After an inspiring stint at CES, I’m back in Italy, positively buzzing from the whole experience. Attending such a massive event was like a dream come true. Sure, my body is aching a bit from all the hustle and bustle, but the joy of being there as a blogger, tech enthusiast, and entrepreneur far outweighs the exhaustion. CES truly captivated every facet of my professional identity. Naturally, CES will headline our weekly roundup, although there’s also plenty of other intriguing tech news that didn’t originate from there. So, let’s delve into some of these exciting developments! (A quick apology for the delay in getting this newsletter to you—Las Vegas left me with a busy agenda to tackle.)
Top News of the Week
CES shines as the premier tech event annually, and it was a welcome sight to see a dedicated space for XR companies this year. The presence of numerous XR enthusiasts and products reiterated that, even as a niche, XR is very much alive and kicking. Smartglasses took the spotlight, often integrating AI, as shown by the Ray-Ban Meta and the Halliday glasses with their sleek, tiny displays. Key player Goertek showcased new reference designs for smart and AR glasses, setting the stage for a wave of new product releases.
While there were no groundbreaking revelations in our field, giants like NVIDIA and Sony shared insightful updates during their keynotes. NVIDIA’s announcement of the RTX 50 graphics cards promises enhanced PCVR capabilities, with pricing fairly aligned with the series 40—except the premium 5090 at $2000. Excitingly, Geforce Now will soon be accessible on Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, enabling MR users to indulge in flatscreen games on a massive virtual display.
Sony hinted at exciting developments with its XYN series, aimed at creatives with both hardware and software XR tools. While the new headset is based on an earlier enterprise model, specifics remain under wraps. Moreover, Sony mentioned innovations in body tracking and digital object scanning, though how these integrate remains unclear. It’s promising to see Sony doubling down on XR and virtual environments.
HDMI’s unveiling of the 2.2 standard with its impressive 96Gb/s bandwidth might tempt some headsets back to this port type. I’ve penned some posts outlining various devices I got to explore at CES, such as the Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K, Ray-Ban Meta, and Pimax Crystal Super. Among these, the Play For Dream headset stood out to me, and I’m eager to share an article about it soon. Fellow attendee Amanda Watson also hailed it as a standout device, and it was lovely to finally meet her in person. For those who missed the event, a video tour of the XR section is linked below.
CES may not have been a game-changing event for XR this year, but it was undoubtedly a solid one.
Other Relevant News
An exhilarating piece of news is that Meta Quest 3S topped Amazon US’s gaming console sales in 2024—not just in the VR section, but across all gaming consoles. To top it off, it was the third bestselling item in the overall Video Games category, despite launching in October. This underscores a significant sales boost during the holiday season, as illustrated by the surge in players for Batman Arkham Shadow and the popularity of the Meta Horizon app.
I wouldn’t rush to declare VR mainstream just yet, but there’s certainly a growing acceptance with many headsets becoming holiday gifts, heralding the arrival of fresh users.
Meanwhile, Meta has halted sales of the Quest Pro, making it unavailable directly from their site, though the controllers remain for sale to support other Quest models. The Quest Pro, rushed into the market amid Vision Pro’s potential, struggled with sales due to its high price and lackluster reception. While I won’t mourn its loss, I do miss its unique features like eye and face tracking—handy for specific research work. Curiously, a leak about an ASUS headset with similar tracking emerged shortly after, perhaps signaling continued support within the Horizon ecosystem.
News Worth a Mention
Renowned leaker Luna revealed an upcoming ASUS ROG VR headset, nicknamed Tarius, set to debut as one of the first third-party devices running HorizonOS. The headset will feature eye and face tracking, utilizing either QD-LCD or micro OLED displays. Leaks often mean progress, moving projects from rumor to reality.
Infinite Reality made waves by securing $3 billion in funding to propel its ambitious WebXR internet engine. This hefty investment, rivaling what OpenAI recently attracted, remains perplexing given the mystery donor. Clearly, I need to find more generous acquaintances!
In quirkier XR news, a new research initiative enables virtual walking while supine—requiring a cycling motion that challenges the abs. My thoughts? Just… why?
On a more practical note, DotLumen has developed a headset for the visually impaired, scanning environments to guide navigation—potentially life-changing for the visually impaired.
Meta has offered a $50 discount on the Quest 3S 256GB model, bundling it with Batman Arkham Shadow to boost sales compared to its smaller-memory counterpart.
Sanzaru Games, famed for Asgard’s Wrath, is shifting focus to their "next big game," teasing exciting developments in XR—perhaps integrating mixed reality to align with Meta’s offerings.
Some News About Content
Boneworks will soon join the Quest 3 library, with its next project stirring curiosity among fans. Synth Riders unveils an ’80s Mixtape pack, hilariously rickrolling players, while new titles like Human Within and Shardfall: FitQuest VR add fresh gaming experiences to Quest’s expanding repertoire. Detective VR, slated for a February 27 release, will draw players into mixed reality investigations. Meanwhile, Chrono Weaver offers a captivating VR time-travel puzzle adventure, following in the successful indie footsteps of I Am Security. Dawn of Jets and Virtual Hunter also enrich the VR landscape with their recent releases.
Some Reviews About Content
Epyka delivers an engaging puzzle-adventure reminiscent of Myst but leaves players yearning for more playtime. Pirates VR: Jolly Roger boasts vibrant scenery, yet struggles with design and combat depth. Shardfall: FitQuest VR entertains with a fitness twist akin to Ring Fit Adventure, while Gears & Goo masterfully blends tower defense with intuitive controls on Apple Vision Pro.
Other News
A clever VR enthusiast crafted an Oculus Touch controller addon to enhance VR combat gameplay—learn more about this inventive creation. A film inspired by the game Exit 8 is underway, raising curiosity about its adaptation. Road To VR shared initial thoughts on Surreal Touch controllers, offering insights into this emerging tech.
Playing a heavily modded Minecraft in VR, featuring full body tracking, offers a uniquely immersive experience—discover more about this VR marvel. Unity developers can now explore Lens Studio through a comprehensive guide.
News from Partners (and Friends)
Be sure to check out Tyriel Wood’s channel. Ty, my CES 2025 partner-in-crime, excels in releasing captivating XR content. His upcoming CES insights promise to be a must-watch, so head over to his YouTube channel for the latest updates.
Some XR Fun
Brace yourself for some hilarious XR antics: someone drove a truck in mixed reality—a must-see! Catch some amusing paranoia from Gemini, the best VR experiences for kids, and witness the chaos of Steam Sales. Don’t miss the laughably realistic AI and Neo’s antics—lots of fun links await!
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