The XR Weekly Recap (December 2, 2024): Leak of Valve Roy Controllers’ 3D Models, Black Friday VR Bargains, and More!

I hope all my American friends had a joyous Thanksgiving weekend! While we don’t celebrate it in Italy, I’m well aware of how significant this holiday is in the US, Canada, and elsewhere. I hope you all enjoyed some quality time with your families. As for those who didn’t partake in the festivities, I trust you took advantage of some fantastic Black Friday sales! I snagged myself a few goodies, including a much-needed phone replacement. It was definitely time for an upgrade because my current one had seen better days. A friend in Helsinki even offered to start a donation fund for me after seeing my old phone—talk about a wake-up call! On a different note, before diving into this week’s updates on XR, I just wanted to mention that I’ve set up a Bluesky account. Feel free to connect with me there if you’re on that platform too. As engagement on X is becoming trickier, I’m exploring new avenues like Bluesky—fingers crossed it leads to more interaction! But don’t worry, I’m not leaving X anytime soon, so you can find me on both platforms for now.

Top News of the Week

Roy Controllers 3D Models Found in SteamVR Files

Dataminers have unearthed something interesting in the SteamVR files: the 3D models of Valve’s Roy controllers, which were previously leaked. This discovery indicates Valve is moving forward with these controllers and might be nearing the debut of the Deckard headset. Seeing these 3D models already in SteamVR, it’s plausible we could see the complete headset package by 2025. These models align with previous leaks, showcasing features like bumpers, a D-pad, thumbsticks, buttons, index triggers, grip triggers, and system buttons. When used together, these controllers mimic a full gamepad, which allows for gaming on a big screen via the headset using the Roy controllers. Additionally, the data mining identifies Valve’s use of Arcturus Technologies’ inside-out tracking technology, which was shown to be quite reliable and offers stereo-corrected passthrough in a 2020 video, boding well for the Deckard’s mixed reality capabilities.

Here’s more: (Valve Roy controllers 3d models inside SteamVR) (Roy controllers backed by Arcturus technology) (Arcturus Technologies demonstration from 2020)

Other Relevant News

Discover Cyber Monday Deals!

The Cyber Monday deals following Black Friday are still up for grabs! Here are some standout offers:

• PSVR 2’s price is slashed to $350, bundled with the fantastic game Horizon Call Of The Mountain. It’ll be intriguing to watch PlayStation’s sales numbers at this new price point, especially considering the surge during the last discount.

• Pico 4 Ultra comes loaded with Pico Motion Trackers, three games, and a month’s worth of VRChat Plus all wrapped in one substantial package.

• In the US, some stores are pricing the Quest 3S at $299.99, including a $75 gift card.

• HTC isn’t lagging behind, with discounts on its products: the Vive Focus Vision comes with a complimentary DisplayPort adapter and a game bundle, while the Vive XR Elite is discounted by $100 or $150 if bundled with three Vive Ultimate Trackers. The Vive Pro 2 sports a $400 discount for the entire bundle or $200 off the headset alone.

Also, use code ‘BFCM24’ on the Horizon (Quest) Store for up to 40% off select games, which can be applied multiple times.

Find more details here: (Discounts on VR games for Quest, Pico, SteamVR, and PlayStation) (How to spot all discounts on the Horizon Store) (All VR headset Black Friday deals) (Top Black Friday deals for Meta Quest, PlayStation VR, and HTC Vive) (KIWI Design Black Friday deals)

Apple’s Long History with XR

It’s common knowledge that Apple’s been crafting the Apple Vision Pro for nearly seven years before its unveiling. However, it seems their efforts in this area stretch back further. A Mac World journalist recently highlighted an Apple patent filed in 2008, which described a VR headset reminiscent of the Vision Pro. This is what they wrote 16 years ago: "A newly discovered patent filed by Apple in February suggests the development of a wearable display that simulates virtual environments using intelligent sensors. These sensors can detect head and eye movements, adjusting videos to provide a lifelike experience." Companies often patent many concepts for various reasons, including building a robust patent portfolio, so this isn’t definitive proof of Vision Pro’s development back then. Nevertheless, it indicates Apple’s early interest in immersive reality, even before Oculus Rift made waves. It’s fascinating to note!

VRChat Introduces Age Verification

In a move set to reshape its landscape, VRChat has teamed up with Persona to implement age verification using a government ID and a camera-enabled device. While not mandatory across the platform, verification will be required for specific instances tagged with ‘Age Verification.’ Users can opt for a "Verified 18+" badge on their profiles after verification. This feature is rolling out gradually, starting with select groups to iron out potential kinks. VRChat is trialing age-verified events with a few organizers. I view this as a pivotal moment for social VR. The community has long called for age-based segregation—enabling adults to have meaningful interactions while letting kids play freely. This also allows for 18+ content without inadvertently exposing minors. It will be intriguing to see how many users opt for age verification. From personal experience at VRROOM, suggestions for a similar system met resistance, with many wary of sharing IDs unless absolutely necessary. VRChat’s choice to keep the process optional, required only for certain areas, is smart, catering to those unwilling to share their identification details but still maintaining access.

Learn more: (Information link)

News Worth a Mention

Pimax Launches Crystal Super and Prime Subscription

Pimax, the Chinese VR gear producer, has begun accepting orders for its new headset, the Pimax Crystal Super, promising stellar resolution specs:

• Interchangeable Optical System: Yes
• Weight: About 815g (with headstrap)
• Resolution: 3840x3840x2
• PPD: 57
• Refresh Rate: 72Hz/90Hz
• FOV: 120° (Horizontal)
• Mode: PCVR
• Screen: QLED+MiniLED (Local Dimming)
• Eye-tracking: Available
• IPD Adjustment: Automatic
• Foveated Rendering: Dynamic

With a PPD of 57, it promises incredibly sharp visuals. The headset features an interchangeable optical system, allowing users to replace the entire lens+display block easily. Pimax also offers two other optical systems: one with a wider 135° FOV but lower PPD, and another with micro OLED displays. Pimax is known for pushing innovation and competitive pricing in PC VR but has often faced criticism for delivery delays and inconsistencies. I’d recommend awaiting reviews to gauge its actual performance. On paper, it looks impressive—if you’ve got an RTX 8090 to back it! 😛 The headset is priced around $1700. You can pay $999 upfront, followed by $32.99/month for two years for the Pimax Prime subscription, essentially a license to use Pimax software on PC. Once the 24-month period is over, the headset is yours without any additional subscription costs. This subscription model has sparked some confusion and chatter in the PC VR community, especially concerning refunds if you return the headset.

For more information: (Pimax’s Crystal Super announcement) (Pimax Crystal Super official details) (Concerns from Road To VR about Pimax Prime)

XREAL is Launching New AR Glasses

Mark your calendars for December 4th at 10:00 AM EST, as XREAL teases a new product launch. While details are scant, it seems likely they are introducing 6DOF augmented reality glasses rather than 3DOF ones for media consumption.

Stay tuned for more: (Information link)

Virtual Reality for Insects

This week, I stumbled upon research suggesting that some insects might have a VR setup better than mine! Researchers at Flinders University have built a tiny CAVE VR system for insects. By presenting virtual environments to the insects, they’re studying the reactions and behaviors in a controlled setting. This innovative approach could provide newfound insights into animal behavior.

Learn more: (Information link)

A Virtual Lollipop

Given my fascination with experiments involving all five senses in VR, I couldn’t skip over a new project aiming to create a virtual lollipop. Scientists from the University of Hong Kong designed a lollipop using hydrogels infused with flavor chemicals. Through iontophoresis, these particles can be released, allowing users to taste flavors like sugar, salt, citric acid, and many more upon licking. Among the choices offered, they even included the notoriously pungent durian—truly a bold choice!

For more details: (Information link)

Tom Emrich’s New Book Release

Tom Emrich, a key figure in the AR industry, has released his latest book, "The Next Dimension: How to Use Augmented Reality for Business Growth in the Era of Spatial Computing." In Emrich’s words, the book is filled with insights from brands across sectors like automotive to entertainment and bolstered with data showcasing AR’s potential throughout the marketing spectrum. As a huge fan of Tom’s insightful AR predictions and his earlier monthly recaps, I’m confident this book offers practical advice. Entrepreneurs looking to incorporate AR in their industries should certainly check it out.

Discover more: (Information link)

A New Mod Enables VR Gameplay in Halo

Exciting news for Halo fans: the complete Halo: Combat Evolved campaign is now VR-compatible thanks to a mod available on GitHub. This mod brings the full campaign to life with 6DOF movement controls, dual-handed weapon handling, customizable controls, and more. It seems the mod has been well-received because players on Reddit are buzzing with excitement about this VR adaptation.

More info: (VR mod for Halo: Combat Evolved) (Reddit buzz about the VR mod)

Content Updates

• Home Sports, a new mixed reality game similar to Wii Sports from Resolution Games, debuts on December 11th on the Meta Horizon Store for $20.
• The official Premier League Player game, powered by Rezzil, hits Meta Quest on December 3rd.
• Trivia Crack World challenges players’ knowledge in a VR multiplayer experience, available on Quest for $10.
• Spatial Web Shooter, crafted for Vision Pro, lets you mimic Spider-Man’s web-slinging actions using Mixed Reality for some good fun moments.
• Upload VR has shared its usual XR News Round-Up, compiling the latest updates.

Find out more: (Home Sports — Road To VR) (Home Sports — Upload VR) (Premier League Player) (Trivia Crack World) (Spatial Web Shooter) (XR News Round-Up)

Content Reviews

Trombone Champ: Unflattened is delightfully entertaining, expertly translating the original flatscreen fun into VR.

Additional details here: (Information link)

Other News

• Miroslav Kotalík showcases Zero V2, the next evolution of his open AR glasses concept.
• The ANNAPRO A2 strap offers a noteworthy comfort enhancement for the Apple Vision Pro.
• New data suggests the PCVR market remains stagnant, with only minor growth.

For these stories: (Information link)

News from Partners and Friends

GroKit Core stands out as a low-code tool to streamline XR app development in Unity, allowing developers to focus on high-level programming while the library manages core interactions, physics, and multiplayer functionality seamlessly.

Visit here for more: (Grokit Core Official Website) (Grokit Core Tutorials)

Some XR Fun

SUPER BLACK FRIDAY DEAL! Claim your Quest at a staggering price! [Funny link]

Identical headsets – or are they? [Funny link]

It’s been a while since I compiled some classic XR fails—enjoy! [Funny link]

Donate for Good

Instead of asking for donations for my blog this week, I’d like to encourage support for those in need due to the ongoing conflict. Please consider donating to the Red Cross to aid humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Here’s the link to contribute:

[Support The Red Cross in Ukraine]

Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to all my Patreon supporters who help keep this going:

Alex Gonzalez VR, DeoVR, GenVR, Eduardo Siman, Jonn Fredericks, Jean-Marc Duyckaerts, Reynaldo T Zabala, Richard Penny, Terry xR. Schussler, Ilias Kapouranis, Paolo Leoncini, Immersive.international, Nikk Mitchell and the great FXG team, Jake Rubin, Alexis Huille, Raghu Bathina, Chris Koomen, Cognitive3D, Wisear (Yacine Achiakh), Masterpiece X, Dimo Pepelyashev, Jennifer Granger, Jason Moore, Steve Biggs, Julio Cesar Bolivar, Jan Schroeder, Kai Curtis, Francesco Strada, Sikaar Keita, Ramin Assadollahi, Juan Sotelo, Andrew Sheldon, Chris Madsen, Horacio Torrendell, Andrew Deutsch, Fabien Benetou, Tatiana Kartashova, Marco "BeyondTheCastle" Arena, Eloi Gerard, Adam Boyd, Jeremy Dalton, Joel Ward, Alex P, Lynn Eades, Donald P, Casie Lane, Catherine Henry, Qcreator, Ristband (Anne McKinnon & Roman Rappak), Stephen Robnett, KaihatsuJai, Christopher Boyd, Carol Dalrymple, Sb, Pieter Siekerman, Enrico Poli, Vooiage Technologies, Caroline, Liam James O’Malley, Hillary Charnas, Wil Stevens, Francesco Salizzoni, Alan Smithson, Steve R, Brentwahn, Michael Gaebler, Tiago Silva, Matt Cool, Simplex, Gregory F Gorsuch, Paul Shay, Matias Nassi.

Here’s the donation link once again: [Support The Red Cross in Ukraine]

(Header image by Upload VR)

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