Today marks the vibrant finale of the Carnival celebrations in Italy, with festive crowds filling the streets. Meanwhile, my own celebration takes a sweeter turn as I indulge in some traditional treats of the season. But there’s another reason to revel: Feedspot has graciously ranked my blog as the third best Virtual Reality website among the top 60, just behind the giants Road To VR and Upload VR. Now, while I’m thrilled about this recognition, I must admit there are some discrepancies in their list—like featuring the now-defunct Oculus site. There are certainly industry-leading publications like MIXED that didn’t make the cut, arguably deserving more than my own blog. Nevertheless, I’m basking in this moment of triumph, acknowledging the tireless efforts over the past eight years. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey!
Exciting Developments in VR
Valve Deckard set for a 2025 Debut at $1,200
A fresh rumor swirling around Valve Deckard brings some exciting news—not from the usual suspects, but from the keen-eyed data miner Gabe Follower, known for their past reliable leaks. According to Gabe, the headset is slated for a 2025 release, priced around $1,200. Adding to the excitement, Valve might release specific games or demos, with rumblings of a Half-Life universe demo from Tyler McVicker (Valve News Network). Valve Deckard is expected to run on SteamOS, enabling it to support SteamDeck games with VR flair, thanks to Roy controllers mimicking gamepad controls. Despite its high price tag, Gabe suggests it’s being sold at a loss, hinting at the top-tier specs that might satisfy devoted Valve enthusiasts.
Sony’s Permanent Price Cut on PSVR 2
In a strategic move, Sony has slashed the price of its PSVR 2 headset. Now available at $400 (€450 / £400 / ¥66,980), with an option to bundle it with Horizon Call of the Mountain at no extra cost, it’s a savvy deal. While the PSVR 2 boasts quality, its price was initially its Achilles heel. With the recent pricing adjustment, sales have surged, making this a smart permanent change. Although it’s currently short on exclusive titles, the library is expanding, and its compatibility with PC games on Steam adds to its appeal. This pricing should better position it within the ecosystem, potentially boosting sales further.
Meta’s Shift Towards Free-to-Play in Quest
Meta’s latest strategy for its Quest platform involves urging developers to embrace the free-to-play model, reflecting behavior shifts in its younger audience. Over 70% of user time on Quest now involves free experiences, announces Meta. Games like Mannequin and Owlchemy Labs’ Dimensional Double Shift illustrate the trend’s success with high download rates. However, these statistics raise questions about revenue—vital for studio survival despite gameplay hours. Is there substantial revenue backing this model? The pivotal question for developers remains the median income for free-to-play games on Horizon Store, a vital metric absent from the discussion.
Introducing Meta’s Aria 2 Glasses
Meta has unveiled its Aria Gen 2 glasses, building on the framework of Project Aria. Unlike its predecessors, these aren’t commercial devices but research tools equipped with multiple sensors. They are designed to collect user-centric data for AI training, particularly useful in AR. Aria Gen 2 showcases enhanced sensors, including cutting-edge tracking and communication technology, all powered by a proprietary Meta chip for real-time functionality. Despite the technological leap, the device promises a lightweight and practical usage, emphasizing its utility for research partners later this year.
Overhauls in Meta’s Educational and Enterprise Solutions
Meta has revamped its educational and enterprise offerings with the Meta For Education program now publicly available. Allowing educational institutions to manage VR headsets and access curated content, it aims to enhance learning. Meta, alongside VictoryXR, is also launching "metaversities" to facilitate digital interaction. Meta’s data touts VR’s educational efficacy, yet skepticism about objectivity remains. Concurrently, the refreshed business solutions—now under “Horizon Managed Solutions”—offer enhanced device and user management armaments, crucially integrating with existing MDM setups. Pricing adjustments make educational headsets attractive, although enterprise solutions remain subscription-bound beyond two years.
News Highlights
HTC Launches VIVERSE Worlds Platform
HTC’s new web-based platform VIVERSE Worlds strives to be the "YouTube of 3D Content", uniquely emphasizing ease of integration and performance thanks to Vive Polygon Streaming technology. Whether this approach sets it apart in the crowded landscape remains to be seen.
AMD Debuts New Graphics Cards
AMD’s RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are emerging to compete with NVIDIA’s RTX offerings, promising second-generation AI acceleration and updated display standards, poised to be a VR game-changer.
Windows Games on Pico 4 Ultra via Winlator
Virtually Real showcased Crysis on Pico 4 Ultra using Winlator, an Android emulator, suggesting compatibility with classic Windows games, potentially broadening Pico’s appeal in the gaming world.
Horizon Store Under Scrutiny
Feedback about Horizon Store’s curation highlights issues, with numerous reports about prevalent shovelware, including an oversaturated catalog of Gorilla Tag clones.
Meta to Discontinue Move
Meta’s discontinuation of Move, echoing the fate of YUR startup, signifies a shift in priorities, reflecting market dynamics and resource allocation.
Meta Advances in Realistic Avatars
A collaboration with the University of Munich gives rise to Avat3r research, generating realistic avatars from minimal photo data, showcasing advancements in facial replication technology.
Exploration of Taste in VR
The Ohio State University is pioneering virtual taste simulation with a device releasing flavor particles, pushing boundaries in sensory VR experiences.
Spotlighting a New VR Critic
Dr. Luke Buckmaster launches "The VR Critic", a dedicated platform for VR experience reviews, marking a significant contribution to the VR criticism landscape after four years of preparation.
Gaming Content Updates
Amid various gaming launches, from Steam’s Next Fest demos to emerging titles like Orion Drift and VR experiences like Wanderer, the industry continues to thrive. Notably, NinjaGuyVR expresses concerns about demo quality at Steam Next Fest.
Industry Tidbits
GTA 6’s ambitious "Project Rome" hints at transformative metaverse potential. Meanwhile, researchers probe VR’s capacity to evoke lucid dreaming, and Stress Level Zero underscores the economic challenges of targeting only PC VR. Enhanced waveguides from Lumus and speculative works with Snapdragon chipsets further exemplify ongoing advancements.
Support Innovations
Catch Cause+Christi’s immersive WebXR escape room "SHIP HAPPENS", debuting in partnership with HTC VIVERSE, capturing players’ imaginations in a futuristic narrative.
For comic relief, explore amusing XR jests poking fun at platforms and everyday VR studio challenges.
Lastly, join me in supporting humanitarian efforts in Ukraine via the Red Cross. A special thank you to all the patrons whose generosity keeps this blog alive. Here’s how to make a meaningful difference.
