I’m feeling great these days, and I’m pleased to share that this newsletter is arriving right on time! It’s been quite a week for me. On the professional front, I broke some exciting news about camera access on Android XR, which I’ll touch on a bit later. Personally, I managed to whip up some delicious Italian pasta for friends here in China, using a few essential ingredients I brought from home, of course. Cheers to hoping the upcoming week turns out fantastic for all of us!
Highlights of the Week
Meta Quest’s Ecosystem Faces Turbulence
Henry Stockdale from Upload VR penned an insightful article examining the current state of the Horizon Store. With the integration of the main store with App Lab and UI changes in Meta Horizon OS, it’s become challenging for developers to have their games noticed. When games go unnoticed, income dwindles—a dilemma echoed by many developers reporting losses of 50-80% compared to previous years. I can relate, having shared my own experiences on my blog not long ago. There’s a dire need for Meta to update the Horizon Store to improve the visibility of quality titles rather than the repetitive Gorilla Tag clones and to reduce the constant focus on Horizon Worlds creations. Instead, Meta responded with a blog post celebrating the success of Quest 3 and Quest 3S and noting the changing demographics of its store, with around two-thirds of the headsets sold this year being snapped up by new users, predominantly kids. These young users naturally gravitate towards free-to-play, amusing games rather than premium content. It’s clear Meta’s focus is to cater to these users, leaving other developers feeling sidelined.
While it’s good to see a growing interest in XR among kids—future VR enthusiasts—it’s crucial that Meta supports both user groups. Since developers have seen revenue drops starting mid-2024 with Meta’s store changes, it’s evident the issue lies not with the kids, but with the store’s current structure. The recent layoffs at VR studios SideQuest and nDreams raise concerns about Meta’s future plans. If corrective measures aren’t taken soon, developers might pivot to working on flatscreen content or migrate to competitors like Android XR. Meta faces the choice of maintaining an inclusive ecosystem or potentially risking losing the diverse Quest community it has fostered.
Meanwhile, many on Reddit have rallied for developers, suggesting purchasing more premium games and uninstalling Horizon Worlds to avoid its omnipresent suggestive results. Amidst all this, the departure of Mark Rabkin, VP of XR at Meta, further complicates the situation, leaving uncertainty about a quick resolution to these issues.
For more details, consider checking out:
- Upload VR’s article on developers’ challenges
- Meta’s blog post on Quest Store changes
- Reddit community reactions
Other Noteworthy Developments
2025, A Pivotal Year for XR, Says Bosworth
Andrew Bosworth’s internal memo at Meta has sparked a lot of conversations. He paints 2025 as a crucial year for XR, though I believe VR is still in its infancy, with nothing revolutionary expected this year, aside from pricey Android XR headsets entering the market. Meta’s hefty commitment to XR initiatives suggests a long-term vision, countering any notion of imminent failure or pivoting away from VR. Meta is said to plan launching “half a dozen wearables,” possibly including smartglasses, smartwatches, and neural smartbands.
John Carmack provided feedback on Bosworth’s memo, questioning the focus on "MR" over an inclusive embrace of both VR and MR and expressed concerns about the overwhelming focus on Horizon Worlds.
Apple and PSVR 2 Controllers
Marc Gurman reports Apple is working to enable compatibility between PSVR 2 controllers and Apple Vision Pro. These controllers, meant primarily for gamers, would be available separately. The timeline for this integration is unclear, but an announcement could coincide with VisionOS 3 at WWDC in June.
Android XR’s Camera Access
Google has confirmed that Android XR will support camera access akin to its phone counterparts, allowing developers a chance to tap into the headset’s cameras with user permission. This update can significantly empower developers to create rich mixed-reality experiences while maintaining user control over privacy.
Brief Mentions
100K Users for Quest Game Optimizer
In more uplifting news, Quest Game Optimizer has hit 100,000 users. This achievement is noteworthy given that the app isn’t even on the official store and requires sideloading. Kudos to the developer for reaching this milestone!
VR Content Expansion
There’s a vibrant buzz around new content and activities:
- Synth Riders’ Super Bowl celebration
- Gorilla Tag’s Birthday Bash
- Release announcements for upcoming VR games
Thought Leadership
John Carmack’s statement emphasizes Beat Saber’s impact on VR’s popularity, asserting its significance over Half-Life Alyx in drawing broader audiences to VR technology.
Additional Updates
- Steam now alerts users about stagnant early-access games.
- Stereopsia and AWE Europe are merging into UnitedXR in Brussels.
- Meta’s experimental "Desk Mode" for AI on Quest.
Community Support and Fun
Support XR developers by purchasing games, leaving positive reviews, sharing content—every bit helps! Also, enjoy some XR-themed humor and consider supporting humanitarian efforts through the Red Cross amidst current global challenges.
To my generous Patreon supporters, your contributions make this newsletter possible. Thank you for your continued backing.
