The XR Weekly Update (December 2, 2024): Leak of Valve Roy Controller 3D Models, Black Friday VR Discounts, and More!

Greetings to all my American pals enjoying the Thanksgiving weekend! While we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy, I’m well aware of its significance in the US, Canada, and other countries. I hope everyone had a fantastic time with family, and those who didn’t partake had fruitful Black Friday shopping sprees. I snagged a few deals myself, including a much-needed new phone after a friend in Helsinki jokingly suggested setting up donations for one after seeing my current device. Before diving into this week’s XR news, I have an update: I’m now on Bluesky! Let’s connect there if you’re around, though I’m sticking around X for now as well.

Top News of the Week

Recently, dataminers uncovered 3D models of Valve’s Roy controllers within SteamVR’s code, following previous leaks. This suggests Valve is nearing the final stages of developing these controllers, hinting the Deckard headset’s debut might not be far off, potentially in 2025. The retrieved models showcase controllers equipped with bumpers, a D-pad, thumbsticks, buttons, index triggers, grip triggers, and system buttons, essentially functioning as a gamepad for a comprehensive Steam gaming experience on the headset. Additionally, findings revealed Valve utilizing Arcturus Technologies for its reliable inside-out tracking, promising solid mixed reality passthrough for the Deckard headset.

Other Relevant News

It’s time to dive into Cyber Monday discounts! Awesome VR deals have rolled over from Black Friday, covering both hardware and software. Here are some stellar picks: The PSVR 2 is slashed to $350, bundled with the delightful Horizon Call Of The Mountain game. Watch for potentially soaring sales following this discount. The Pico 4 Ultra package now includes Pico Motion Trackers, three games, and a month of VRChat Plus. Some stores are offering the Quest 3S at $299.99, plus a $75 gift card. HTC deals feature Vive Focus Vision with a free DisplayPort adapter and a group of games. There’s a significant discount on Vive XR Elite and Vive Pro 2 too. Lastly, on the Horizon Store, using code ‘BFCM24’ can save you up to 40% on select games multiple times.

In a blast from the past, it seems Apple might have been delving into XR since 2008. It’s no secret Apple invested years into crafting the Apple Vision Pro, but an old patent from 2008 discussed a VR headset with clever sensors tracking head and eye movements. While companies secure patents for numerous reasons, this shows Apple was exploring immersive tech well before the Oculus Rift.

Meanwhile, VRChat is upping its security game by teaming up with Persona to introduce optional age verification using government ID and a device camera. This step, vital for age-specific spaces, comes after years of community requests. Although verification is non-mandatory, it’s expected in certain instances, potentially paving the way for more age-appropriate interactions. I’m curious how many users will engage with this optional feature.

News Worth a Mention

Pimax just launched its Crystal Super headset, boasting impressive specs like a 3840×3840 display with a 57 PPD and a 120° field of view. The interchangeable optical system is a standout, accommodating different setups to enhance the visual experience. Priced around $1700, with a subscription model causing some ripples in the community, it’s a device to watch as reviews roll in.

In December, XREAL is set to introduce new AR glasses. While specific details remain under wraps, the excitement is palpable in the AR community.

On a lighter note, researchers have developed virtual reality setups for studying insect behavior, providing fascinating insights into the animal kingdom’s responses within VR environments.

Also on the quirky side, researchers in Hong Kong have created a "virtual lollipop" using hydrogels, delivering surprising flavors like durian through tastes in VR. It’s all about pushing the boundaries of multi-sensory experiences in virtual realities!

Renowned expert Tom Emrich has released a new book titled “The Next Dimension,” exploring AR’s potential to drive business in an era of spatial computing. If you’re keen on AR, this book promises to be a fountain of knowledge with practical insights.

For gamers, a new mod has unlocked VR gameplay for Halo: Combat Evolved’s complete campaign, accessible on PC VR with full motion controls, making waves among fans who love experiencing classics in VR.

Speaking of upcoming content, watch out for games like Home Sports coming to the Meta Horizon Store, alongside the Premier League Player game and Trivia Crack World on Quest. For Vision Pro users, Spatial Web Shooter offers a thrilling Spider-Man-like web-slinging experience.

Some Reviews About Content

Trombone Champ: Unflattened offers tons of fun, brilliantly translating the original gameplay into the VR realm, promising hours of entertainment.

Other News

On the innovation front, Miroslav Kotalík unveiled the Zero V2 AR glasses, continuing to push the envelope for wearable tech.

Lastly, the PCVR market seems stagnant or growing slowly, according to recent reports, but let’s hope innovations will soon revitalize this space.

News from Partners and Friends

For developers, GroKit Core offers a low-code platform enhancing XR application development in Unity. It simplifies tasks like interaction, physics, and multiplayer coding, streamlining the development process.

Some XR Fun

Check out hilarious Black Friday VR deals and memes for a good laugh. Puffing in humor now and then keeps the gaming spirit light and refreshing!

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And that wraps up our latest updates! Don’t forget to connect if you haven’t already, and as always, keep gaming on!