The XR Weekly Roundup (January 21, 2025): XR’s Continued Growth, Windows 11 Ends WMR Support, and More!

I can attest to the notorious CES illness, which, unfortunately, doesn’t vanish right after the event wraps up. Despite battling a cold, my commitment to bringing you the latest in XR news is unwavering. So, here’s a round-up of updates that I’m sure you’ll find intriguing!

Top News of the Week

The Autumn of XR Marches On

It’s not an easy time for those of us involved in immersive realities. The AR/VR market has hit a bit of a lull, making it challenging to forge ahead in business. Although we all agree that AR and VR are technologies of the future, at present, they remain quite niche. I touched on this in a previous piece where I examined the current climate in our industry.

This week brought news that reaffirms my earlier thoughts:

• The developers of PowerWash Simulator VR announced they are ceasing updates just 14 months post-launch due to development costs outweighing the returns.
• Soul Assembly, known for its games like Drop Dead: The Cabin and Just Dance VR, is laying off 15% of its workforce.
• A study by Omdia and Sensor Tower shows a 27% drop in Meta Horizon app downloads on Christmas Day 2024 compared to the previous year, suggesting a decline in VR holiday sales. This trend might be due to users of Quest 2 not seeing compelling reasons to upgrade to Quest 3 or 3S models, a trend which echoed during Black Friday sales.
• According to Counterpoint research, the global VR market experienced a 4% decline in Q3 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023.
• Former Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida admitted in an interview that he’s "sorry" for being "wrong" about PS VR2.
• The F.Reality podcast has wrapped up after an impressive seven-year run.

Given this news, developer Blair Renaud took to X to express his frustrations about the current state of affairs and the uncertainties about the future. He’s not alone in this sentiment; countless developers feel like they’re navigating uncharted waters with little direction.

Despite these challenges, there is some good news on the horizon:

• Forbes has an upbeat article on how the metaverse is becoming the preferred social space for younger generations over traditional social media.
• The same Counterpoint study mentions that Apple Vision Pro shipments exceeded initial estimates, particularly international ones, suggesting strong sales figures.
• Beat Saber is nearing the milestone of 10 million copies sold on Quest alone.

It’s time we confront the fact that the upcoming couple of years might be tough. While at CES, nothing struck me as signaling a major shift in AR/VR trends, with the exception of smart glasses. Despite the current setbacks, I included these positive snippets to show that there’s hope for improvement, even if it takes time. For now, we must focus on enduring these challenges.

Other Relevant News

Microsoft and the Windows 11 24H2 Update

It’s here: those who’ve been dodging the Windows 11 24H2 update should brace themselves. Microsoft is now mandating the update on all machines where it has control over updates, such as the Home version of the OS. For us in the XR sector, this is significant as the update ends support for Mixed Reality on Windows 11, effectively reducing Windows Mixed Reality headsets to paperweights. Users have postponed this update as long as possible, but with Microsoft’s enforcement, it’s increasingly difficult to bypass. While there might be workaround methods for Pro version users or those in enterprise settings, Home edition users face a tougher challenge. I’m sending virtual support to all those whose WMR headsets are now obsolete.

ASUS Unveils New AirVision M1 Glasses Trailer

ASUS has just dropped an exciting new trailer for their AirVision M1 smart glasses. Although these glasses aren’t brand new (they were first discussed at CES in 2024), I recently stumbled upon them and wanted to share my thoughts. The AirVision M1 are 3DOF glasses that offer a virtual screen experience right in front of your eyes. With features like 1100 nits brightness, 60% lens transparency, TÜV Rheinland certification, and built-in speakers, they are compatible with Windows PCs and Rog Ally handheld consoles, weighing in at a light 87g. Their companion software promises a virtual multi-screen setup for your computer. Priced at $700, they are a bit more expensive than the $600 XREAL One Pro.

News Worth a Mention

• Palmer Luckey Teases a Big Announcement: Responding to Blair Renaud’s post on X, Palmer Luckey hinted, "Wait till you see what I am announcing in a few weeks…" Suggesting something intriguing is on the horizon, possibly related to the military VR headset he alluded to at AWE, or perhaps the mysterious Quest Pro shown in the image. Either way, I’m curious!

• Somnium Space’s Headset Pricing Update: Recognizing the challenges in producing their high-end headsets, Somnium Space has increased their prices by €5–700. Here are the updated prices:

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

• Meta’s Red MicroLED Breakthrough: Meta and Plessey have announced what they call the "world’s brightest" red microLED display for AR glasses, featuring 6M nits while consuming ultra-low power—a significant advancement for outdoor AR applications.

• Chess-Playing Ray-Ban Meta Glasses: Two young developers, Caden Li and Eddy Xu, used Ray-Ban Meta glasses to provide chess players with an AI advantage, which offers moves via the glasses’ speakers. This demonstrates the potential of smart glasses in conjunction with AI.

• Jayden Daniels’ VR Training: American quarterback Jayden Daniels has been in the spotlight after leading the Washington Commanders to an NFL playoff victory—their first since 2006. Daniels credits his success to daily VR headset training, showcasing VR’s effectiveness for athletic performance.

Content Updates

• GRIM: Rust-inspired survival game launched in early access for Quest and SteamVR.
• Tablecraft: Unveils a free “mad science” VR sandbox game, now in early access on Quest.
• Lovesick: A VR puzzle game will be launching on Meta Quest headsets on March 6.
• Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon: Comes to Meta Quest on February 6, with a Steam release planned for spring.
• Firewall Ultra’s Surprise Update: Despite the developing studio having closed last year, a new update graces the PSVR 2 team shooter.

Content Reviews

• Iron Rebellion: Upload praises its mech emulation for striking the perfect balance between accessibility and that authentic mech feeling.
• Arken Age: Offers captivating gameplay with rewarding combat.
• Assetto Corsa EVO: Although launched in Early Access, it faces numerous issues.
• The Thrill Of The Fight 2: Takes an innovative approach to multiplayer boxing.
• Human Within: Serves as a cautionary tale for branching storylines.

Miscellaneous News

• Meta Removes Achievements App: This has sparked discontent among developers and users.
• Quest 3S’s Mysterious LED: Unveiling some curious details.
• Visor Headset Confusion: Continues despite enthusiastic reviews and Discord bans for release date inquiries.
• Michael Gschwandtner’s Affordable AR Glasses for Nintendo Switch: Innovates within budget constraints.

Partner and Friend Updates

Musical Metaverse Workshop at IEEE International Symposium: Scheduled from October 29-31 in L’Aquila, Italy, this workshop aims to merge academia and industry to advance Musical XR systems and understand immersive human perception. If you’re working on topics like "Musical XR systems for networked interactions" or "Digital twins for musical applications," submit your work and connect with peers.

A Bit of XR Fun

Check out some light-hearted XR laughs:

• Meta hardware vs. software
• The quirks of XR business
• Future Quest devices’ QA needs

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(Header image derived from a Microsoft image)

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