It’s the final day of March, and what a day it is! The sun is shining, I’ve just wrapped up a project, and it’s the perfect time to dive into this week’s exciting updates in the world of AR and VR. Plus, we’ll touch on the "Studio Ghibli" AI buzz that’s been making the rounds.
Top Stories of the Week
Samsung’s potential leap into XR glasses has the tech world buzzing. Reports from Korean media outlet ETNews suggest that Samsung might launch these glasses before the year ends. While it’s unclear if these are strictly AR or smartglasses, they’ve been described as comfortable and equipped with cameras and sensors to navigate the user’s environment. Dubbed "Haen"—meaning "coast" in Korean—this wouldn’t be Samsung’s first foray into XR tech. With rumors also swirling about Project Moohan (their MR headset), 2025 could mark Samsung’s triumphant return to XR.
More details: Road To VR article | Android Authority article
In Other News
Vivo’s XR Ambitions: The smartphone giant Vivo has introduced its mixed reality headset, dubbed the Vision headset. While details are sparse, the design seems heavily inspired by Apple’s Vision Pro, down to the name! We’ll have to wait until the official unveiling in mid-2025 to learn more, but Vivo’s entry signals another player in the XR market.
More details: Vivo Vision headset
Meta’s Shift in Quest Users: Recent insights from Meta suggest a shift in Quest user demographics. A Meta blog article, reflecting on Chris Pruett’s GDC talk, highlights a surge of "mainstream adults" in their 30s using headsets for media rather than hardcore gaming. This group sees the Quest as a premium way to enjoy movies and shows—a potential game-changer for the VR landscape and possibly a new target competitor for Apple’s Vision Pro.
More details: Meta’s take
Noteworthy Mentions
Apple’s Big Day: Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is set for June 9th, with rumors hinting at a reveal for visionOS 3, bringing intriguing updates to Vision Pro. However, its timing clashes with AWE, making it challenging for some to follow both.
More details: WWDC Announcement
Pimax’s New Release: The much-anticipated wide-FOV headset, Pimax Crystal Super, begins shipping on April 7th—good news for those waiting for this high-resolution device.
More details: Pimax shipping news
PlayStation’s Spring Bonanza: Until April 23, PlayStation is hosting its Spring Sale with over 60 VR titles on offer, including favorites like Alien: Rogue Incursion. It’s the perfect time to grab some games!
More details: PlayStation Spring Sale
The Polys Award WebXR Excellence: Celebrating its 5th edition, The Polys highlighted innovations in WebXR, emphasizing the potential of this evolving technology. Kudos to the team for recognizing such pivotal work.
More details: The Polys Awards
Where’s Valve’s XR Content?: In a thought-provoking editorial, David Heaney criticizes Valve’s inactivity in VR gaming since its last big hit, Alyx, five years ago. Despite their potential and resources, their absence in the XR content space leaves many questioning their strategy.
More details: Editorial on Valve
Cool Developments with Camera Access: The Quest has unlocked some creative exploits with its new camera access. Developers are experimenting with real-world-to-VR integrations, real-time environmental lighting matching, and even customizable vision filters. These innovations promise exciting times ahead for VR interaction.
More details:
Exciting New Content
Star Wars Mixed Reality: ILM and Lucasfilm are set to expand the Star Wars universe with a new immersive game, Star Wars: Beyond Victory. Expected to dive into mixed reality elements and exclusive to Quest, the game’s plot will intertwine with the events of "Solo: A Star Wars Story."
More details: Star Wars: Beyond Victory
Hitman VR and More: Hitman World of Assassination’s VR debut on PlayStation VR2 has been positively received. Meanwhile, the much-anticipated System Shock 2 VR has been canceled by Meta in what appears to be a shift in their gaming investments. Additionally, RoboCop VR faced a surprising halt after a rights issue, much to fans’ disappointment.
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New Releases and Updates
- HARD BULLET makes its way to Quest 3 this spring—wishlist it now!
- Orion Drift introduces ‘Capture the Beacon’ in its latest update.
- Avatar-inspired Elements Divided is set for an April 23 debut on Quest and PC VR.
- Onward received a major 2.0 update.
- No Man’s Sky expands with the RELICS update.
- F1 25 heads to Steam with optional VR support on May 30.
- Out of Sight VR launches on May 22, with a visual upgrade for its PSVR2 version on the horizon.
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Notable Reviews
Pinball FX VR stands out as a faithful recreation with arcade precision, while Boxed Out cleverly combines Tetris-inspired puzzles with engaging gameplay. Final Fury offers an immersive fighting experience, and the early previews for Roboquest VR suggest a promising journey from flatscreen to VR.
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Industry Updates
Infinite Reality’s acquisition of Napster paves the way for a revolutionary social music platform with a virtual twist. Meanwhile, Quest’s Horizon OS might soon allow users to share 2D windows directly with others, boosting collaboration. Moreover, the Pico 4 Ultra’s substantial update enhances its feature set with stunning 3D photo conversion.
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Community Highlights and Insights
Meta Reality Labs has made waves with an AI model that transforms any image into 3D experiences, while debates around XR content for a female audience underscore a growing need for diverse content offerings.
More details:
Fun and Philanthropy
Sharing a laugh and sharing the love—don’t miss some light-hearted glimpses at what VR can do, and consider supporting the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine by donating to the Red Cross. A big thank you to all our supporters on Patreon; your contributions make a difference every day.
Donate here: Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Display image courtesy of Vivo)
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