As the calendar turns to the last day of March, with the sun shining and a major project just wrapped up, it feels like the perfect time to dive into the week’s most intriguing happenings in the world of AR and VR. And of course, I can’t resist mentioning the buzzing excitement around the "Studio Ghibli" AI trend.
Highlights of the Week
A quick look at some headlines:
Samsung’s Potential XR Reveal This Year
There’s a whisper coming out of Korea through ETNews, suggesting that Samsung is gearing up to introduce XR glasses, possibly before the year’s end. It remains unclear if these will be AR glasses or smartglasses, but they’re expected to be user-friendly, equipped with cameras and sensors for environmental tracking. Under the codename "Haen," meaning "coast" in Korean, these glasses could mark Samsung’s return to the XR stage in a significant way, possibly alongside Project Moohan, their anticipated MR headset.
Further Reading:
- [Road To VR on Samsung XR glasses]
- [Android Authority on Samsung XR glasses]
Vivo Ventures into Mixed Reality
Vivo, another giant in the smartphone realm, has disclosed its plans for a mixed reality headset. Known as the Vivo Vision, its design bares a striking resemblance to the Vision Pro, even borrowing the name. While details are scarce, the official unveiling is scheduled for mid-2025, adding another player to the competitive XR landscape.
Meta’s Headset Evolution
Reflecting on Chris Pruett’s talk at GDC, there’s a notable trend towards free-to-play ecosystems on Quest due to an influx of younger users. However, the Meta blog highlights a growing audience of 30-something adults using their headsets for media rather than gaming. This demographic views their headset as a modern extension of their entertainment systems, favoring movies and sports over gaming. A shift towards content catering to these interests suggests new opportunities for developers but also raises questions about future platform support. Could we see Quest 4 tailor itself more towards movie lovers, potentially butting heads with Apple’s Vision Pro? The evolving market dynamics make it hard for developers to plan their long-term content strategies.
Quick Mentions
- Apple’s WWDC Set for June 9: Anticipation builds for the event where visionOS 3 might be unveiled.
- Pimax Crystal Super Launches April 7: The awaited wide-FOV, high-resolution headset is hitting the shelves soon.
- PlayStation’s Spring Sale is Live: Until April 23, a slew of games, including VR titles, are on sale.
- WebXR Celebrated at The Polys: This year’s awards spotlighted WebXR advancements, showcasing the technology’s growing potential.
- Valve’s XR Silence Critiqued: An editorial by David Heaney points out Valve’s lack of new XR releases despite its resources, questioning the gaming community’s hesitant criticism of the company.
Explore further:
- [Star Wars: Beyond Victory details]
- [Positive reviews on Hitman World Of Assassination for PS VR2]
- [Update on canceled VR projects like System Shock 2]
Exciting Developments in Content
- New Star Wars Game: Star Wars: Beyond Victory promises a mixed reality experience exclusive to Quest.
- RoboCop VR Fallout: Plans for a RoboCop VR game have been scrapped, revealing issues with IP rights within the developing studio.
Content Expansion Highlights
- Shooter Sandbox HARD BULLET: Coming to Quest 3 this spring.
- Avatar-Inspired Elements Divided: Set to launch on Quest and PC VR.
Delve deeper into these updates:
- [Hard Bullet details]
- [Avatar: The Last Airbender action game launch]
Review Round-Up
- Pinball FX VR: Captures the essence of pinball within VR/MR environments.
- Boxed Out: Offers a Tetris-inspired puzzle experience with an engaging complexity.
- Final Fury: An exciting fighting game preview showcasing innovative player embodiment.
For more:
- [Extended insights on Roboquest VR]
News Beyond the Headlines
- Napster’s $200M Acquisition: Infinite Reality aims to craft a social music platform featuring virtual concerts.
- Sony’s Ocellus: Introduces advanced camera tracking for virtual productions.
- Meta’s AI Model for XR: Promises to create volumetric worlds from simple images.
For deep dives:
- [Horizon OS’s anticipated 2D window sharing]
- [Updates on Pico 4 Ultra’s new features]
Support the Cause
This week, I’m wrapping up with a heartfelt call to aid those affected by war. Please consider donating to the Red Cross to support their efforts in Ukraine. A special thanks to my Patreon supporters who continue to empower my work, allowing me to bring you these updates.
To contribute to the Red Cross: [Support The Red Cross in Ukraine]
(Header image courtesy of Vivo)
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