XR Weekly Recap (Dec 31, 2024): Meta Quest Issues, Pimax Unveils New Headset, and More!

As the year wraps up, it’s hard not to look back and reflect on what’s unfolded, especially in the realm of XR. Earlier, I penned down two reflective pieces on my 2024 XR experiences and insights. If you haven’t caught those yet, I’d highly recommend diving in. The first article delves into the numerous XR events I was lucky enough to attend, and the second explores the varied state of XR in 2024—highlighting both its triumphs and challenges. Once you’ve had your fill of those, and the latest updates I’m about to share, I hope you find some time to celebrate the close of the year with good company. Here’s to a fantastic 2025 ahead!

Top News of the Week

This Christmas wasn’t entirely smooth for some Meta Quest users, thanks to the v72 update. If you haven’t been keeping up, this update caused an unfortunate issue rendering certain headsets unusable. The devices most affected were those that hadn’t been updated for some time and were suddenly faced with a cumulative update. Affected users were greeted with a chilling message on the boot screen, stating their device was corrupt and couldn’t be trusted—quite the dampener when these headsets were intended to bring holiday cheer.

At first, Meta’s reaction was less than satisfying, partly due to the holiday timing which meant fewer staff were available. Their customer service also initially refused help for devices out of warranty. However, after a chorus of complaints, Meta stepped up, rectified the bug, and even extended help to those with out-of-warranty devices. They’ve also started offering a free Quest 3S and Horizon Store credits to those still stranded with a "bricked" device. It’s commendable that Meta finally addressed the problem, though one has to wonder about the timing of such significant updates during vacation periods—surely something tech management 101 warns against.

Other Relevant News

Enter Pimax with yet another headset announcement, seemingly sticking to a bi-weekly schedule of unveiling new gadgets. Their latest, the Dream Air, stands apart from their usual offerings. Where previous Pimax headsets have focused on bulk and expansive fields of view, Dream Air takes a different route, going compact and targeting consumers interested in lightweight headsets like BigScreen Beyond or Visor.

The Dream Air is packed with features such as hand and eye tracking, and it auto-adjusts both its IPD and strap for optimal comfort—boasting a novel feature we’ve not seen before. An optional puck named Cobb promises to give it standalone capabilities, courtesy of its built-in battery and Snapdragon XR2 chip, promising flexibility. Its specs are impressive—boasting micro-OLED displays, high resolution, and inside-out tracking. The price is pegged at $1900, with a mid-2025 release.

Responses to this reveal are mixed within the community, as some are excited about its potential, while others question Pimax’s rapid product launches. An interesting analysis suggests Pimax’s strategy might revolve around swiftly capitalizing on market trends, offering products packed with features but at a cheaper rate than competitors, sometimes missing deadlines but managing to snag sufficient consumer interest.

The Dream Air could be Pimax’s answer to the increasingly popular MeganeX SuperLight 8K, aiming to carve a niche in the market prioritizing clarity and comfort over sheer field-of-view.

In other XR news, Meta’s next venture appears to be beefing up its Ray-Ban Meta glasses with a display capable of showing notifications and AI responses—a move that could significantly boost these glasses’ appeal if they’re smartly partnered with Luxottica for style and distribution.

Looking forward, the CES tech fest is around the corner, and it promises excitement with potential XR announcements from tech giants like Sony and DPVR. Stay tuned as we bring you reports directly from the show floor.

News Worth Mentioning

The Meta Horizon app has been a big hit this holiday season, ranking among the top downloads, indicating robust sales of Quest headsets. Meanwhile, Pico’s new SecureMR solution promises privacy with its passthrough API innovations, though developers might find it limiting.

On a more somber note, the Magic Leap One is set to be rendered obsolete as its supporting servers are shut down imminently, a sad end for enthusiasts who invested deeply in its tech.

Elsewhere, Tokyo’s free LiDAR point cloud data excited the tech community, with similar programs in other countries piquing interest for those in sectors like digital twins and VPS.

Lastly, Road To VR crowned its Game of the Year selections, with Batman: Arkham Shadow taking the top spot. Fanatical’s new VR game bundle may also pique your interest with its steep discounts.

Some News About Content

• Warpfrog is developing another physics-based, moddable game following their hit "Blade & Sorcery."
• The complete edition of "Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable" has rolled out, thrilling fans despite mixed media reviews.
• "Game Night" promises an engaging multiplayer experience on Quest, combining brain teasers with physical games.

Other News

Rumors suggest Samsung’s XR headset might come with enhanced tracking features, and a curious discovery revealed that Quest’s startup animation is powered by an actual 3D model, not just a flat video.

News from Partners and Friends

It’s a holiday week, so here’s a cheerful wish from me to you for a joyous and restful break. Click here for some holiday magic!

Some XR Fun

Take time to enjoy some holiday humor with relatable XR memes and anecdotes. Sometimes, we geeks do know how to party.

Donate for Good

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For those looking to contribute to a good cause, here’s the link to donate: Support The Red Cross in Ukraine

(Header image by Pimax)

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