Although the XR space isn’t exactly buzzing with activity these days, we did have a lively April Fool’s that added a bit of excitement! This week brought some intriguing updates that I’m eager to share with you all. Let’s jump into the roundup, ensuring you stay informed about the latest developments in XR. 😊
Top Stories This Week
Meta’s Smartglasses May Cost Up to $1400
Bloomberg just dropped some juicy details about Meta’s upcoming smartglasses slated for release this year, and the plans are somewhat surprising. The glasses, codenamed Hypernova, seem like chunky versions of Ray-Ban Meta models, featuring a single display that shows visual data to one eye. Strategically placed in the lower part of your vision, these visuals require a slight downward glance to view. You can control them through capacitive temples or their accompanying neural wristband. There’s a planned camera boost expected to rival the iPhone 13 from 2021. Looking ahead to 2027, Meta also aims to release a version with dual displays—one for each eye.
What truly caught my attention, though, is the branding shift. These won’t bear the fashionable Ray-Ban label but will instead carry Meta’s own branding. This is a head-scratcher! The Ray-Ban brand and its Essilor Luxottica distribution network were key to the success of the previous models. Plus, the affordable pricing was a huge draw, but now we’re talking a $1000-$1400 price tag. That’s steep, especially for glasses that mainly display notifications and capture media, tasks well-served by other cheaper devices. Without an Apple logo, why would someone shell out that much?
So, who’s buying these? Likely, it’s us developers eager to tinker with new gadgets for that early-bird advantage. Yet, this doesn’t seem to be a devkit, given Meta’s control over the apps you can use, similar to the current Ray-Ban Meta. Developers might not even find much use here.
I’m hoping this report isn’t entirely accurate (as with any report, take it lightly). Otherwise, it’s hard to predict who would jump on this bandwagon. Those seeking photo and video capabilities can stick with Ray-Ban Meta, developers keen on open platforms have alternatives like Brilliant Labs, and smartwatch users already enjoy streamlined notification access. Combine all these, and they still cost less than Hypernova!
More on this story from Road to VR, Upload VR, and Forbes
Additional Highlights
April Fool’s Mania in XR
This year’s April Fool’s saw a delightful surge in playful pranks across our ecosystem. Not just me and a few others this time—loads of creative minds joined in! I joked about Decagear’s launch, while Sebastian Ang from MRTV hilariously claimed to be Pimax’s new CEO. Ndreams teased Synapse 2 exclusively for Google Cardboard, and Voodoo DE presented a sneak peek at an ultra-futuristic device.
The fun extended beyond XR, with tech giant Razer announcing the Skibidi—a headset translating Gen Z lingo to adult speak and back. Honestly, it could be quite handy amid the pandemonium of a Gorilla Tag session with screeching kids. Dive into the links below to catch my top picks of the pranks!
More details on my Decagear joke, Pimax CEO prank, and other April Fool’s highlights
Potential Price Hike for Headsets Due to US Tariffs?
Today’s a rough one across global stock markets thanks to fresh US tariffs. The situation is quite fluid; it’s unclear whether these are long-term measures or simply leverage in negotiations. Should they persist, expect costs for electronic devices, including XR headsets, to rise. American companies sourcing components or manufacturing in Asia will likely see increased production costs—with consumers feeling the pinch. For example, a Quest 3S headset could spike to $500 once Meta exhausts its current inventory.
Price sensitivity is a big deal in XR—devices are more luxury than necessity for most users. Affordable pricing helped propel the success of Quest 2 and now Quest 3s. With XR not yet mainstream, higher headset prices could deter buyers, slowing momentum when the industry needs it most. Fingers crossed this is temporary, as ongoing high tariffs could spell trouble.
More on how tariffs affect XR headsets and the broader electronics market
News Worth Noting
Apple Enhances Vision Pro with New Features
VisionOS 2.4 just dropped for Vision Pro, bringing some exciting upgrades:
- Apple Intelligence rollout for proofreading, text summarization, and image creation
- Spatial Gallery showcasing brilliant immersive media
- A companion app eases guest mode configuration and facilitates mirroring
More insights from Road to VR and Upload VR
Navigating Quest’s Mixed Fortunes
The Quest ecosystem is in an interesting place—some parts thriving, others struggling. Gorilla Tag and I Am Cat continue to shine, and Animal Company just hit $100K in Quest Store earnings. Yet, many developers face dropping market share amid layoffs and tighter budgets. At GDC, Meta reported $2B in Horizon Store spending—a figure unchanged since last year, hinting at stagnation.
Dive deeper into Quest’s mixed performance and standout hits like Animal Company
Nintendo Labo’s Compatibility Issues with Switch 2
The tech world buzzed about Nintendo Switch 2 this week. XR fans: brace for some disappointment. The new Switch’s larger screen renders original Labo accessories incompatible. As of now, Nintendo hasn’t announced a new Labo for the upcoming console.
Read more here
Developers Tackle PSVR 2 Eye Tracking for PC
A developer going by "whatdahopper" made headlines by accessing PSVR 2 eye-tracking data on PC. Collaborating with iVRy—the team connecting PSVR 2 to PCs—they aim to make this tech accessible and affordable. This could position PSVR 2 as the go-to headset for eye-tracking aficionados, as well as researchers exploring gaze-based interactions.
See how PSVR 2 eye tracking progresses and its potential implications
Impressive Experiments with Quest Cameras
I’m constantly amazed by the Quest dev community’s creativity. Recent camera access experiments include:
- Environments transformed into voxel landscapes
- Physical objects scanned into 3D voxel models
- Real-time physical ball tracking
- A mixed reality drone snapping selfies—utilizing webcam tricks
Explore these innovations and let your imagination run wild!
More info on these fascinating Quest camera projects
Thin Haptic Skin: The Future of Touch Feedback?
Researchers have developed ultra-thin synthetic skin delivering haptic feedback. Applied to fingertips, the skin’s inflatable dots simulate contact with external surfaces. While not ready for market, it’s a captivating glimpse into future tactile interfaces.
Learn more about this innovative haptic skin
Ruff Talk VR’s Stellar Gaming Showcase
The YouTube channel Ruff Talk VR recently hosted an impressive VR gaming showcase spotlighting indie gems. Some of the news below originated in this event. Check out the complete showcase video linked here.
Watch the Ruff Talk VR showcase
Content Announcements
- Civilization VII VR is coming to Quest 3 and 3S exclusively on April 10, priced at $60
- Velociblaster, a multiplayer velociraptor shooter, is now open for wishlisting on Quest
- Train Sim World hits Quest for $32, offering a lifelike VR railway experience
- Township Tale’s creators hint at their next project, REAVE, a dungeon-crawling extraction game
- Bearly Escape, an early access claw-machine puzzler, launches May 1 on SteamVR and Quest 3 for $14.99
- Exer Gale, an arcade racer, enters Quest early access this June
- Horse management sim Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition lands on Steam and Quest April 17
- A dedicated team recreates Half-Life: Alyx for Quest 3, offering the first scene as a sideloadable APK
Discover more about these exciting new releases
Content Reviews
- Pinball FX VR delivers a top-notch pinball experience with several unique tables. Its mixed reality mode cleverly inserts machines into your real-world space for that classic arcade vibe.
- Wanderer: Fragments Of Fate presents intriguing puzzles, though bugs and combat mechanics need improvements to harness its full potential.
- Upload VR salutes the Hitman World Of Assassination for PSVR 2 as a thoroughly enjoyable title!
Access detailed reviews for Pinball FX VR, Wanderer: Fragments Of Fate, and Hitman World Of Assassination
Additional News
- ACE collaborates with SIG SAUER on a Quest controller that mirrors a real firearm’s weight and shape
- Sandbox VR’s Squid Game experience has totaled $30M in ticket sales so far
- Don Hopper enjoyed hands-on time with the Mocopi Pro tracking set at GDC
- Virtual Desktop now offers phenomenal Mac support, spawning virtual monitors with ease
- A study reveals modern kids experience less motion sickness than adults
- HTC celebrated Vive’s 9th anniversary—cheers to them!
Dig into more details on these stories
Partner News
Mixed Reality Tech Testing Service
A new startup, Mixed Reality Tech, offers on-demand quality assurance testing for XR applications. Their services cover a range of headsets, identifying bugs for developers to address. Interested in enlisting their expertise? Learn more here.
Fun in XR
Check out some lighthearted takes on XR:
- 96° FOV as a fix for motion sickness
- Imagining if humans were coded via LLM prompt
- A whimsical look into the future
- Distinguishing humans from Terminators in one step
Have a laugh with these amusing XR links
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(Header image courtesy of Razer)
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