Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! Here’s to hoping the Year of the Snake brings you tons of joy, happiness, prosperity, and maybe even a few XR headsets! Whether you’re celebrating with loved ones over a feast or simply taking time for yourself, enjoy the festive spirit. As for me, I’ve been knee-deep in work, which means this newsletter is arriving a bit late and is slightly shorter than usual. But don’t worry, it’s packed with all the latest updates in the world of XR!
Top News of the Week
Google Acquires HTC Vive Engineers for $250M
In an unexpected move, Google has snapped up a team of engineers from HTC Vive for a cool $250 million. Along with their expertise, Google has secured a non-exclusive license on some of HTC’s intellectual property. While details are a bit scant, Google has indicated that these engineers will help "accelerate the development of the Android XR platform." Whether this means developing Android XR or a possible Google headset is still up in the air. This isn’t Google’s first acquisition from HTC, as they previously nabbed HTC’s design team back in 2017. This could be a sign of ongoing collaboration between the two companies, showcasing Google’s dedication to enhancing its XR capabilities. Yet, we have to remain cautious; as big companies are prone to shifting gears if other areas turn out to be more financially rewarding.
A question that arises is: what does this mean for HTC? Losing a significant number of talented engineers could indicate a shift in strategy, perhaps focusing on building headsets for other companies or reducing the production of their own devices. Time will tell where HTC is heading in the ever-evolving market of VR.
Other Relevant News
Meta is Working on Multiple Smartglasses
Meta is expanding in the realm of smartglasses following the success of their Ray-Ban collaboration. A new report suggests that they’re teaming up with EssilorLuxottica to launch new Oakley-branded smartglasses this year. These glasses are designed for cyclists, featuring cameras but no displays, only audio. There’s also talk of a higher-end model including a small display for notifications, which sounds perfect for technology prosumers with a likely price tag of around $1,000. Meta is also working on keeping Ray-Ban Meta in the spotlight with high-profile commercials at significant events like the Superbowl. Their Orion project continues to evolve, with developer access projected for 2026 ahead of a more affordable public release anticipated in 2027.
Meta is Still Focused on a Quest Pro Successor
According to insights by Mark Gurman, Meta is hard at work on a successor to the Quest Pro, potentially a high-end model known as the "Puffin." This headset is rumored to feature lightweight MR glasses connected to an external battery. While the original Quest Pro didn’t quite hit the mark, primarily due to its rushed launch and pricing, a refined Quest Pro 2 could find success in the enterprise market.
Samsung and Google Reveal More on “Moohan”
While the much-anticipated AR glasses announcements were missing from the Samsung Unpacked event, there were notable updates. Samsung and Google have showcased better AI integration with Samsung devices, hinting at future developments. The new headset was present, spurring excitement, and tech influencer Marques Brownlee gave us a closer look at the device, drawing parallels with Vision Pro designs. Slowly, Samsung and Google are unveiling more about this intriguing project.
News Worth a Mention
Meta Explains Christmas Quest Headset Issue
Meta’s Mark Rabkin has shed light on the unfortunate Christmas period when a number of Quest headsets were rendered unusable. He emphasized it wasn’t Meta’s fault but stemmed from an Android Open Source Project (AOSP) bug. Meta managed to identify and correct the issue and informed Google to prevent future occurrences.
Early Success for “Into The Radius 2”
CM Games is making waves with "Into The Radius 2," already grossing $3 million despite being in early access. The game’s success is credited to active community involvement during its development. This collaborative effort particularly on platforms like Steam has shaped the game for a broader release on platforms like Quest.
CREAL Miniaturizes Its Lightfield Engine
CREAL continues to innovate in lightfield display technology. They’ve managed to shrink their engine down to a size that could potentially fit into standard glasses frames. This advancement is pivotal in making augmented reality objects appear more lifelike and is a significant step toward integration in wearable tech.
Quest 3’s Potential Automatic Room Scanning
Meta may soon eliminate a major obstacle for users of mixed reality: room scanning. Current processes require static, pre-made scans that need redoing when room layouts change. News suggests Meta is developing a dynamic, automatic scanning process that updates in real-time, promising to enhance user experience significantly.
Imagining Our Future with AI Agents
Keiichi Matsuda has created a short, insightful video in collaboration with Niantic. It explores a future where augmented reality and constant AI presence are everyday elements of life. It’s a thought-provoking piece worth your time.
Content Updates
- Fitness Fables: A fantasy action game interweaving RPG and fitness, launching on Quest for $12 on January 30th.
- FlatOut VR: FlatVR Studios is combining the best elements of FlatOut games into a new VR title.
- Path of Fury: A kung-fu inspired VR fighting game set to hit Quest on March 12.
- Elsewhere Electric: A co-op puzzle adventure awaiting Quest and PC VR launch in spring/summer where one player ventures in VR while another assists via mobile.
- The Smurfs: Flower Defense: Bringing the beloved franchise to Quest 3 with a VR and mixed-reality twist in May.
- Crysis in VR: Yes, you can now confront the classic "Can it run Crysis?" question in virtual reality, thanks to a mod!
Other News
- Game Developers and XR: According to a recent GDC survey, 35% of game developers are incorporating XR into their work.
- Educational discounts make Snap Spectacles available at half price for students and teachers.
- Vrgamerdude gives us a glimpse into the new neural bracelet, Mudra Link.
- The latest Apple store in Miami opens a dedicated section for Vision Pro.
- An insightful analysis of the MR apps on the Horizon Store by Gabriele Romagnoli.
- CaddieVision glasses offer AI-powered AR assistance for golfers.
News from Partners
SkyClimb’s Multiplayer Mode Goes Free
The indie team at VRMonkey has made SkyClimb’s multiplayer mode available for free. This platform adventure involves arm-based movement reminiscent of Gorilla Tag and has enjoyed positive reviews. Give it a try!
XR Fun
- VR Parenting Challenges: Discover the quirks of raising a VR enthusiast.
- DOOM Played in a PDF: Delve into the bizarre world of DOOM running in a file format.
- Surprising Upgrades for VR: Explore unexpected ways to enhance your VR setup.
- The Hiccups of VR Romance: Get a giggle out of the potential pitfalls of VR dating.
- Why You Should Clear Your Room: An amusing take on keeping your VR space tidy.
Donate for Good
Instead of any contributions to my blog this week, I urge you to consider donating to the Red Cross to aid those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. I value the unwavering support of my Patreon donors and thank them wholeheartedly:
[List of Donors]
And here’s the link to support the cause: [Red Cross in Ukraine]
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