XR Weekly Highlights (January 21, 2025): Ongoing Developments in XR, Windows 11 Update Phases Out WMR, and More!

I can definitely confirm that CES sickness is real, and unfortunately, it doesn’t fade away with the event’s conclusion. Yet, my eagerness to bring you the latest XR updates outweighs this bothersome cold, so here’s a roundup of news that’s sure to catch your interest!

Top News of the Week

The Ongoing Autumn of XR

Times are tough for immersive realities right now. The market is quite stagnant, making it challenging to sustain business. We all believe AR/VR will become essential technologies in the future, but for now, they remain quite niche. I’ve previously delved into this topic, and this week’s news further supports my observations:

• The creators of PowerWash Simulator VR have decided to halt updates just 14 months post-launch due to mounting development costs outweighing revenue.
• Soul Assembly, known for Drop Dead: The Cabin and Just Dance VR, is cutting 15% of its workforce.
• Omdia and Sensor Tower’s analysis revealed a 27% drop in Meta Horizon app downloads on Christmas Day 2024 compared to 2023. This suggests a decline in holiday purchases, possibly because Quest 2 users aren’t finding reasons compelling enough to upgrade to 3 or 3S, and similar negative trends were seen during Black Friday on Amazon.
• Counterpoint noted a 4% dip in the global VR market in Q3 2024 compared to Q3 2023.
• Former Sony exec, Shuhei Yoshida, admitted being "wrong" about PS VR2 in a recent interview.
• After seven successful years, the F.Reality podcast has wrapped up.

Amid these challenges, Blair Renaud, the mind behind LOW-FI, expressed his concerns on X about the current uncertainty, joining a growing list of developers feeling deserted on this unstable ship. Thankfully, not all news is bleak:

• Forbes highlighted how younger generations favor the metaverse over traditional social media for connecting.
• Despite the downturn, Counterpoint’s analysis showed Apple Vision Pro shipments—especially international ones—surpassed IDC’s initial projections.
• Beat Saber is on track to selling 10 million copies on Quest.

It’s clear we’re facing a difficult road ahead. At CES, nothing suggested a shift in the current AR/VR trends, except maybe smartglasses. I’ve shared positive snippets to highlight that there’s hope, but it will take time. The best we can do now is to ride out the storm.

Learn more on various topics: [My analysis of XR in 2024] [The end of development of Powerwash Simulator] [Soul Assembly’s layoffs] [Omdia’s analysis of Quest sales—Road To VR] [Counterpoint Research’s analysis on the XR market] [Shuhei Yoshida being sorry about PSVR 2] [The F.Reality podcast closes] [Blair Renaud complaining about the VR space] [A positive article about the metaverse on Forbes] [Apple Vision Pro selling more than IDC estimated] [Beat Saber nearing 10M in sales]

Other Relevant News

Microsoft Enforces Windows 11 24H2 Update

The moment has arrived: anyone trying to dodge the dreaded 24H2 update for Windows 11 will have to relent. Microsoft is now imposing the update on systems within its jurisdiction, such as Home versions. This matters for XR users because it ends Mixed Reality support in Windows 11, rendering Windows Mixed Reality headsets effectively unusable. While there are ways to avoid the update with Pro versions or within enterprise settings, it’s much tougher with Home editions. My heart goes out to WMR users facing this dilemma.

More info

ASUS Unveils New Trailer for AirVision M1 Glasses

ASUS has dropped an appealing new trailer for their AirVision M1 smart glasses. Although these glasses debuted at CES 2024, they’ve only recently caught my attention. The AirVision M1 offers a 3DOF experience with a virtual display before your eyes, boasting specifications like 1100 nits brightness, 60% lens transparency, TÜV Rheinland certification, and built-in speakers. They support Windows PCs and Rog Ally handheld consoles and weigh only 87g. The companion app provides a virtual multi-screen setup for your PC. The price is $700, slightly higher than the XREAL One Pro’s $600.

Learn more: [ASUS AirVision M1 glasses trailer] [ASUS AirVision M1 glasses shop page]

News Worth a Mention

Palmer Luckey Prepares an Announcement

In response to Blair Renaud’s X post, Palmer Luckey enticed the community with promises of an upcoming announcement. He hinted at potential new VR-related developments, perhaps revealing the military VR headset hinted at AWE or revealing the explosive Quest Pro depicted in the image above. Whatever it may be, I’m excited to see what unfolds!

More info

Somnium Space Increases Headset Prices

Somnium Space has raised its headset prices by €5–700 due to the complexities of manufacturing high-quality devices:

• Somnium VR1 Visionary Edition: €3000 + VAT
• Somnium VR1 Titan Edition: €3400 + VAT
• Somnium VR1 Ultimate Edition €4300 + VAT

More info

Meta’s New Red MicroLED Breakthrough

Meta and Plessey announced a significant achievement with "the world’s brightest" red microLED display for AR glasses. This 6M nits display consumes minimal power, making it ideal for AR devices used outdoors. Successfully creating a bright red display is particularly notable, as blue and green displays typically excel in efficiency and brightness, marking a remarkable step forward for AR technology development.

More info

Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and Chess

Two young developers, Caden Li and Eddy Xu, are using Ray-Ban Meta glasses to revolutionize chess. The glasses’ camera scans the chessboard and feeds data to an AI, which then recommends moves, relayed to users through the device speakers. This allows anyone to play like a master. I love how this demonstrates the potential of AI-connected smart glasses. We really need open programmable glasses for more innovative projects like this!

Learn more: [Video of the solution] [The devs advocating for more open smartglasses]

Jayden Daniels’ VR Success Story

NFL quarterback Jayden Daniels attributed his recent spotlight to Virtual Reality (VR) training, which aided his team, the Washington Commanders, in securing their first playoff win since 2006. This highlights VR’s value as an effective training tool.

More info

Some News About Content

• GRIM, a survival game inspired by Rust, launched in early access on Quest and SteamVR this week.
• Tablecraft offers an entertaining “mad science” VR sandbox game, now in early access on Quest, where players can experiment with chemical elements.
• Music fans can enjoy Lovesick, a VR puzzle game launching on Meta Quest headsets on March 6.
• Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon lands on Meta Quest on February 6, with a Steam release slated for spring.
• PSVR 2 team shooter, Firewall Ultra, received a surprise update despite the developer’s closure last year.
• Upload published its usual XR News Round-Up featuring additional XR news tidbits.

More info: [GRIM] [TableCraft] [Lovesick] [Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon] [Firewall Ultra] [XR News Round-Up]

Content Reviews

• Upload praised Iron Rebellion’s mech emulation for perfectly balancing user-friendliness with immersive mech experience.
• Arken Age offers a captivating presentation coupled with rewarding combat.
• Assetto Corsa EVO is in Early Access, yet still riddled with issues.
• The Thrill Of The Fight 2 introduces an intriguing take on boxing in multiplayer mode.
• Human Within unfortunately stands as a poor example of branching storytelling in games.

More info: [Iron Rebellion] [Arken Age] [Assetto Corsa EVO] [The Thrill Of The Fight 2] [Human Within]

Other News

• Meta removed the app to view achievements inside the headset, displeasing developers and users.
• Discover more
• Learn about the peculiar LED next to Quest 3S cameras.
• Discover more
• The controversial Visor headset remains an enigma amid glowing reviews and Discord bans for release date inquiries.
• Discover more: [Review of Visor] [Discord bans explanation]
• Michael Gschwandtner gets creative with AR glasses compatible with the Nintendo Switch.
• Discover more

News from Partners (and Friends)

Join the Musical Metaverse Workshop!

At the IEEE International Symposium on the Internet of Sounds, happening in L’Aquila, Italy from October 29–31, a dedicated workshop on the musical metaverse will take place on October 30. This event aims to merge academia and industry to explore Musical XR systems and human perception in immersive networked environments. Currently, there’s an open call for papers on topics like “Musical XR systems for networked interactions” or “Digital twins for musical applications.” If you’re working in these areas, consider submitting your work and join the conversation!

Learn more

Some XR Fun

• Comparing Meta hardware and software, check it out: [Funny link]
• Understanding the business landscape in XR, see here: [Funny link]
• Future Quest devices require new QA tests: [Funny link]

Donate for Good

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(Header image adapted from a Microsoft image)

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