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As we wave goodbye to another year, I find myself reflecting on what 2024 brought to the XR world. If you haven’t caught my previous musings, I shared my thoughts on attending various XR events and offered insights into the current state of XR, with both its promising aspects and challenges. As you dive into today’s wrap-up of the weekly news, I also hope you’re gearing up for a stellar New Year’s celebration. Here’s to a fantastic 2025!
Top news of the week
During this holiday season, some Meta Quest headsets unfortunately became unusable due to the v72 update, particularly affecting devices that hadn’t been updated in a while and required a cumulative update. Users were greeted with a disheartening boot screen error, declaring their devices corrupt. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as many had planned to use their headsets for festive fun with loved ones. Initially, Meta’s response was slow due to the holiday period, with customer service unable to assist those whose warranties had lapsed. However, following considerable backlash, Meta acknowledged the mishap, rectified the bug, and provided guidance on restoring affected devices. They even offered a free Quest 3S and Horizon Store credits to affected users. While Meta eventually addressed the situation appropriately, it’s a reminder of the risks associated with deploying major updates just before holidays—a cautionary tale for tech companies everywhere.
Other relevant news
Pimax shook things up by launching their Dream Air compact headset, diverging from their typical bulky designs aimed at maximizing field of view. Dream Air targets enthusiasts of devices like BigScreen Beyond and packs features such as hand and eye tracking, automatic IPD, and strap adjustments. Innovative additions include an external puck, the Cobb, which can transform the headset into a standalone device with its Snapdragon XR2 chip and battery. Set to price around $1,900 and expected mid-2025, the community’s reception has been mixed, with some skeptical about Pimax’s frequent launches. Nevertheless, the Dream Air seems poised to carve out a new niche focused on clarity and comfort.
Meanwhile, Meta is reportedly enhancing its Ray-Ban Meta glasses by incorporating a display. This addition would provide users access to notifications and AI responses while maintaining the glasses’ stylish appeal, potentially benefiting from Luxottica’s extensive distribution network.
Amid these developments, CES is just around the corner, and I’m excited to attend! Several companies, including Sony and NVIDIA, are hinting at XR-related announcements. Expect my updates as the event unfolds!
News worth a mention
The Meta Horizon app has once again topped download charts this winter, indicating strong sales for Quest headsets. On a different note, Pico introduced SecureMR, aiming to balance passthrough functionality with user privacy. However, developers may find its limitations frustrating compared to potentially more versatile forthcoming APIs from Meta.
In a somber vein, Magic Leap One headsets are about to become obsolete as related server support ceases, turning once-groundbreaking technology into mere collectors’ items.
Additionally, exciting news for data enthusiasts: it turns out several nations, beyond Tokyo, have accessible LiDAR data, valuable for ventures in visual positioning and digital twin projects.
Entertainment updates
Road To VR announced its picks for standout games of the year, with Batman: Arkham Shadow taking top honors for Quest. Meanwhile, Fanatical is offering enticing VR bundles, ideal for building your game library.
In gaming news, Warpfrog is creating a new physics-driven title following Blade & Sorcery’s success, and Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable launched its Complete Edition. Plus, Game Night appears set to be a hit as a local multiplayer party game.
Other news
In tech whispers, Samsung’s upcoming XR headset may incorporate Google’s device-tracking feature, and someone discovered the Quest’s power-up animation is a 3D model—not just a video.
Lastly, I’d like to pause and encourage support for those affected by ongoing conflicts, particularly in Ukraine. Please consider donating to the Red Cross to aid these humanitarian efforts.
To all my patrons who support this journey, a heartfelt thank you. Your generosity makes this work possible.
Here’s to a promising 2025 full of innovation and creativity in XR. Cheers!
