Back from my inspiring trip to CES in Italy! I’m still catching my breath after all the excitement from such an enormous event. Even though I returned home feeling every part of my body ache, the experience of attending CES as a blogger, enthusiast, and entrepreneur was incredibly rewarding. Naturally, CES is the highlight of this week’s roundup, but there’s also fascinating news from beyond the trade show. Let’s dive into it! (P.S. Apologies for the delay in this week’s newsletter—post-Las Vegas life has been hectic!)
Top news of the week
CES, the giant of tech events, made a remarkable impression, especially in the XR domain. It was fantastic to see a dedicated space for XR companies and lots of industry folks attending. XR, even as a niche, is clearly thriving. Smartglasses were particularly prominent at the show, showcasing integrations with AI. Pictured above are the Ray-Ban Meta glasses and Halliday’s innovative specs with a micro-display. Goertek also unveiled new reference designs for AR and smart glasses, encouraging more companies to enter this growing market.
While there wasn’t a groundbreaking announcement for XR at CES, major players like NVIDIA and Sony shared intriguing updates. NVIDIA introduced its RTX 50 graphics cards that promise to boost PCVR performance without a price hike, other than the premium $2000 5090 model. Additionally, NVIDIA’s cloud streaming service, Geforce Now, will soon support Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, enhancing MR users’ gaming experience on massive virtual displays.
Sony discussed its new XYN line for creatives, featuring XR hardware and software. Although details are sparse, we learned about a new enterprise headset, exceeding $4000, and plans for advanced body and object tracking solutions. Despite the vagueness, Sony’s commitment to XR is encouraging. Another notable development is the HDMI 2.2 standard, boasting a 96Gb/s bandwidth, possibly reigniting interest in this port for headsets.
I’ve shared some initial thoughts on devices I tested, such as the Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K and Ray-Ban Meta, with more insights in the links below. My standout was the Play For Dream headset, a sentiment echoed by Amanda Watson, who I had the pleasure of meeting at CES. For those who couldn’t attend, I recorded a video tour of the XR area, linked below. While not a spectacular CES for XR, it certainly had its highlights.
Other relevant news
A surprising highlight is Meta Quest 3S claiming the top spot as Amazon US’s best-selling console in 2024, across all categories. Impressively, it landed as the third best-selling device overall in the Video Games section, despite launching in October. This success was likely fueled by a strong holiday season, evident from the Meta Horizon app topping the Apple App Store, and Batman Arkham Shadow’s player base doubling around Christmas.
It’s clear VR isn’t yet mainstream, but this data suggests it made notable strides this holiday season with many headsets finding new homes—a positive sign for VR’s growth.
Meta has officially phased out the Quest Pro, its initial prosumer headset. The store page now directs users to the Quest 3 instead. While the Quest Pro’s lifespan seemed doomed from the start, given its rushed release in response to Vision Pro fears and steep initial pricing, one aspect I’ll miss is its unique eye and face tracking features, useful for research applications. Coincidentally, a leak suggests ASUS’s upcoming headset will feature similar tracking, hinting at ongoing Horizon ecosystem support for these functions.
News worth a mention
In an exciting leak, the upcoming ASUS ROG VR headset, codenamed Tarius, will feature eye and face tracking, running on HorizonOS. It’s good news that these third-party projects continue to progress.
In an unexpected development, Infinite Reality raised a staggering $3 billion to advance its WebXR-supported immersive web content engine. The sum, sourced from a single investor, highlights the financial potential in the XR community, even if its market value remains to be seen.
This week’s "What The F" video explores VR walking while lying supine—a concept that’s both intriguing and physically demanding, leaving me curious as to why such methods are pursued.
The innovative team at DotLumen developed a headset for visually impaired individuals, enabling obstacle-free navigation by scanning surroundings—a potential game-changer in accessibility tech.
Meta has dropped the Quest 3S 256GB price by $50, keeping Batman Arkham Shadow bundled. This move might be a strategy to boost sales for the larger storage model following less-than-expected holiday performance.
Sanzaru Games, known for the Asgard’s Wrath series, concluded its final update for Asgard’s Wrath 2 and is now focusing on its "next big thing," promising some thrilling content.
Some news about content
Stress Level Zero is bringing Boneworks to Quest 3 while working on a new title.
Synth Riders teased users with an unexpected ’80s Mixtape Side B pack.
Human Within’s narrative game about AI influence launched on Quest.
VR enthusiasts can now try out Shardfall: FitQuest VR and Dawn of Jets, among other titles.
Detective VR, a mix-reality game, is arriving on February 27, while Chrono Weaver introduced a time-travel puzzle crossing platforms.
After an update, I Am Security joined the ranks of top-selling Quest apps, following the success of its indie predecessor, I Am Cat.
Virtual Hunter transitions from early access to full PC VR launch in mid-January.
For those interested in detailed reviews, Epyka, Pirates VR: Jolly Roger, and Shardfall: FitQuest VR are all worth checking out, providing a variety of gameplay experiences.
Other news
A crafty Redditor created a neat Oculus Touch controller add-on, improving performance in VR combat games.
Exit 8 is inspiring a movie—let’s see how they translate the gaming medium’s intrigue to the big screen.
First impressions of Surreal Touch controllers are now available via Road To VR.
Experience VR with 100 mods in Minecraft, complete with full-body tracking!
Unity developers have a new resource with Lens Studio, offering VR-complementary tools.
News from partners (and friends)
I want to give a shoutout to my buddy Tyriel Wood from CES 2025. He creates engaging XR technology videos and will soon share our collaborative experiences from the event. Join his YouTube following for insightful content!
Some XR fun
Buckle up for mixed reality antics—a truck venture, paranoia in Gemini, VR for kids, Steam Sale shenanigans, realistic AIs, and a Neo moment!
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