As the holiday season draws near, I’ve got a special treat for you today. While I’ll share a heartfelt holiday message tomorrow, today I’m playing Santa with two exciting XR game key giveaways! Be sure to go through the entire roundup to learn how to get your hands on these cool games.
Highlights of the Week’s News
Meta’s Year in Reflection and Their 2025 Vision
Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, CTO of Meta, recently posted a reflective piece on the company’s achievements this past year and shared a glimpse into the future. Joined by insights from Mark Rabkin, VP of MR/VR, and thoughts from Janko Roettgers’ Lowpass newsletter, the discussion highlights Meta’s recent moves like the Quest 3S launch. While much of it was promotional, a few nuggets of valuable insights emerged:
- Quest 3S Sales Performance: Bosworth noted strong sales during Black Friday, with a significant uptick expected over the holiday season. It will be intriguing to see how these numbers stack up against the Quest 2’s past successes.
- New Faces in XR: Rabkin indicated that a considerable number of Quest 3S buyers are new to the brand, highlighting the headset’s affordability and its potential to draw newcomers into the XR ecosystem.
- Generational Shifts in Gaming: An increasing number of young users are steering store success toward social and co-op multiplayer games. Meanwhile, older audiences are expanding into more diverse entertainment experiences.
- Focus on Successful Genres: Meta is investing in areas like social gaming, MR-first apps, and more. Developers looking to tap into Meta’s funding should focus on these trends.
- Gorilla Tag and Other Popular Apps: Gorilla Tag, YouTube VR, and Horizon Worlds are leading in immersive app use, showing continued interest in VR media experiences.
- Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: These have become a big hit, with new AI enhancements. Meta aims to create proactive AI assistants, possibly integrating them into everyday tools for personalized assistance, which raises interesting privacy questions.
- Rising Competition: With Apple joining the XR game and Google plus Samsung launching soon, Meta feels the heat. Boz stresses the importance of maintaining their lead amidst this growing competition, which ultimately benefits users and developers alike.
Further Reading: Boz’s Blog Post, Lowpass Newsletter, Mark Rabkin’s Commentary
Additional Noteworthy News
Growing Interest in Spatial Intelligence
The synergy between AI and XR continues to evolve, especially in spatial intelligence. Two notable advancements caught my eye:
- Niantic’s Geospatial Models: The creators of Pokémon Go are exploring how AI can fill gaps in geospatial data to imagine complete environments.
- NYU’s Spatial Understanding Research: Researchers are developing new benchmarks to assess AI’s ability to understand 3D spaces better, suggesting potential improvements for existing AI models.
More Info: Niantic’s Article, NYU’s Spatial Research
On Pre-Order: Apple’s Immersive Video 8K Camera
Blackmagic Design now offers pre-orders for their URSA Cine Immersive camera, capable of capturing stunning 8K VR180 footage, all ready for Apple’s new format. Though priced at $30,000, it’s an attractive option for professional studios.
Further Reading: Pre-Order Details
Meta’s New SDK Feature: Audio to Expression
Meta has enriched its SDK with a feature that animates avatars’ full facial expressions simply from voice audio, offering developers this advanced tool for free.
Further Insights: Read More
Fixing the Quest’s SteamVR Stutter
There’s a fresh hack in town for those facing performance hiccups with Quest headsets on SteamVR. Disabling Motion Smoothing seems to be the key, improving performance significantly for several users.
Further Reading: Community Solutions
Explore Tokyo’s Digital Twin
For those interested in digital twins or location-based gaming environments, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has released the city’s comprehensive point cloud data for free use.
More Info: Access Data
Enjoy Big VR Game Savings This Winter
The Quest Winter Sale brings impressive discounts on popular VR titles like Demeo and Asgard’s Wrath 2. A great opportunity for gamers!
Learn More: Sale Details
Recognizing Top AR/VR Games of 2024
As the year wraps up, Upload VR has honored the best AR/VR games across various categories. Curious which title claimed the top spot? Here’s a clue: It starts with "Bat."
Further Reading: Awards Summary
New Releases: Alien Rogue Incursion Falls Short
Though Alien Rogue Incursion had potential, it didn’t quite land as a blockbuster. Critics praised its eerie ambiance but noted repetitive gameplay and stringent save points.
More Info: Game Review
Briefs on Recent Launches and Content Updates
- COLD VR: Pre-orders are open for this SUPERHOT-inspired action game.
- Figmin XR: Available on Apple Vision Pro, promises exciting mixed reality experiences.
- Dino Hab: A new virtual dino-raising game now playable.
More Info: Game Info
Content Reviews
- Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable: While it captures the manga’s essence, it feels rushed.
- Green Hell VR Co-op: Adds fun with friends to the mix.
- COLD VR’s Challenge: Offers intrigue but needs polish.
More Info: Game Reviews
Other Tidbits
- Genesis Open Source Engine: Generate rich 3D animated worlds effortlessly.
- OpenAI’s o3 Model: Promises advances but at a higher cost.
- Vail’s Financial Milestone: The VR shooter surpasses $5.5 million in revenue.
- Holiday Game Features: A roundup of games including Christmas-themed updates.
- XREAL vs. Viture Pro: A comparison for those considering AR glasses.
- New VR Short Film: Explores themes of international friendship and organ donation.
Further Reading: Discover More
Partner Update
PatchWorld is celebrating with a feature-packed update and a generous 50% discount, enhancing its Quest app with hand tracking, OSC support, and more, until early January.
Join the DeoVR Event at CES and participate in game key giveaways for Home Sports and Party Versus. More details in the respective links.
More Info: PatchWorld Update, CES Party
XR Fun
Laughter is essential, and here are some light-hearted moments and links collected from the XR universe, including sightings of Zuck’s car and fun with Gorilla Tag.
Funny Links: Explore More
Support Good Causes
Amidst all the news, I urge you to consider supporting those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The Red Cross is a worthy organization helping those in need, and your contribution can make a significant difference.
Support Link: Red Cross Donation
Thank you to all my supporters and readers. Your engagement keeps this space vibrant and informative. Until next time, enjoy the gaming, the gifting, and the giving spirit of this wonderful season!
