This week hasn’t been particularly busy for the XR space, but April Fool’s Day certainly brought some excitement and laughs! Amid the pranks, there have been a few notable developments that I’m eager to discuss. Let’s dive into the week’s intriguing XR news.
### Key Highlights of the Week
#### Meta’s Ambitious Smartglasses
Bloomberg recently uncovered what could be Meta’s plans for a new line of smartglasses set to release soon, and some of the details might surprise you. Codenamed Hypernova, this device is an advanced take on the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, equipped with a single-eye display to keep your view uncluttered. To access displays, you’ll need to look downward. Control comes via capacitive touch temples or a neural wristband. Camera improvements are on par with the iPhone 13, and a dual-display model is anticipated by 2027.
The surprising twist is that these glasses won’t carry the Ray-Ban brand—deviating from a major appeal of their predecessors. Instead, Meta plans to sell them under its own brand, potentially missing the mark with fashion-conscious consumers. The expected steep price tag of around $1000 to $1400 could also deter many, especially considering the limited functionality of capturing photos and displaying notifications. Without the broad appeal of an Apple or Ray-Ban product, these glasses face uncertain adoption. Perhaps developers will embrace them, but the curated app ecosystem limits even this group. We’ll have to wait and see if this report fully reflects Meta’s actual strategy.
#### April Fool’s Day Shenanigans
This week, the XR community—alongside tech giants—unleashed a wave of creativity for April 1st. Among the antics, I joked about launching the Decagear, while Sebastian Ang of MRTV humorously claimed the Pimax CEO position. On a more whimsical note, Razer “introduced” the Razer Skibidi, a fictional headset promising to bridge generational communication gaps. If adults entering youth-dominated games found this amusing, it suggests a genuine desire for such humor to bridge digital divides.
### Economic Worries
#### New Tariffs and VR Headset Prices
Monday hit global stock markets hard due to newly imposed US tariffs. If these persist, costs could rise substantially for gadgets, including VR headsets. American companies reliant on Asian supply chains will face higher production costs, potentially leading to increased consumer prices. Devices like the Quest 3S could get pricier, which is concerning since VR’s mainstream acceptance is already tenuous. Lower prices drove the success of the Quest series—an increase could stifle growth and set back XR development further.
### Noteworthy Announcements
#### Apple’s Advances
Apple continues to innovate with Vision Pro, now running VisionOS 2.4. This update includes substantial additions like proofreading assistance, text rewriting features, and new visual tools. The update also brings a curated collection of immersive content and better guest management via a new companion app.
#### Mixed Signals for Quest
The state of the Quest ecosystem is currently a mixed bag. Some games like Gorilla Tag and I Am Cat are thriving, but the overall revenue appears stagnant. Meta’s claim of $2 billion spent on the Horizon Store hasn’t grown in over a year, highlighting slowing financial momentum—possibly due to an influx of free-to-play enthusiasts.
### In Other News
– The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 might widen its screen, making existing Nintendo Labo accessories incompatible.
– Developers are exploring ways to enable PSVR 2’s eye-tracking feature on PCs, potentially offering cost-effective enhancements for research and VR social platforms.
– The Quest development community remains vibrant, with impressive projects utilizing the headset’s camera for object scanning and interactive demos.
### Research and Innovations
A new form of synthetic skin aims to bring haptic feedback closer to reality. By manipulating pressures on fingertips, this research could enhance future immersive experiences, though widespread adoption remains distant.
### Wrapping Up
As always, a big thank you to all those supporting my work through Patreon and other means. Your contributions help make exploring the ever-evolving XR landscape possible.
If you’re able, consider donating to help those affected by the crisis in Ukraine—every bit helps in this humanitarian effort.
(Header image courtesy of Razer)
