert
Sony’s PlayStation Spring Sale runs until April 23, featuring discounts on thousands of games, including over 60 PlayStation VR2 titles. It’s the perfect chance to grab some titles.
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Recognition in WebXR at The Polys
The Polys had its 5th edition, celebrating excellence in WebXR, a promising yet developing technology. Kudos to the organizers for spotlighting this vital area.
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Valve’s Inactivity Criticized
A thought-provoking editorial questions Valve’s silence in the XR content arena, especially since their last major XR title was Alxyx, released five years ago. Despite its capacity to invigorate the VR sector through its resources, Valve remains noticeably inactive.
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Innovative Uses of Camera Access on Quest
The recent release of camera access on Quest has sparked creativity and experimentation. Developers are pushing the boundaries by leveraging the camera for innovative projects like real-world element copy-pasting and adaptive lighting based on environmental scans.
Content Updates
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ILM and Lucasfilm announced a new immersive Star Wars experience, "Star Wars: Beyond Victory," for Quest headsets. Details are sparse, but it promises to include podracing elements set in the "Solo" timeline.
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Hitman World of Assassination launched as a PlayStation VR2 DLC, receiving positive first impressions.
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Meta has discontinued support for System Shock 2 VR, implying a retreat from some VR projects. Disinvestment rumors surface as the company withdraws funding.
- RoboCop: Streets of Anarchy won’t see the light of day, as the developing studio lacks the necessary IP rights.
Additional Content News
Several updates and new releases have been announced:
- "HARD BULLET" makes its way to Quest 3.
- "Orion Drift" receives an extensive update with a new mini-game.
- "Elements Divided," a game inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender, is set for an April release.
- "No Man’s Sky" introduces a paleontological update.
- "Resist" and several other games are making their way to various VR platforms.
Content Reviews
Here’s an honest take on new VR content:
- "Pinball FX VR" offers an authentic pinball experience in virtual reality.
- "Boxed Out" is a clever puzzle game that balances challenge with accessibility.
- "Final Fury" takes a unique approach to the fighting genre, promising immersive gameplay.
- Early feedback suggests "Roboquest VR" is successfully adapting the original game for VR.
Additional Tidbits
- Infinite Reality’s acquisition of Napster aims to reshape virtual music concerts.
- A peek into the future with updates from Pico’s operating system and innovations like Sony’s new tracking technology.
Supporting Humanitarian Efforts
Finally, in these trying times, I urge you to consider supporting those affected by the crisis in Ukraine through donations to the Red Cross. And a huge thank you to my Patreon supporters for their constant encouragement.
Thank you for journeying through this week’s XR landscape with me, and until next time, keep exploring!
