March is wrapping up, and with clear skies and a satisfying project delivery in the bag, it seems like the perfect occasion to dive into the week’s most compelling news from the realms of AR and VR. Let’s not forget the stir caused by the "Studio Ghibli" AI hype everyone’s buzzing about.
Highlights of the Week
Samsung seems to be quietly working on something exciting. Reports from ETNews, a Korean publication, suggest that Samsung plans to release a new set of XR glasses later this year. The intriguing part is their project codename, Haen, which translates to "coast" in Korean. While details are still under wraps, whispers in tech circles hint these glasses will be quite comfortable and include features such as cameras and sensors that track users and their surroundings. Whether they’re AR glasses or simply smartglasses remains to be seen, but if the rumors hold, we might see Samsung stepping assertively back into the XR spotlight by 2025, especially if they also launch their Project Moohan MR headset.
On another front, Vivo is generating buzz with its announcement of the Vivo Vision headset. Though the company has merely unveiled the design so far, its resemblance to the Vision Pro, even down to the name, is unmistakable. Set for an official reveal in mid-2025, it’s clear Vivo is keen to join the XR competition.
Turning to Meta, there’s an interesting shift in how people are using the Quest headset. During a recent GDC talk by Chris Pruett, much of the focus was on the growing trend of free-to-play games, largely due to a younger user base. However, what caught my attention was an emerging demographic: adults in their 30s who primarily use their headsets to consume media rather than play games. This group isn’t hardcore about VR but views the Quest as an upscale way to enjoy movies and TV shows. This shift suggests Meta might start focusing more on media consumption features in future iterations of the Quest, potentially setting up a rival showdown with Apple’s Vision Pro.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is slated for June 9, where we might get our first look at visionOS 3. Unfortunately, this clashes with AWE, making it tough to keep an eye on both events.
Pimax users can rejoice as the company has announced the shipping of its Pimax Crystal Super headset on April 7. This headset promises a wider field of view and improved resolution, so expectations are high.
Gamers should take note of Sony’s PlayStation Spring Sale, running until April 23. With thousands of games and over 60 PlayStation VR2 titles on offer, it’s a great time to expand your library.
On another note, The Polys celebrated its fifth year by awarding excellence in WebXR. This event is significant for shining a spotlight on a growing technology with promising potential.
David Heaney has stirred discussion with his editorial on Valve’s rather quiet presence in the XR content space. Despite its reputation among gamers, Valve hasn’t released a major VR title since Alxyx five years ago. It’s surprising given the potential for VR content in their Steam ecosystem, and Heaney raises a valid question about why Valve seems to be sitting idle in this domain.
Developers are experimenting with the new camera access on Quest, leading to some exciting capabilities. From copying real-world elements to analyzing lighting and applying filters, the potential uses are quite creative—and there’s more to come.
In terms of content, ILM and Lucasfilm have teased a new Star Wars game titled Star Wars: Beyond Victory, exclusive to Quest and Quest 3S. Meanwhile, Hitman World of Assassination launched as a VR2 DLC and early feedback has been promising. Unfortunately, Meta has pulled the plug on System Shock 2 VR, along with several other projects, pointing towards shifting priorities.
When it comes to future game releases, several exciting titles and updates are on the horizon, including HARD BULLET, Avatar-inspired Elements Divided, and the big 2.0 update for Onward. And strategy lovers can look forward to No Man’s Sky’s RELICS update, which adds a paleontological twist to its gameplay.
In the wider tech world, Infinite Reality’s acquisition of Napster for $200M gears up for a venture into social music platforms, and Quest’s Horizon OS might soon introduce 2D window sharing. Meanwhile, Pico 4 Ultra just rolled out a significant update, and Cyan, known for Myst, faced the unfortunate setback of laying off a significant portion of its team.
Finally, in terms of projects and fun, there’s everything from innovative real-world augmented experiences to hilarious takes on giving robots too much humanity.
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