XR Weekly Roundup (December 23, 2024): Meta Gears Up for Rivalry, Niantic Develops Spatial Intelligence, and Other Updates!

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, I’m gearing up for a special message wishing all of you happy holidays tomorrow. But today, think of me as your gaming Santa because I’ve decided to host not one, but two awesome giveaways for XR game codes! Stick around to find out how you can join in on the fun.

Highlights of the Week

Meta’s 2024 Recap and Future Preparations

Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, Meta’s CTO, took to the company blog to reflect on their past year’s achievements and provide a teaser for 2025. This conversation was also joined by Mark Rabkin, VP of MR/VR at Meta, and Janko Roettgers in his Lowpass newsletter. While much of the content covered familiar territory, like the launch of the budget-friendly Quest 3S headset, there are some interesting nuggets I’ve picked out for you:

• Quest 3S Sales Success: Boz reported strong sales during Black Friday, and they’re expecting a surge in activations over the holidays. It’ll be intriguing to see how these figures stack up against past sales of the Quest 2.

• New Entrants to MR/VR: Surprisingly, many Quest 3S buyers are entirely new to VR or are switching from other brands, highlighting the device’s appeal to newcomers.

• App Usage Trends: The influx of younger users is transforming the app economy on the Quest store, with hits like "Gorilla Tag" dominating. Meanwhile, the older crowd (25+ years) is diving deeper into entertainment experiences.

• Developer Opportunities: Meta is doubling down on its most successful app genres, funding developers to focus on social gaming, entertainment, free-to-play, core gaming, and MR-first apps. If you’re a developer eyeing Meta’s support, aligning with these genres could be key.

• Popular Apps on Quest 3S: Traditional media consumption isn’t dead in VR, with "YouTube VR" and "Horizon Worlds" gaining traction.

• Smart Glasses Ambitions: The success of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses has Meta eyeing AI-powered assistants that offer proactive help throughout the day. This could evolve into always-on glasses that assist in daily tasks—exciting yet potentially concerning privacy-wise.

Facing growing competition from Apple and Google, Meta is keenly aware of the stakes. Bosworth emphasized that maintaining their leadership in the XR space amidst new entries is paramount. The competition will keep Meta on its toes, which benefits consumers and developers, driving innovation and better offerings.

Additional Noteworthy News

Spatial Intelligence’s Emerging Role

The intersection of AI and XR is leading to fascinating innovations, particularly in enhancing spatial intelligence. Niantic, known for "Pokemon Go," delved into the idea of Large Geospatial Models for improving spatial understanding via AI, filling in the blanks where physical data is sparse. Similarly, New York University researchers are working on benchmarks to enhance AI’s 3D spatial comprehension, setting the stage for future XR capabilities.

High-Tech Upgrades and Innovations

• Advanced 8K Camera for Apple Formats: Blackmagic Design announced their URSA Cine Immersive camera, enabling filmmakers to shoot high-resolution VR footage. Aimed at professionals, it’s priced at $30,000, and a software update for DaVinci Resolve will support this format.

• Meta’s Audio-to-Expression SDK Update: Meta rolled out a feature in their SDK that animates an avatar’s face using just audio input. This could bring a whole new level of interaction to VR experiences.

• Quest’s Steam VR Stuttering Fix: A community solution has potentially resolved the stuttering issues faced by Quest users on Steam VR, involving disabling the Motion Smoothing feature.

• Tokyo’s Digital Twin Release: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government released a digital copy of the city, available for public use in applications like VR games or AI training.

Exciting Season Offers

• Quest Holiday Sale: With significant discounts on top titles like Demeo and Asgard’s Wrath 2, treat yourself to some epic VR games this holiday.

• Upload VR’s 2024 Top Games: Check out their picks for the year’s best VR and AR games.

• Mixed Reactions to Game Releases: While "Alien Rogue Incursion" didn’t break records, it has added to the growing library of engaging VR titles.

New Releases and Reviews

Several new titles have hit the shelves, from "SUPERHOT"-inspired "COLD VR" to "Grimlord," a VR action RPG. Meanwhile, reviews are in for titles like "Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable," which, while promising, shows room for polish and improvement.

Final Notes and Charitable Efforts

Before wrapping up, a word on giving back—please consider donating to help those affected by ongoing conflicts. The Red Cross is doing incredible work, and your support could make a significant difference. A huge thank you to my Patreon supporters for their continued backing.

For those wanting to keep the holiday spirit alive with some lighthearted XR fun and charity, check out the links provided and consider making a donation.