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Returning to Italy after the awe-inspiring experience at CES has been quite the whirlwind for me. Attending such a monumental event left me physically exhausted, yet overwhelmingly thrilled. From a blogger’s perspective, an enthusiast’s passion, and an entrepreneur’s drive – all aspects of me were entirely satisfied. Naturally, CES is the primary focus of this week’s review, but there are a few other intriguing pieces of news outside of the event that I can’t wait to share with you. Let’s dive right in! (And apologies for this newsletter coming out a bit late; getting back from Las Vegas meant dealing with a mountain of tasks!)
### Top news of the week
At CES, a host of XR products was unveiled. As one of the year’s grandest tech events, it was truly invigorating to witness XR having its own dedicated showcase and to see so many from the XR community in attendance. This is a testament to the fact that while XR might still be niche, it’s very much alive and kicking. Smartglasses were heavily represented, often paired with AI, like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, or the Halliday glasses, which boast a minuscule display. Goertek, a leading XR device manufacturer, unveiled new smart and AR glasses designs, promising to spur more releases in the market.
While nothing ground-breaking was announced for XR at CES, there were notable mentions during keynote speeches from giants such as NVIDIA and Sony. NVIDIA introduced its RTX 50 graphics cards, promising enhanced PCVR performance, with prices aligning closely with the 40 series, save for the 5090 priced at $2000. Excitingly, Geforce Now is expanding to Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, allowing MR users to play traditional games on vast virtual displays.
Sony’s announcement of XYN, a new line of XR products for creatives, was a bit vague. They teased a new headset derived from their enterprise model—now over $4000—but stopped short of letting anyone try it. Sony also mentioned dual Mocopi setups for precise body tracking and a fresh method to digitize objects, though they didn’t clarify how these integrate. Still, it’s encouraging to see Sony’s commitment to XR and digital realms.
Meanwhile, HDMI announced a new 2.2 standard specification featuring an incredible 96Gb/s bandwidth. I’m curious to see if any headsets might reconsider using HDMI due to this advancement.
I’ve already penned a few articles about the gadgets I got my hands on at CES, like the Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K, Ray-Ban Meta, and Pimax Crystal Super. I’m also preparing a review on the Play For Dream headset, which I found exceptionally impressive. Amanda Watson, whom I finally met at CES, also praised this device. And for those who missed attending, I’ve uploaded a video of the whole XR section for your viewing pleasure. While it might not have been a groundbreaking CES for XR, it certainly was a promising one.
### Other relevant news
A delightful surprise this year is that the Meta Quest 3S emerged as the top-selling console on Amazon in 2024, outpacing all other gaming consoles—not just in the VR segment! Remarkably, it became the third most-sold item in the Video Games category, even though it only launched in October. This undoubtedly indicates a successful holiday season for the Quest 3S, as evidenced by the surge in Batman Arkham Shadow’s player numbers during Christmas.
Though this doesn’t quite scream “VR has gone mainstream,” it definitely highlights growth in the VR sphere, especially over the holidays as headsets topped many gift lists.
Unfortunately, Meta has decided to discontinue the Quest Pro, marking the end of its first prosumer headset. It’s no longer available for purchase on Meta’s website, although its controllers still are, given their compatibility with other Quest models. The Quest Pro’s debut was hastened due to competitive pressure from Vision Pro, and while its launch price was a steep $1500, it quickly dropped to $1000 due to underwhelming sales. The headset long looked like a rushed project, but with this chapter closed, one can only look forward to what’s next in Meta’s headset lineup.
Highlights worth mentioning include a leak regarding the ASUS ROG VR headset, rumored to feature eye and face tracking atop state-of-the-art screen technology. Leaks can be unreliable, but they do indicate progress with third-party Horizon headset development.
In a surprising turn of events, Infinite Reality secured $3 billion in funding to continue developing immersive web content—the XR community is abuzz, given the relatively low profile of Infinite Reality compared to the funding magnitude. This donation from a sole investor left many scratching their heads!
On the more whimsical side, a quirky research project has come up with a way to walk in VR by mimicking cycling motions while lying down… makes one wonder about the ‘why’ behind it all.
Meanwhile, an inspiring project by DotLumen aims to improve mobility for visually impaired individuals using a specialized headset—a potential game-changer in accessibility tech.
In promotional news, Meta has knocked $50 off the Quest 3S 256GB edition, going the extra mile by packaging it with Batman Arkham Shadow. Likely, this aims to boost sales of units with larger storage capacities.
In gaming developments, Sanzaru Games is moving beyond the highly-acclaimed Asgard’s Wrath series, teasing fans with promises of an exciting next project. Who knows what fascinating games await us—perhaps even incorporating mixed reality?
Speaking of content, there’s news from the VR gaming world:
– Boneworks is coming to Quest 3,
– Synth Riders adds 1980s music packs,
– A narrative-driven AI game, Human Within, is out on Quest,
– Shardfall: FitQuest VR now available,
– A mixed-reality detective game is set to launch soon,
– And more releases keep VR gaming rich and varied.
On the review front, there are a few noteworthy appraisals:
– Epyka offers a solid puzzle-adventure vibe, with a nod to classics like Myst but lacks length.
– Pirates VR: Jolly Roger offers vibrant visuals but struggles with gameplay design.
– Shardfall: FitQuest VR impresses as a fitness title reminiscent of Nintendo’s Ring Fit.
– Gears & Goo keeps players engaged on Apple Vision Pro with intuitive controls and tracking.
Lastly, touching on community creations, innovations like an OCULUS Touch controller addon promises better VR combat gaming, while mods breathe new life into Minecraft VR with full-body tracking options.
As always, I encourage everyone to keep an eye on XR innovation videos from creators like Tyriel Wood, who I teamed up with at CES this year. His video insights into XR technology are well worth watching.
Before wrapping up, I’d like to share a bit of joy: there’s plenty of XR fun to go around, with mixed reality antics and entertaining takes on virtual escapades.
As for charitable giving, I want to take this opportunity to urge donations to help those affected by the recent conflicts in Ukraine. The Red Cross continues to offer much-needed humanitarian aid, and contributions can make a significant difference in supporting their mission.
Thank you sincerely to all my supporters, partners, and friends who keep this community thriving. Let’s keep our XR journey exciting and impactful together!
