Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! I hope the Year of the Snake fills your life with joy, happiness, prosperity, success, and maybe even a bunch of new XR headsets! For those who are celebrating, I hope you have the chance to enjoy some quality time with loved ones and indulge in plenty of delicious food. 😊 I’ve been buried under a mountain of work lately, so this newsletter is arriving a tad later and slightly shorter than usual. However, rest assured, it still packs the essential updates about what’s happening in the XR world right now!
Top News of the Week
Google Acquires HTC Vive Engineers for $250M
In a move that caught everyone by surprise, Google has purchased a group of XR-focused engineers from HTC Vive, splashing out an impressive $250M. The specifics are pretty sparse, but Google did announce that these recruits will help "accelerate the development of the Android XR platform across the headsets and glasses ecosystem." This acquisition allows Google to tap into HTC’s significant XR expertise, speeding up its product development. While it’s unclear if this team will be focused specifically on Android XR or a new Google headset (perhaps a Pixel headset), my money’s on the former. This isn’t Google’s first foray into acquiring HTC talent; back in late 2017, it brought in HTC’s design team for around $1.1M, indicating an ongoing collaboration between the two. Google’s substantial investment reaffirms their commitment to pursuing XR through Android, and they’ve assured Road To VR that VR won’t end up in the dreaded tech graveyard. That said, it’s always wise to be cautious with large corporations since they prioritize profits and can easily pivot their focus if circumstances change. Nonetheless, Google seems highly invested in immersive realities for now, which is promising yet worth keeping an eye on. While Google clearly has its sights set, there’s another pressing question: what does this mean for HTC? With a $250M investment, Google likely acquired some of HTC’s top talent, which might suggest HTC is considering a shift—perhaps developing headsets for other companies or decreasing their own releases? We’ll have to wait and see how HTC, once a leader in VR, navigates its next steps.
Find out more from Road To VR and Upload VR.
Other Relevant News
Meta is Expanding its Smartglasses Lineup
The success of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses has encouraged Meta to further invest in this tech, pushing the envelope even further. A recent report from Mark Gurman suggests that Meta is collaborating with EssilorLuxottica to launch new smartglasses under the Oakley brand, aimed specifically at athletes like cyclists. These upcoming glasses will feature a centrally located camera and speakers, but they won’t include a display. Another, more sophisticated model is reportedly in the works, which might boast a small display for notifications. Possible input methods could include touch-sensitive frames or wrist strap controls, drawing on Meta’s Orion AR prototype. These aren’t designed for the mass market but rather for prosumers, with a projected price tag of around $1000. Meta hasn’t turned its back on the original Ray-Ban Meta, either, with plans to roll out some star-studded commercials for the Super Bowl. As for the Orion glasses, Meta plans to provide them to more developers by 2026 but has no immediate plans to commercialize them. In 2027, a more affordable version, codenamed Artemis, might be released, but with reduced specs. It’s exciting to see Meta covering all fronts in XR with a range of products spanning VR, MR, smartglasses, and AR.
Catch up with details on Road To VR and Upload VR.
Future Plans for Meta’s Quest Series
Based on insights from Mark Gurman, Meta is actively working on a new iteration of its VR goggles, the Quest 4, along with a high-end model that might be the Quest Pro’s successor. This high-end version might be the "Puffin" headset that recently made headlines as lightweight mixed-reality glasses powered by an external battery. Despite the Quest Pro not performing well in the market, Meta’s move towards high-end devices is understandable. With competitors venturing into premium hardware, Meta needs to remain competitive. The Quest Pro’s failure wasn’t just about its price; rushing the product introduced numerous flaws. A thoughtfully designed Quest Pro 2 could potentially capture a space in the enterprise market.
Revealing More on Samsung and Google’s Moohan
The Samsung Unpacked event left some XR enthusiasts disappointed, but there were still noteworthy reveals. Notably, Google and Samsung showcased enhanced integration of Gemini AI across Samsung devices, hinting that AI integration could soon become a standard feature across all Samsung products, beyond just Moohan. Moreover, attendees had the opportunity to see the headset firsthand, even though demonstrations were limited. Marques Brownlee, the well-known YouTuber, managed to get a closer look, although he didn’t reveal new details, he provided a more in-depth perspective on the device’s design (clearly inspired by Vision Pro) and its operating system, similar to VisionOS. It’s clear Samsung and Google are gradually pulling back the curtain on this intriguing headset.
Explore more on Samsung Unpacked.
News Worth a Mention
Meta’s Explanation for Bricked Quests at Christmas
During the holiday season, many users faced unfortunate issues with bricked Quest headsets. Mark Rabkin, VP of VR/MR at Meta, clarified the glitch wasn’t their doing but stemmed from a bug in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Specifically, a "rare race condition in the AOSP R/W ext4 filesystem" combined with a security update led to corrupted files. Race conditions are notoriously difficult bugs to pin down and fix, and it’s commendable that Meta not only identified the glitch but also worked to inform Google, ensuring a comprehensive fix.
CM Games’ Impressive Earnings with Into The Radius 2
CM Games is making waves with its Into The Radius series, boasting 800,000 global sales for the original and hitting $3M in revenue for its sequel, which is still in Early Access on Steam. The game’s success lies in its collaborative development approach, engaging the Steam community to refine the game. CM Games CEO Vlad Rannik noted that while Quest presents the largest market opportunity, Steam is valuable for building early community support during development, which can transform an early-access game into a polished product for Quest.
For further details, check Into The Radius.
CREAL’s Impressive Lightfield Engine Miniaturization
CREAL, a standout startup in lightfield technology, has unveiled its latest accomplishment: a substantially miniaturized lightfield engine that’s nearly small enough for traditional glasses. This breakthrough brings AR’s realistic object displays much closer to wearable reality. Given that CREAL’s tech was once housed in a hefty box six or seven years ago, this level of miniaturization is truly remarkable.
Quest 3’s Automatic Room Scanning Potential
Insider Luna has reported Meta’s efforts to simplify the room scanning process for mixed reality on Quest. Presently, users must manually scan their spaces for MR, and any changes to the room layout require a new scan. Meta aims to create an automatic scanning system that dynamically adjusts to real-time layout changes, greatly reducing user hassle.
A Glimpse into AI-Powered Future by Keiichi Matsuda
Famed visionary Keiichi Matsuda has partnered with Niantic to create a captivating short video exploring a future intertwined with augmented reality and constant AI agents. True to Matsuda’s style, the video is not only charming but also deeply inspiring. I highly recommend giving it a watch.
Learn more about this fascinating concept.
Latest in VR Game Content
Several exciting new titles are headed our way:
- Fitness Fables blends VR fitness with fantasy action, launching on Quest for $12 on January 30.
- FlatVR Studios is taking highlights from the bestselling FlatOut games to craft FlatOut VR.
- "Path of Fury – Episode I: Tetsuo’s Tower" offers a Kung-Fu-inspired VR experience on Quest from March 12.
- Elsewhere Electric, a co-op puzzle game, is coming to Quest and PC VR this spring/summer, mixing VR and mobile gameplay.
- The Smurfs – Flower Defense brings classic charm to Quest 3 in a VR and mixed-reality tower defense game this May.
- A mod now lets you experience Crysis in VR, so you can finally say, "Yes, it runs Crysis!"
Other News Highlights
- A GDC survey reveals 35% of game developers are engaging with XR technologies.
- Students and teachers can grab Snap Spectacles at a 50% discount.
- Vrgamerdude offers a hands-on with the neural bracelet Mudra Link.
- Apple’s new Miami store now features a dedicated Vision Pro area.
- Gabriele Romagnoli shares insights on MR apps in the Horizon Store.
- Discover CaddieVision, AI-powered AR glasses for golf enthusiasts.
Partners and Friends Update
SkyClimb, the exciting multiplayer platform adventure by VRMonkey, is now offering its multiplayer mode for free. With stellar Quest reviews, it’s definitely worth trying!
Fun and Lighthearted XR Moments
- Parenting a VR-obsessed child can be a challenge and a hoot.
- You can now experience DOOM inside a PDF—unexpected, right?
- Enhancing your VR escapades might not involve another gadget.
- The quirks of virtual romantic encounters offer their own kind of humor.
- Here’s a compelling reason to tidy up your living space before VR.
A Call to Give Back
This week, rather than requesting contributions to my blog, I’d like to encourage donations to help those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Consider supporting the Red Cross’s humanitarian efforts there. Before I wrap up, a heartfelt thanks to my Patreon supporters for their continued backing:
[Patreon Donor List]
For donations, here’s the link: Support The Red Cross in Ukraine.
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