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The curtain closes on March with a stellar day, and what better way to celebrate than discussing the week’s standout news in the realm of AR and VR? Plus, let’s casually nod to all the “Studio Ghibli” AI buzz floating around.
This Week’s Top News
Samsung’s XR Glasses Tease
Word from the Korean business publication ETNews hints that Samsung is poised to unveil XR glasses later this year. There’s speculation about whether these are AR glasses or smartglasses, but they promise comfort and boast features like cameras and sensors for user or environmental tracking. Known internally as "Haen," which translates to “coast” in Korean, this isn’t Samsung’s first foray into XR glasses. We’re all ears for what they’ll actually announce and when. Imagine if Samsung drops both the Project Moohan MR headset and the Haen XR glasses this year; 2025 could indeed be their year of return in XR with panache.
Vivo Joins the XR Game
The smartphone titan Vivo has teased its mixed reality headset, Vision. Details are sparse, and so far, they’ve only shared the external look. Interestingly, Vivo’s design mimics that of the Vision Pro—name and all! An official release is slated for mid-2025. Exciting times ahead with another significant player entering the XR field.
Meta’s Quest for Media Crossover
Last week’s recap on Chris Pruett’s GDC talk hinted at a shift in the Quest universe toward free-to-play, largely due to an influx of younger users. The Meta blog illuminated an interesting detail this week: there’s a growing segment of mainstream adults who now use these headsets more for media and entertainment than hardcore gaming. These individuals, predominantly 30-something men, treat their headsets like a high-end extension of their TV, favoring sports, action films, and concerts. As they continue to grow, by 2027, this demographic could substantially influence the platform. Could this mean Meta’s future Quest models will prioritize movie-watching capabilities and rival Apple’s Vision Pro directly? For developers, navigating this shifting landscape may mean rethinking content strategies as Meta steers toward this new consumer preference.
Apple’s Upcoming WWDC
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicks off on June 9. Word is the company will introduce visionOS 3 during the event, promising fresh features for Vision Pro. It’s unfortunate, though, as WWDC coincides with AWE, leaving us tech enthusiasts torn between the two.
Pimax on the Horizon
Pimax is gearing up to start shipping its high-res headset, the Pimax Crystal Super, on April 7. Kudos to Pimax for sticking to its timeline on this delivery.
Spring Savings for PlayStation Enthusiasts
Sony’s PlayStation Spring Sale is on until April 23, offering a vast selection of games—including over 60 PlayStation VR2 titles like Alien: Rogue Incursion. Time to grab some bargains!
The Polys Spotlight WebXR
The 5th edition of The Polys shed light on the best in WebXR, a tech with untapped potential. Kudos to the team for recognizing this emerging field.
Valve’s Quietude in XR Development
David Heaney critiques Valve’s noticeable silence since releasing Alyx five years ago. Despite having the resources and platform, Valve hasn’t pushed forward with new VR content, which raises questions about their strategy within the XR ecosystem.
Innovative Projects via Camera Access on Quest
There’s creativity on the loose with the Quest’s new camera access. From copying elements from the real world to dynamic lighting and depth-perceptive filters, developers, myself included, are pushing boundaries. Check out these inventive projects!
Fresh Content Announcements
- Star Wars: Beyond Victory brings mixed reality to Quest, aligning with Solo: A Star Wars Story.
- Hitman World of Assassination, a VR2 DLC for $10, is receiving positive feedback.
- Meta pulls the plug on System Shock 2 VR, and RoboCop: Streets of Anarchy faces rights issues, halting its development.
Upcoming and Updated Releases
- HARD BULLET lands on Quest 3 this spring.
- Orion Drift adds a ‘Capture the Beacon’ mini-game.
- Elements Divided, drawing from Avatar: The Last Airbender, launches on April 23.
- No Man’s Sky: RELICS updates with alien paleontology.
- F1 25 gears up for a May 30 release on Steam with VR support.
For the curious, there are a slew of reviews, from the nostalgic flair of Pinball FX VR to the work-in-progress promise of Roboquest VR.
Other Industry News
Major developments abound, including Infinite Reality’s acquisition of Napster for a remarkable $200M, Meta’s new AI model that transforms any image into a mini volumetric world, and Cyan’s unfortunate staff reductions.
Partner Project of Note: Chrono Craft
Chrono Craft, a unique bus tour in Beijing, augments reality via the bus’s windows, enhancing storytelling through its setting.
A Little Humor & Humanitarian Spirit
Remember, a little humor goes a long way—like our fun links about Studio Ghibli and robots. Lastly, consider donating to support those affected by conflict in Ukraine. A big thank you goes out to all my Patreon contributors whose generosity helps sustain this platform.
For additional insights and updates, explore the comprehensive links provided!
(Header image courtesy of Vivo)
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