With Christmas just around the corner and the year drawing to a close, I’m getting into the holiday spirit a little early. Tomorrow, I’ll have a special message for you all, but today, I’m bringing some festive cheer with not one, but two giveaways of XR game keys. You’re definitely going to want to stick around to find out how to join in on the fun and get your chance at these exciting games.
Top News of the Week
Meta has had quite an impressive year, and it’s all gearing up for some fierce competition in 2025. Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, Meta’s CTO, shared insights on their accomplishments in a detailed blog post. Joining the conversation were Mark Rabkin, VP of MR/VR, and Janko Roettgers from the Lowpass newsletter. Some of the highlights are Meta’s launch of Quest 3S, touted as a budget-friendly mixed reality headset, and other usual PR chatter. But there are real gems hidden within those lines, and I’ve dug them out for you:
- Sales for Quest 3S have been promising, especially during Black Friday. Boz hinted at an increase expected during the holiday season. It’ll be interesting to compare these figures to past performances of the Quest 2 after the holidays.
- It’s not just about upgrades from Quest 2. A significant number of Quest 3S buyers are new to the platform, potentially coming from other brands or new to VR entirely, thanks largely to its accessible price point.
- The gaming demographics on Quest are shifting, with more young users dictating new trends. Gorilla Tag is leading the pack among younger players, who are flocking to social games and free-to-play models.
- Meta is keenly observing store data, focusing investments in thriving genres: think social, entertainment, and MR-first apps. Great news if you’re a developer aiming for some funding to build fresh content.
- In terms of app popularity, Gorilla Tag, YouTube VR, and Horizon Worlds are topping the charts. YouTube VR’s success shows consistent interest in media content in immersive environments, and Horizon Worlds is gaining traction among younger users.
- The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have been a hit, and AI integration only sweetens the deal. Boz shared that Meta aims to integrate more dynamic AI assistants soon, potentially revolutionizing personal digital aid but raising privacy concerns.
- With Apple’s entrance and Google’s plans alongside Samsung, Meta is aware of the rising competition. Bosworth admitted the pressure of staying ahead is real, but it’s a win for consumers and developers as the ecosystem diversifies and improves.
Other Relevant News
The Growing Importance of Spatial Intelligence
AI and XR are finding synergy in enhancing spatial understanding, a field dubbed Spatial Intelligence. This week, two exciting research efforts emerged. Niantic, the brains behind Pokemon Go, is exploring "Large Geospatial Models," which employ AI to fill in spatial data gaps when comprehensive scans are not feasible. Meanwhile, New York University introduced VSI-Bench, a benchmark to evaluate AI’s three-dimensional comprehension. This trend is likely to play a significant role in XR’s future.
News Worth a Mention
- Blackmagic Design’s new URSA Cine Immersive camera, optimized for Apple’s 8K VR180 format, is ready for preorder. Though priced for professionals at $30,000, it brings a promising enhancement to immersive video production.
- Meta’s latest SDK update introduces an Audio-To-Expression feature, which animates avatars’ facial expressions from voice inputs – a step beyond previous lip-sync capabilities.
- A potential fix for Quest’s stuttering issue in Steam VR might have been found, reportedly related to the Motionsmoothing feature.
- Tokyo released its point cloud data, offering a digital twin of the city for various use cases, including spatial AI training.
- The Meta Winter Sale offers steep discounts on popular VR titles, making it easier to expand your game library this holiday season.
- Upload VR shared their top AR/VR games of 2024, with some expected winners taking the top spots.
Content Highlights
Several exciting VR titles are hitting the shelves or are now available for preorder:
- COLD VR, an action game inspired by SUPERHOT, priced at $19.99; launching January 21st.
- Figmin XR is live on Apple Vision Pro, bringing a mixed reality sandbox experience.
- Niantic’s Scaniverse showcases global locations using WebXR.
- Dino Hab, a dinosaur-themed game, lands on Meta’s platform for €14.
- Grimlord, a VR action RPG, has launched on Quest and Steam for $29.99.
- Eye-testing app, Zenni Vision VR, offers visual acuity checks in VR.
- Masters of Light hits PSVR 2 with empowering action gameplay.
Reviews on Content
Some recent game reviews have pointed out both highlights and areas needing improvement:
- "Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable" draws from its popular anime roots but falls short due to bugs and repetitive play.
- "Green Hell VR" enhances its appeal with a new co-op mode.
- "COLD VR" introduces a unique take on the SUPERHOT formula, though some levels could use refining.
Additional News
- Genesis, an open-source physics engine, is making waves in generating animated 3D worlds.
- OpenAI’s latest o3 model claims superior performance at a higher cost.
- AEXLAB’s Vail VR shooter has surpassed $5.5 million in revenue.
- An extensive list of seasonal updates and features across various games is available thanks to Upload VR.
- Tom’s Guide compares popular AR glasses, XREAL One, and Viture Pro.
- Joe Hunting’s new short film in VRChat showcases a touching story of a life-saving friendship formed in virtual reality.
Partner and Friend Updates
PatchWorld is ending the year with a bang, launching a major update to its musical VR app and a generous 50% discount until January 6, 2025. Its new features include hand tracking, OSC protocol support, and enhanced multiplayer capabilities. Plus, if you’re heading to CES, DeoVR is hosting what promises to be an unforgettable afterparty.
XR Fun
- Reality continues to surprise us with unexpected twists and laughs. Whether it’s a clever depiction of virtual play or a cheeky jab at AI, there’s plenty of entertainment to be found. Check out some links for a good chuckle.
Give Back
As the year comes to a close, let’s not forget those in dire need. Consider supporting the Red Cross in their efforts to assist those facing hardships in Ukraine. My thanks go out to all my patrons for their continued support. Your contributions make a meaningful impact.
(Header image by Andrew Bosworth)
Share your thoughts, join discussions, and don’t forget to enter the giveaways for a chance to win some fantastic XR games!
