I’m back. The intense period of work is over and we have successfully launched a new version of the VRROOM application, accompanied by a fantastic concert by rapper Armani White. I apologize for my absence, but it was necessary to ensure the success of the entire VRROOM team.
Today, I am attending the On|Metaverse Summit in Milan, which is an event focused on XR/Web3/metaverse that I am co-organizing. It will be another exciting day where I hope to meet new and interesting people.
I apologize for missing last week’s edition of the newsletter and for the delay in publishing this one. However, don’t worry, in this edition, you will find news from both weeks since the last episode. So, you won’t miss any XR news. Please bear with me as I will keep the text commentary to a minimum and simply report the news. From next week, the newsletter will return to its normal format. Thank you for your understanding!
Top news of the week
Pico performs layoffs
Contrary to rumors that Bytedance would be shutting down Pico, it is true that Bytedance is reducing its investment in Pico. The company is undergoing layoffs and merging some of Pico’s software divisions with Bytedance counterparts. Although some reports spoke of thousands of layoffs, Bytedance has stated that the scale of the operation is not that large. The reasons for the layoffs are the expected economic conditions and the slower-than-expected growth of the XR ecosystem. However, the good news is that Pico is still in business, which is important for healthy competition in the industry.
More info: Pico performing major layoffs, Pico performing major layoffs, Leaked statement of Pico president, Scale of layoff may be smaller than initially thought
Other relevant news
Nimo launches AR glasses for productivity
Startup Nimo has recently released a system consisting of AR glasses and a compute puck designed for productivity. The purpose is to provide users with a large virtual display in front of them. The Nimo puck runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR 2 (Gen 1) and serves as both a computation unit and a controller. The Nimo system can stream the view from a computer or run applications independently. It is an interesting gadget that is now available for pre-order at $1299.
More info: Link
Some news about Apple Vision Pro
There have been ongoing rumors and news regarding Apple’s Vision Pro. It has been revealed that Apple plans to organize demo sessions for Vision Pro inside Apple Stores, and initially, the only way to purchase Vision Pro will be by visiting an Apple Store. There are also rumors about Apple exploring health and fitness applications for Vision Pro. Although full body tracking using Vision Pro’s cameras has not been achieved yet, it is still being pursued. The cameras may be used to detect various illnesses of the users, which is both useful and potentially concerning for privacy. Apple is also working on next-generation battery technology to improve the device’s battery life.
More info: Apple Vision Pro in Apple Stores, Apple Vision Pro may be sold only inside Apple Stores, Apple’s early work on full body tracking failed, Apple still working on full body tracking, Apple exploring health-related uses of Vision Pro, Apple working on next-generation battery
Qualcomm is working on a new chipset
Hugo Swart, Qualcomm’s GM & VP of XR, announced at Snapdragon Summit 2023 that the company plans to unveil a next-generation XR chip in the first quarter of 2024. This is significant news as many popular XR headsets currently on the market are based on Qualcomm’s reference designs. The new chipset will pave the way for the next generation of XR headsets. The specifics of the chipset are unclear, but there is speculation that it may be an XR3 product aimed at competing with the Apple Vision Pro.
More info: Link
News worth a mention
A mod resurrects Echo VR, sort of
A mod has been created for the PC version of Echo VR, allowing the game to work with custom online servers. This means that PCVR players can now play the game again, although there are limitations to this mod. The game is no longer available for purchase, so only existing players can enjoy it. Nonetheless, it is impressive that the community has found a way to restore the game in some form.
More info: Link
Meta Reality Lab’s revenues dropped in Q3
In Q3 2023, Meta experienced its lowest revenues for Reality Labs. This can be attributed to the end of the cycle for Quest 2. The performance of Quest 3 and the Christmas holidays will determine the company’s financial outlook for Q4.
More info: Link
Quest 3 enters the Steam chart at 0.15%
The Meta Quest 3 headset has made its first appearance in Steam’s Hardware Survey, indicating a market share of 0.15%. While this number should be taken with caution, it suggests that the Quest 3 has not yet gained significant traction.
More info: Link
VDXR seems to be a better OpenXR runtime than SteamVR
A developer has created VDXR, an open-source runtime that is more performant and compliant with OpenXR standards compared to SteamVR. VDXR is being integrated into Virtual Desktop’s new version.
More info: Link
XREAL releases Xreal Air 2
XREAL has launched its Xreal Air 2 smart glasses, which represent an evolution of the successful Air 1 model. The Air 2 and Air 2 Pro will start shipping in November at prices starting from $399 and $449 respectively, with preorders available now.
More info: Link
Rayban Meta review
A detailed hands-on review of the Rayban Meta smart glasses can be found on The Verge. The journalist seemed to have a positive experience with the glasses.
More info: Link
Google may still be working on Project Iris
Despite previous rumors suggesting the discontinuation of Google’s Project Iris, new mentions of Iris have been discovered in Android’s data mining. This indicates that the project may still be ongoing.
More info: Link
Meta is investigating controllers’ tracking issues
Some users have reported tracking issues with the controllers of Quest 3, particularly in games that require fast movements. Meta is currently investigating this matter.
More info: Link
FCC approves superfast Wi-Fi
The FCC has approved the use of a wider band of the 6GHz spectrum for local Wi-Fi connections. This will allow for the creation of very fast wireless connections used for wireless tethering of lightweight XR devices to local compute units.
More info: Link
Scientists invent touch-less cold sensations
Researchers have developed a way to recreate the sensation of cold on the hands without the need for any wearable device. The sensation is produced by blowing air on the hands, and it does not change the actual temperature of the skin.
More info: Link
Some useful info for Quest developers
For Quest developers, here are some useful updates:
- It is now possible to share specific builds of a Quest app on the Quest Store/App Lab for beta testing via a link.
- The Meta Quest integration package for Unity is now shared via UPM instead of the Asset Store.
More info: Link
Valve released SteamVR 2.0
SteamVR 2.0 is now available for everyone, offering a better interface compared to the previous version.
More info: Link
Asgard’s Wrath 2 received enthusiastic previews
Both IGN and Upload had a preview of Asgard’s Wrath 2 and praised the game for its impressive size (over 60 hours of playtime) and high-quality 3D assets. Some journalists even compared the game to Half-Life: Alyx in terms of its impact on standalone VR.
More info: Link
Some news on content
Here are links to the most relevant news about content from the past two weeks:
Release date of Stride: Fates
New gameplay video for Arizona: Sunshine 2
Rolling Stones pack for Beat Saber
Trailer and release date for Silent Slayer
Sniper Elite gets a new game on Quest
Release date of Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure
Space Salvage released
Lucas Rizzotto’s Pillow released
Drum experience Paradiddle’s release date announced
VR adventure Epyka announced for 2024
Some reviews on content
Here are links to the most relevant content reviews from the past two weeks:
Ghostbusters VR launch issues
Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord reviewed by Road To VR
Vampire: The Masquerade – Justice reviewed by Road To VR
Underdogs reviewed by Road To VR
Underdogs reviewed by Upload VR
Powerwash Simulator reviewed by Upload VR
Other news
New interesting technology for haptic feedback
Exit-Suit hands-on
Shooting 3D pictures with Quest 3
Vive XR Elite receives an important software update
CityXR allows designing augmentations at the city level
Meta is gradually merging Horizon into the Quest runtime
Meta asked Google to put the Play Store on Quest, but Google declined
Google Maps receives an interesting update
HTC sends headsets to the space station to improve astronauts’ mental health
News from partners (and friends)
Discover Our Next Reality
A book titled “Our Next Reality” by Alvin Wang Graylin, HTC Executive, and Louis Rosenberg, an AR pioneer, is set to be released in March 2024. Pre-orders are already available on Amazon.
Just Hoops in MR
New mixed reality mode has been added to the game Just Hoops, available on Quest 3. To celebrate, some keys to the game are being shared with the community.
Pop Quest Adventure
Pop Quest Adventure, a game developed by community member Jake Donaldson, has been published on the Meta Quest Store.
Infomediji Is Hiring!
Infomediji, the team behind the DeoVR video streaming platform, is hiring for positions such as Product Manager, Senior Unity Developer, and Backend PHP Developer (Core).
Some XR fun
First time?
Funny link
How to convert your Quest 2 into a Quest 3
Funny link
Donate for good
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to donate to the Red Cross to support the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Your donation can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by the war.
Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image by Nimo)