The XR Weekly Roundup (December 23, 2024): Meta Gears Up for Competition, Niantic Focuses on Spatial Intelligence, and More!

The holiday season is upon us, and as Christmas approaches, I couldn’t wait to spread some festive cheer. While I’ll be sending out holiday greetings tomorrow, today I’ve decided to play the role of Santa! I’m offering not one, but two exciting giveaways of free keys for some fascinating XR games. Keep reading to discover how you can join in on the fun!

Top News of the Week

In a recent post, Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, Meta’s CTO, highlighted some significant achievements from 2024 and hinted at what to expect in the coming year. The post, discussed by figures like Mark Rabkin and Janko Roettgers, reflected on the successful launch of the Quest 3S. This headset has become a best-seller, especially noted for its affordability. Boz mentioned, "Sales were strong over the Black Friday weekend, and we’re expecting a surge of people activating their new headsets over the holiday break." The sales figures after the holiday season will indeed be intriguing to compare with those of the Quest 2 from previous years.

Interestingly, not all Quest 3S buyers are upgrading from Quest 2. Rabkin noted a significant portion of new users might be transitioning from other brands or entering the MR/VR world for the first time. This influx reflects Meta’s success in attracting new users with competitive pricing.

Meta acknowledges a shift in store dynamics due to a younger audience gravitating toward social multiplayer and free-to-play games. This trend, propelled by games like Gorilla Tag, emphasizes the changing preferences from millennial players to younger audiences. Adults, meanwhile, are exploring more entertainment experiences, suggesting a diversified user interest.

The company is strategically investing in development within popular genres: social gaming, entertainment, and MR-focused applications. For developers, this insight could be useful for securing Meta’s funding by working on projects that align with these interests.

Leading apps on the Quest 3S include Gorilla Tag, YouTube VR, and Horizon Worlds, highlighting a blend of gaming and media consumption. Particularly, the rise of YouTube VR spotlights ongoing interest in media experiences via headsets. Horizon Worlds is gaining traction among younger users, suggesting Meta’s continued push for this social platform is paying off.

On the hardware front, the Ray-Ban smart glasses with AI integration have been well-received. Meta is pushing these AIs toward more proactive roles, hinting at a future where users might have AI assistants seamlessly integrated into their daily lives through wearable tech. This prospect is equally fascinating and concerning in terms of privacy.

Meta’s current dominance in the XR industry faces challenges with Apple’s entry and Google’s upcoming collaboration with Samsung. Bosworth’s memo to his team underscores the high stakes and the necessity of maintaining momentum to stay ahead of new market entrants.

Other Relevant News

The rise of spatial intelligence continues to make waves as AI becomes crucial in spatial understanding. This week, Niantic and New York University unveiled projects focusing on this trend. Niantic’s work with Large Geospatial Models aims to enhance geospatial understanding, leveraging sparse data to reconstruct accurate environments. Meanwhile, NYU introduced VSI-Bench, a benchmark to improve AI’s spatial comprehension. As the XR landscape evolves, spatial intelligence will undoubtedly become a key component.

News Worth a Mention

Blackmagic Design has announced pre-orders for its URSA Cine Immersive camera, designed for shooting 8K VR180 footage, priced at a hefty $30,000. Fortunately, professional studios might find this investment worthwhile.

Meta has made strides in its SDK, adding an "Audio To Expression" feature that animates avatars’ facial expressions using voice audio, allowing for more realistic and dynamic interactions. On the technical side, a potential fix for Link-connected Quest stuttering issues on SteamVR has been discovered, hopefully leading to smoother gaming experiences.

Tokyo’s government has shared a digital point cloud of the entire city for public use, presenting myriad possibilities from developing digital twins to training AI systems. Meanwhile, the Meta Winter Sale offers gamers a chance to snag top VR titles at discounted rates, perfect for holiday entertainment.

Upload VR has highlighted their favorite games of 2024, with a certain ‘Bat’-titled VR game topping the list—you might guess which one! However, not all anticipated releases have become instant sensations, like "Alien Rogue Incursion," which, despite its compelling atmosphere, has been critiqued for its repetitive nature.

Gaming Content Updates

Various exciting content updates have been announced:

• SUPERHOT-inspired "COLD VR" is available for pre-order, launching January 21st.
• Mixed reality sandbox "Figmin XR" is now accessible on Apple Vision Pro.
• "Tentacular Playground" and Doug Liman’s dinosaur-raising game "Dino Hab" add to the interesting lineup of immersive experiences.
• "Grimlord" and "Masters Of Lights" join the ever-growing roster of VR titles offering diverse adventures.

Content Reviews

A few games have caught mixed reviews. "Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable" captures the essence of the popular manga but suffers from uneven quality. "Green Hell VR" has received praise for its engaging new co-op mode. Meanwhile, "COLD VR," despite its promising concept, needs tweaks to refine its user experience.

Other Industry News

• The Genesis physics engine, an open-source project, shows promise in generating animated 3D worlds.
• OpenAI’s new o3 model is making waves; its advanced capabilities come with a heftier price tag but promise superior performance.
• VR shooter "Vail" by AEXLAB has achieved a remarkable $5.5 million revenue milestone.

In celebration of the season, various games will showcase themed features, ensuring players have a festive VR experience. If comparisons interest you, Tom’s Guide has evaluated XREAL One against Viture Pro AR glasses. Joe Hunting’s narrative in "The Reality of Hope" offers an inspiring exploration of friendships forged in VR, leading to life-changing outcomes.

Updates and Events from Friends

PatchWorld, a platform for musical creativity in VR, just received substantial enhancements, including hand-tracking capabilities and integration with music tools like Ableton Live. Don’t miss out on their generous 50% discount running until early January!

For those heading to CES, the DeoVR event promises an exciting gathering of the industry’s innovators—it’s a party you won’t want to miss!

Wrapping up, "Home Sports" and "Party Versus" engage players with fun virtual environments—take a chance at winning their giveaway keys or support them by purchasing on the Quest Store.

Some XR Fun

The digital world never fails to amuse: from humorous visuals to wild speculations about tech, there’s plenty of light-hearted content to enjoy.

Donate for Good

As we celebrate the holiday spirit, consider making a meaningful donation to support those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Your contributions can make a significant difference.

And with that, I extend a heartfelt thanks to my supporters and patrons who make these updates possible. Here’s to a joyful holiday and a fantastic year ahead!