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With Christmas just around the corner and the year drawing to a close, I’m gearing up to send you all a special holiday message tomorrow. But today, I’ll play Santa by hosting not one but two giveaways, handing out keys for two exciting XR games! Stick around till the end to discover how you can participate.
Top News of the Week
Meta’s Reflections on 2024 and Gearing Up for 2025
Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, Meta’s CTO, shared his thoughts on the company’s accomplishments this year in a comprehensive blog post. Along with Boz, insights were provided by Mark Rabkin, VP of MR/VR at Meta, and Janko Roettgers’ Lowpass newsletter. While some of the information was widely known—like the launch of the Quest 3S, the most budget-friendly mixed reality headset—there were crucial insights buried within. Here’s what you need to know:
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Quest 3S Sales: The device had a successful launch, especially during Black Friday. Boz anticipates many new headsets will be activated during the holiday season. Post-holiday sales figures will reveal how it compares to previous models.
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New Users: Many buyers of Quest 3S are new to the Quest ecosystem, indicating the device is attracting a wider audience, possibly due to its affordability.
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Changing Demographics: The influx of younger users is shifting store success metrics. Younger audiences prefer social, co-op multiplayer, and free-to-play games with in-app purchases, leading to new hits like Gorilla Tag.
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Market Adaptation: Meta continues to analyze store data and invests in developing popular genres: social gaming, entertainment, and MR-first applications. Developers looking to collaborate with Meta should focus on these areas.
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Top Apps: Gorilla Tag, YouTube VR, and Horizon Worlds top the list of most-used apps on Quest 3S, showing interest in media consumption and social VR experiences among younger demographics.
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Smart Glasses Advances: Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have made a splash, and further AI assistance integration is on the horizon, though privacy concerns remain.
- Competition Intensifies: As new players like Apple and Google (with Samsung) prepare to enter the market, Meta is aware of the stakes. Bosworth emphasized the importance of maintaining their leadership position amidst growing competition.
For more details, check out Boz’s blog post, the Lowpass newsletter, or Mark Rabkin’s commentary.
Other Relevant News
Elevating Spatial Intelligence
The integration of AI in XR is rapidly advancing. Recently, Niantic shared insights on using AI for spatial understanding, leveraging Large Geospatial Models to fill information gaps. Their approach uses AI to recreate 3D environments, a method that complements traditional scanning by filling in details from partial data.
New York University also explored the limitations of standard AI models in spatial understanding, prompting the development of VSI-Bench— a benchmark to enhance the spatial capabilities of AI systems. This trend will likely become pivotal in XR’s future.
News Worth a Mention
Apple Immersive Video’s 8K Camera
Blackmagic Design has announced pre-orders for the URSA Cine Immersive camera. This state-of-the-art device, priced at $30,000, is tailored for 8K VR180 content creation for Apple Immersive Video. While it’s an investment out of reach for casual users, it’s a game-changer for professional studios. DaVinci Resolve will soon support its formats for smooth editing and export.
Innovations from Meta
Meta’s SDK now includes an Audio-to-Expression feature, allowing avatars to animate facial expressions based solely on audio input. This AI-driven enhancement is a free addition for developers, significantly expanding interactive avatar capabilities beyond just lip-syncing.
Solving Quest’s Stutter on Steam VR
Some users, including myself, have struggled with stuttering issues when using Quest with SteamVR. The culprit seems to be the Motion Smoothing feature; disabling it reportedly improves performance, a workaround already praised by several Reddit users.
Tokyo Digitized
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has made available a comprehensive point cloud of Tokyo, perfect for AI training, digital twin creation, or as a gaming backdrop.
Meta Winter Sale Returns
Take advantage of the Quest Holiday Sale with discounts on top games like Demeo, Asgard’s Wrath 2, and Assassin’s Creed VR.
upload VR Awards
As 2024 wraps up, Upload VR has listed its favorite AR/VR games of the year. Curious to see if your favorite title is among the winners?
Alien Rogue Incursion Out
While Alien Rogue Incursion’s release adds to the list of anticipated 2024 VR games, it hasn’t become a blockbuster hit. Reviews highlight engaging atmospheres but note areas for improvement in gameplay dynamics.
Content Spotlight
Several titles are making waves across platforms:
- COLD VR, inspired by SUPERHOT, is now available for pre-order.
- Figmin XR debuts on Apple Vision Pro with cross-headset colocation.
- Tentacular Playground offers a sandbox experience on Steam.
- Dino Hab brings dinosaur caretaking to virtual realms.
- Grimlord steps into the RPG space with a full release on multiple platforms.
- Masters Of Lights arrives on PSVR 2.
Game Reviews
- Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable delivers giant combat but suffers from rushed execution.
- Green Hell VR enhances gameplay with a new co-op mode.
- COLD VR introduces unique elements but is marred by technical issues.
More XR Highlights
- Genesis, a generative physics engine, adds new dimensions to XR worlds.
- OpenAI’s latest model, o3, surpasses previous capabilities with a higher price tag.
- AEXLAB’s VR shooter Vail boasts over $5.5 million in revenue.
- A festive rundown shares games with special Christmas features.
- Tom’s Guide offers a comparison between XREAL One and Viture Pro AR glasses.
- Check out Joe Hunting’s new film, ‘The Reality of Hope’, inspired by a VRChat-based international donation.
Community and Events
PatchWorld has revamped its musical app with hand-tracking, OSC support, and a 50% discount until January 6, 2025. DeoVR’s Afterparty at CES promises to be a lively event, offering networking and VR experiences. Plus, I’m hosting giveaways for Home Sports and Party Versus, two fantastic games you can win keys for or buy to support their development.
Let’s Have a Laugh
Reality check: It’s not always what it seems. From funny sightings of "Zuck’s car" to gorillas wishing for VR headsets, these links are guaranteed to make you smile and ponder.
Support a Good Cause
This season, consider donating to those in need. The Red Cross is actively assisting those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Before wrapping up, a heartfelt thank you to all my Patreon supporters; your generosity keeps this space thriving. Here’s the link to donate to the Red Cross in Ukraine.
Remember, these final weeks are not only about celebrating but also about extending kindness and support. Thank you for being part of this journey, and stay tuned for more exciting updates!
