Today marks the final day of the Carnival festivities, and the streets across Italy are brimming with people reveling in the celebrations. While I’m opting for a quieter celebration with some traditional sweets of the season, I’ve got another reason to cheer—Feedspot has ranked me third among the top 60 Virtual Reality websites, a list led by the esteemed Road to VR and Upload VR. Though the list has its quirks like mentioning the defunct Oculus website, and some exceptional sites like MIXED aren’t listed, it’s still a moment of pride. I’m aware I might not fully deserve the third spot, possibly not even the fourth or fifth, but I can’t help savoring this recognition for eight years of hard work as a blogger. A heartfelt thanks to all of you for your unwavering support!
Top News of the Week
Valve’s upcoming VR headset, the Deckard, is rumored to launch in 2025 with a hefty $1200 price tag. This leak comes from data miner Gabe Follower, who has a solid track record. He hints that Valve will also release exclusive games or demos for the Deckard, including possibly a Half-Life demo. The device is expected to run on SteamOS, akin to the Steam Deck, and will be able to play Steam Deck’s flatscreen games in VR, thanks to its gamepad-like Roy controllers. Despite its premium price point, it reportedly sells at a loss, indicating high-end specs that will likely please Valve enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, Sony has permanently reduced the price of its PSVR 2 to $400. Previously criticized for costing more than the PS5, this price cut aligns with previous sales spikes when the device was discounted. This strategic pricing, along with an expanding game library and PC compatibility, should enhance the PSVR 2 ecosystem.
In another development, Meta is pushing for free-to-play games on Meta Quest, with over 70% of user time spent in such experiences. This trend persuades developers to adopt freemium models, and recent titles like "Mannequin" and "Dimensional Double Shift" underscore its effectiveness. However, without concrete revenue stats, the sustainability of this model for developers remains unclear.
More Relevant News
Meta’s announcement of the second-generation Aria glasses promises advanced sensors and a custom Meta chip for on-device tracking capabilities, all while weighing just 75g. Although only available to select partners, broader distribution to research centers is on the horizon.
Additionally, Meta has enhanced its educational and corporate offerings. The new Meta For Education program provides schools with VR headsets and management services, while businesses can now integrate third-party MDM solutions with Meta’s enterprise services—a significant improvement for seamless device management.
HTC has launched "VIVERSE Worlds," a web-based platform for 3D and VR experiences, aiming to ease integration into websites without installations. With innovative streaming technology, this could potentially redefine accessibility in VR content.
AMD, meanwhile, is set to release its RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards, intended to rival NVIDIA’s offerings. These cards promise cutting-edge performance, including support for next-gen refresh rates crucial for VR gaming.
On YouTube, Winlator is demonstrated running Windows games on the Pico 4 Ultra, offering a glimpse into extending headset capabilities to older PC games.
However, VR developers face challenges with the Horizon Store’s curation, plagued by subpar clones of popular titles—highlighting a need for a more refined marketplace. Meanwhile, Meta is discontinuing its Move app, an echo of past business miscalculations that affected startups like YUR.
In the realm of realistic avatars, Meta’s Avat3r project offers surprising fidelity using minimal iPhone photos, pointing toward the potential future of virtual self-representation.
Taste in VR also makes strides, with The Ohio State University exploring virtual flavor dissemination, albeit in nascent stages. This kind of innovation keeps the field fresh and full of possibility.
Finally, I’d like to spotlight "The VR Critic" by Dr. Luke Buckmaster, offering meticulously crafted VR content reviews—a resource born from four years of dedication.
Content Highlights
Recent releases and upcoming titles are catching the community’s attention. From the nostalgia-inducing "Stratogun" to the stress-release focused "Sportvida CyberDash," VR gaming is continuously diversifying. Orion Drift’s Early Access proves promising, although not yet the Echo VR successor fans hoped for, while GORN 2 prepares to innovate despite maintaining familiar gameplay foundations.
For VR gaming enthusiasts, the anticipation is palpable, with varying content styles—from rhythm-based games like "Symphoni" to narrative-driven adventures such as "Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate."
Shoutouts and Support
This week, I highlight a project aligned with charitable values. Please consider donating to the Red Cross to support those affected by the Ukraine conflict. Your contributions make a difference.
Before closing, I must express my immense gratitude to my Patreon supporters—I wouldn’t be here without you. And as ever, for those wanting to explore, interact, and innovate further, let’s keep sharing and supporting each other in this exciting VR journey!
