Having just returned from an incredible experience at CES in Italy, I’m still in awe of the scale of the event. Despite feeling physically exhausted, my spirits are high. It was a remarkable journey from all angles—whether as a blogger, tech enthusiast, or entrepreneur. This week, the buzz from CES will dominate our discussion, along with other notable developments from the tech world. Let’s dive in and explore these developments! Note: Apologies for this newsletter being a tad late; returning from Las Vegas was a whirlwind of tasks!
### Top News of the Week
At CES, the biggest showcase for tech each year, XR products took center stage with a dedicated area buzzing with people from the XR community. While the technology remains a bit niche, its presence at such a significant event shows it’s alive and well. Smartglasses with AI features, like the Ray-Ban Meta and Halliday glasses, captured much attention. Goertek, a major XR manufacturer, unveiled new design references for smart and AR glasses, likely spurring further innovation in this space.
Among the standout announcements, NVIDIA and Sony revealed XR-related updates. NVIDIA introduced the RTX 50 graphics cards, promising enhanced PCVR performance. Prices remain in line with the previous series, except for the $2,000 5090 model. Excitingly, NVIDIA’s cloud service Geforce Now is extending to Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, enabling MR users to game on expansive virtual screens.
Sony also made waves with its XYN line for creatives, albeit with few concrete details. They mentioned a new headset and tools for body tracking and object scanning, though integration specifics were sparse. HDMI announced a 2.2 standard with a whopping 96Gb/s bandwidth, sparking curiosity about potential headset connectivity.
During CES, I tried several XR devices like the Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K and Ray-Ban Meta. Watch for my upcoming review on the impressive Play For Dream headset, which also caught praise from Amanda Watson—a pleasure to meet her finally! For those who couldn’t attend, I’ve recorded a walkthrough of the XR section—links are included below. CES may not have been earth-shattering for XR, but it was certainly worthwhile.
### Other Relevant News
Turning to other headlines, Meta’s Quest 3S emerged as the best-selling console on Amazon US in 2024, surpassing all gaming consoles released that year. Released in October, it quickly became a top-selling device in the video games category, reflecting a strong holiday season. Evidence like the peak in player stats for Batman Arkham Shadow supports a surge in Quest 3S sales during the holidays. While this doesn’t signal VR going mainstream, it shows continued progress.
Meanwhile, Meta’s Quest Pro has been officially discontinued. Initially rushed to market fearing Apple’s Vision Pro, the Quest Pro struggled with its high price and lukewarm reception. Although the headset is gone, the Touch Pro controllers remain available for Quest models. With eye and face tracking features lost from Meta’s lineup, rumors of eye and face tracking in ASUS’s upcoming headsets offer some solace.
In other news, a leak teased upcoming additions to the ASUS ROG VR headset, including eye and face tracking and advanced screen technology. This signifies progress in third-party Horizon headsets.
Infinite Reality raised an astonishing $3 billion to further its immersive web content creation platform. This unexpected development caught everyone off guard, with the funding coming from a single private investor, allegedly from the Middle East. It’s both baffling and envy-worthy!
And in the quirky realm of VR, researchers are exploring ways to walk in VR while lying down by imitating cycling motions—a concept that seems to have fitness potential!
DotLumen introduces a life-changing headset for visually impaired individuals, helping them navigate obstacles with ease. Meanwhile, Meta offers a $50 discount on the Quest 3S 256GB model to boost its post-holiday sales. Sanzaru Games, fresh off a content update for Asgard’s Wrath 2, hints at an exciting new project—possibly in mixed reality.
#### Content News
Several new gaming updates have surfaced. Stress Level Zero announced Boneworks for Quest 3, Synth Riders added a nostalgic ’80s mixtape, and Human Within is now available on Quest. Shardfall: FitQuest VR joins the fitness genre, Detective VR offers mixed reality mystery narration, Chrono Weaver challenges players with time-travel puzzles, and Virtual Hunter prepares for a full release on PC VR.
#### Content Reviews
In game reviews, Epyka stands out as a beautiful puzzle-adventure. Pirates VR: Jolly Roger offers a visually appealing yet flawed experience. Shardfall: FitQuest VR provides a delightful fitness journey, drawing parallels to Ring Fit Adventure. Meanwhile, Gears & Goo delivers engaging tower defense gameplay on Apple Vision Pro.
#### Miscellaneous Updates
A crafty Redditor has enhanced Oculus Touch controllers for better VR combat performance, and an Exit 8-inspired movie is reportedly in production, raising hopes for an engaging adaptation. Road To VR shares insights on Surreal Touch controllers. Anyone eager to explore Minecraft VR with 100 mods, including full body tracking, is in for a treat! Developers can also benefit from a new Lens Studio guide tailored for Unity experts.
#### Partner News
Shoutout to Tyriel Wood, my CES companion, who excels in producing top-notch XR content. Find out more about his work on his YouTube channel—highly recommended!
#### XR Fun
Lastly, entertain yourself with some XR hilarity: from truck driving in mixed reality to heartwarming tales of kids engaging in VR. Enjoy these light-hearted snippets courtesy of our Funny link section!
### Donate for Good
As always, I urge you to support those affected by war. Consider donating to the Red Cross to assist with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Your generosity can make a real difference. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my Patreon supporters for their continued encouragement and backing.
Thank you all for tuning in and supporting our vibrant XR community!
