As March wraps up and the skies are clear, it’s the perfect time to dive into the latest AR and VR news. Plus, let’s touch on the buzz around the “Studio Ghibli” AI craze everyone’s talking about.
### Weekly Highlights
Samsung could potentially be making waves in XR this year, with reports from ETNews suggesting they might launch new XR glasses. Though details are scarce on whether these will be AR glasses or smart glasses, they promise a comfortable fit and come equipped with cameras and environmental sensors. Their internal project name? Haen, meaning “coast” in Korean. Samsung’s been teasing us with XR tech for a while, so anticipation is high for what’s on the horizon. If both their Project Moohan (an MR headset) and Haen launch this year, Samsung might very well reclaim its XR spotlight by 2025.
Elsewhere, tech giant Vivo has officially announced its entry into mixed reality with the Vivo Vision headset. Details are limited at the moment, with Vivo only revealing the exterior design which is strikingly similar to the Vision Pro, right down to the name. The full reveal isn’t expected until mid-2025, but the mere announcement adds another player to the competitive XR scene.
In the Meta camp, insights from Chris Pruett’s recent talk at GDC reveal a shift in the Quest ecosystem towards free-to-play models, largely due to a growing demographic of young users. But there’s also an emerging group of adult users who are engaging with VR primarily for media consumption—turning their headsets into premium TV viewing platforms. This demographic, mostly men in their 30s, appreciates high-quality movie and sports content. It hints at the future of incentivizing media-focused content for Quest, a move that might see Meta competing directly with the likes of Apple’s Vision Pro. For developers like myself, this uncertainty in market direction presents a real challenge: should we focus on gaming or pivot to media-oriented experiences, knowing the landscape may shift yet again?
### Notable Mentions
Apple has confirmed that its WWDC event is launching on June 9, where we expect them to unveil visionOS 3 packed with new features for the Vision Pro. Unfortunately, it clashes with AWE, making simultaneous coverage difficult.
On the hardware front, Pimax has announced that their Crystal Super headset with a wide field of view and high resolution will start shipping on April 7. Timelines seem to be looking good for Pimax with this timely release.
If you’re a PlayStation owner, Sony’s Spring Sale runs until April 23, offering discounts on a multitude of games including over 60 PlayStation VR2 titles like Alien: Rogue Incursion and Metro Awakening. Perfect time to expand your collection.
Meanwhile, the Polys celebrated its 5th edition by spotlighting the best in WebXR, an exciting yet evolving technology. Kudos to the organizers for highlighting its potential.
### Developer and Industry Insights
An editorial by David Heaney throws a critical eye on Valve’s involvement in the XR ecosystem, particularly their lack of new VR game content. Five years after the hit Alyx, Valve’s silence in VR development raises questions, especially given their strong position with Steam. The article challenges the community’s hesitancy to criticize Valve’s choices or lack thereof in driving VR forward—an interesting discussion for anyone following XR’s growth.
In tech experiments, Quest’s camera access has spawned some creative projects. Developers have crafted intriguing features like real-world copy-paste elements, lighting estimations for virtual objects, and adaptable vision filters. These offer fascinating glimpses into both the creative and functional potential of VR enhancements.
### Fresh Content Alerts
New releases and updates are flocking in: Star Wars: Beyond Victory is a fresh mixed reality experience slated for Quest and Quest 3S. Its connection to the Han Solo timeline has fans buzzing. The news about Meta canceling System Shock 2 VR is a notable disappointment among several other project cancellations, signaling a strategic shift. The anticipated Robocop VR game also hit a roadblock due to licensing issues, highlighting the complexity of project development in this space.
### Upcoming Releases
Shooter sandbox HARD BULLET hits Quest 3 this spring, and Avatar-inspired Elements Divided launches on Quest and PC VR in April. Onward and No Man’s Sky: RELICS have rolled out major updates, and the intriguing Dystopian VR action RPG Resist is on its way to PlayStation VR2 this month. Developers are continuously pushing boundaries, and it shows in the variety and creativity in these projects.
### Beyond Games: Industry Movements
Beyond gaming, Infinite Reality made headlines by acquiring Napster for $200M, aiming to bring virtual concerts into the music scene. Discussions around XR’s content diversity are also cropping up in spaces like Reddit, where the need for inclusive, adult-focused content rises. Meta Reality Labs’ new AI model hints at future uses of imaging in VR, adding another layer to XR’s evolving toolkit.
As the industry thrives on innovation, events like GDC continue to showcase boundary-pushing control schemes from developers, while Jamie Feltham’s musings on a dream XR ecosystem add to the pool of visionary ideas poised to shape the future.
### Friends and Partners
Chrono Craft offers an inventive augmented reality bus tour experience in Beijing, China, thanks to this creative integration of storytelling with physical immersion.
### Humor, Donations, and Thanks
For lighter fare, some entertaining links remind us that XR can be fun and quirky too. Amidst the excitement and developments, let’s not forget the importance of charitable actions. This week, I urge support for the Red Cross in Ukraine. A heartfelt thank you to my Patreon supporters whose generosity keeps this blog alive.
Finally, thanks for joining me on this immersive journey. I look forward to what the upcoming months hold for the world of AR and VR.
