Today marks the final day of the Carnival celebrations here in Italy, and the streets are teeming with joyful revelry. While others are engrossed in the festivities, I’ve decided to indulge in some traditional sweets that are a hallmark of this season. Besides, I have a second reason to celebrate: Feedspot has ranked my blog as the third best in the top 60 Virtual Reality websites, right behind the renowned giants, Road To VR and Upload VR. Admittedly, the list has its quirks, like the obsolete inclusion of the Oculus website, and I know there are other VR publications, such as MIXED, deserving more recognition. Even so, I can’t help but feel a wave of satisfaction as I reflect on the eight years of dedication I’ve poured into maintaining this blog. It’s a moment worth cherishing, and I’m profoundly grateful for all your support, which has played a crucial part in this achievement.
Top News of the Week
Valve Deckard May Hit the Market in 2025 for $1200
There’s fresh buzz around the Valve Deckard, and this time, it’s not from our usual grapevine. The information comes from Gabe Follower, a data miner with a history of dependable leaks, who suggests that we might see the Deckard launching in 2025 at about $1200. Gabe also hints that Valve has prepared games or demos specifically for the Deckard, including a potential addition from the Half-Life universe, according to Tyler McVicker of the Valve News Network. The device is expected to run on SteamOS, akin to the Steam Deck, allowing it to play flatscreen games on a large VR display, thanks to the Roy controllers, which mimic gamepad controls. While the $1200 price tag screams premium, Gabe Follower noted the device is still being sold at a loss, which hints at some seriously high-end features that would thrill any die-hard Valve fan.
Other Relevant News
Permanent Price Cut for Sony PSVR 2
Sony has finally decided to offer a permanent price reduction for the PSVR 2 headset, now available at $400 (€450 / £400 / ¥66,980). You can either buy the standalone headset or opt for the bundle with Horizon Call of the Mountain, both for the same price—I mean, who wouldn’t go for the bundle, right? The PSVR 2 has been a competent headset since day one, but it was priced outrageously higher than the PlayStation 5 itself. A recent temporary discount had seen sales surge, so a permanent price cut seems like a wise strategic move. Though PSVR 2 might not boast a sensational library of exclusive titles, a substantial collection of games is available. With the PC adapter, you can even enjoy PC games on Steam. This new price point seems fair, and while I’m not expecting explosive sales, PSVR 2 is primed for a better ecosystem.
Growth of Free-to-Play on Quest
Meta is pushing hard on free-to-play, especially for the younger demographic drawn to Meta Quest. They mentioned in a recent post on X that free-to-play experiences now account for over 70% of time spent on Quest. Developers are catching on, too. Fast Travel Games has made Mannequin free to play, and Owlchemy Labs’ Dimensional Double Shift, another free-to-play title, just racked up 500,000 downloads, showing that this model works. However, there are a couple of things to consider. When you’re constantly showcasing free content like Horizon Worlds and allowing the Horizon Store to be flooded with free shovelware, of course, user hours will increase. This trend might have taken hold anyway, but it’s been given a noticeable push. What’s less clear is the revenue side. Playtime doesn’t necessarily equate to profitability, especially if earnings are skewed by massive hits like Gorilla Tag. The pressing question for Meta is: What’s the median revenue for a free-to-play game on the Horizon Store? That’s the kind of insight developers need to determine the viability of this business model.
Introducing Meta’s Aria Gen 2 Glasses
Meta has unveiled the Aria Gen 2 glasses, an upgrade over the original Project Aria. Although not a commercial product, these glasses are laden with sensors for research purposes, capturing data about the user and their surroundings to train AI models, particularly those related to AR. The new model boasts enhanced specs, a rich sensor suite, and can now perform on-device tracking thanks to a robust Meta chip. Despite all these advancements, the glasses remain lightweight at 75g, offering 6-8 hours of active use. Currently available only to close partners, broader access is anticipated for research centers later in the year.
Meta’s Enterprise and Educational Enhancements
Meta has refreshed its offerings for educational and enterprise environments. The Meta For Education program, after extensive beta testing, now enables institutions to procure headsets and manage them via a set of services, facilitating content delivery and educational experiences. Over 30 digital twin campuses, or "metaversities," have been developed with the Engage XR platform for immersive remote learning. Meta reports positive feedback and academic improvements from schools using VR and mixed reality. Meanwhile, businesses can look forward to more flexible management solutions under the new Horizon Managed Solutions, allowing integration with third-party MDM solutions. Pricing details were also outlined, showing slightly higher costs than consumer models post-initial two-year support.
News Worth a Mention
HTC’s "VIVERSE Worlds" Platform Launch
HTC has introduced VIVERSE Worlds, a platform set to host 3D and VR experiences, with the unique twist of being fully web-based. This means users can access experiences without installations, and content can easily be embedded into websites. Utilizing Vive Polygon Streaming technology, it’s designed for efficiency and quick loading.
AMD’s New Graphics Cards
AMD is set to release the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards soon, with prices of $550 and $600. These cards aim to rival NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 series and feature support for AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 4, a competitor to Nvidia’s DLSS.
Playing Windows Games on Pico 4 Ultra via Winlator
I stumbled on an intriguing YouTube video by Virtually Real, where they successfully ran Crysis on the Pico 4 Ultra using Winlator, an Android Windows emulator. This breakthrough indicates that older Windows games can now be played natively on your headset!
People in XR circles have voiced frustration over the Horizon Store’s curation, noting a prevalence of low-quality imitative content. Reports show a large fraction of games mimic Gorilla Tag, which isn’t a good look.
Meta Discontinues Move
Meta’s fitness tracking app, Move, is being phased out. Despite its promising start, Move relied on outdated technology, and with its user base dwindling, Meta decided to halt its continuation. This is quite disappointing, especially as the concept was initially to outmatch YUR’s similar offering, only to be shelved soon afterward.
Meta’s Advances in Realistic Avatars
Meta Reality Labs, in collaboration with the University of Munich, introduced Avat3r, a cutting-edge research project. This system creates realistic avatars using just a handful of photos taken with an iPhone, capturing the user’s facial expressions with impressive accuracy.
Advancements in VR Taste Simulation
The Ohio State University unveiled a fascinating project aimed at emulating virtual taste. Using an e-taste interface, the device releases small flavor particles on command. Though still in its infancy, it’s exciting to see continued progress in this domain.
Introducing The VR Critic
For those who relish VR content reviews, Australian VR enthusiast Dr. Luke Buckmaster has launched "The VR Critic,” a site that meticulously reviews various VR experiences. After a four-year buildup, it debuted with over 100 reviews, and I wish it the best.
Content News
Steam Next Fest Rolled Out 20+ Free VR Demos
Sportvida CyberDash Prepares for Full Launch on Quest and PC VR
Orion Drift from Gorilla Tag Creators Hits Early Access
For more on these captivating updates and other immersive adventures—including PSVR 2 price reductions, the rise of free-to-play games, Meta’s latest hardware developments, and software innovations—visit the sources listed throughout this recap.
Switcher Support: If you’re eager to contribute positively, I encourage donations to the Red Cross to aid those impacted by the crisis in Ukraine. Gratitude to all my Patreon supporters who continuously bolster my endeavors.
(Header image by Afference)
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