Today marks the end of Carnival festivities here in Italy, with streets bursting with joyful celebrations. Meanwhile, my idea of joining in on the fun involves indulging in some traditional sweets of the season. There’s an extra reason I’m in the mood to celebrate today: Feedspot has ranked my blog third among the top 60 Virtual Reality websites based on authority. Standing right behind the industry giants, Road To VR and Upload VR, is quite something! Although the list isn’t perfect—featuring mentions like the now-defunct Oculus website—it’s rewarding to be recognized for my efforts over the past 8 years. Despite knowing some outlets like MIXED are just as deserving, I’m going to relish this moment and thank every reader and supporter for bringing us here!
Top News of the Week
Valve Deckard’s Rumored Launch in 2025
An intriguing rumor surrounding Valve Deckard has emerged from an unexpected source, data miner "Gabe Follower." Known for credible leaks, Gabe Follower predicts a launch in 2025 with a price tag of around $1200. Notably, Valve is reportedly ready to ship games or demos that are "already done" for Deckard, potentially including something from the Half-Life universe, as suggested by Tyler McVicker from Valve News Network. The device is likely to run on SteamOS, similar to Steam Deck, and it might even support playing SteamDeck flat-screen games in a VR format, thanks to the gamepad-like controls on the Roy controllers. While $1200 is quite a hefty price, Gabe Follower indicates it’s still being sold at a loss, hinting at high-end specs that should thrill Valve enthusiasts.
More info about Valve Deckard’s potential release and Half-Life demo app
Other Relevant News
Sony’s Permanent Price Cut on PSVR 2
Sony has finally made a permanent reduction in the PSVR 2 headset’s price, now down to $400 (€450 / £400 / ¥66,980). Whether you opt for just the headset or include the Horizon Call of the Mountain game, the price remains the same. Initially priced higher than a PS5, this shift comes after recent discounts sparked better sales. While PSVR 2 isn’t renowned for a wide array of exclusive titles, a good selection is available now, and with a PC adapter, it can access Steam’s PC games too. At $400, it seems a fair bargain to me, and though I don’t foresee sales exploding, the ecosystem’s prospects look brighter.
More info
Quest’s Shift to Free-to-Play Experiences
Meta is encouraging developers to target free-to-play games for the younger Meta Quest audience, mentioning that over 70% of users’ time spent on Quest is with free-to-play experiences. Fast Travel Games followed suit by making Mannequin free, and Owlchemy Labs’ Dimensional Double Shift, also free-to-play, hit 500K downloads. However, a couple of concerns arise: the prevalence of free content like Horizon Worlds could be skewing these engagement metrics, and importantly, revenue figures aren’t shared. Without solid revenue data, especially considering the success of Gorilla Tag, it’s hard for developers to gauge if this truly is the optimal model.
More info about free-to-play trends and statistics
Meta Unveils Aria 2 Glasses
Meta has introduced the Aria Gen 2 glasses, a research-oriented device equipped with multiple sensors for capturing user and environmental data to train AI models, especially those focused on AR. With advancements like upgraded sensors and a custom Meta chip for on-device processing, the glasses showcase impressive innovations. Despite being packed with technology, they weigh only 75g, offering 6-8 hours of usage. Initially distributed to select partners, broader research availability is anticipated later this year.
More info about Aria Gen 2 specs and capabilities
Updates in Meta’s Enterprise and Education Solutions
Meta is advancing its services for universities and enterprises with the now widely available Meta For Education program. This initiative supports schools in acquiring headsets for students, alongside device management and educational content access. Collaborating with VictoryXR, Meta has also built over 30 "metaversities" to facilitate remote learning through immersive campuses. Additionally, Meta refreshed its business services under "Horizon Managed Solutions," offering user and device management, and improved integration with existing third-party MDM solutions, providing much-needed flexibility for organizations.
More info about educational and business offerings
Honorable Mentions
HTC Launches "VIVERSE Worlds"
HTC’s new "VIVERSE Worlds" platform aims to become the "YouTube of 3D content". It hosts VR experiences, all accessible through the web without needing installations, utilizing Vive Polygon Streaming for efficient performance. Whether this stand-out feature will carve out success in the market remains to be seen.
More info about VIVERSE Worlds’ unique web-based platform
AMD Set to Launch New Graphics Cards
AMD introduces the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT cards, set to release on March 6 with price points of $550 and $600, respectively. These cards are rivals to NVIDIA’s RTX 5070, complete with new AI accelerators and DisplayPort 2.1a support, potentially enhancing future VR headsets with high refresh rates.
More info about AMD’s latest graphic cards and features
Community Spotlight
Virtually Real Explores Windows Games on Pico 4 Ultra
A fascinating discovery by Virtually Real using Winlator, an Android-based emulator, allows older Windows games like Crysis to run on the Pico 4 Ultra. This opens a window for experiencing classic titles directly on VR headsets.
More info about bringing Windows games to VR
Industry Concerns
Horizon Store’s Quality Concerns
Users are voicing displeasure over the Horizon Store’s content curation, as clone games dominate the scene. Videos have shown the monotony of browsing through Gorilla Tag knockoffs, with a Reddit analysis revealing that nearly half of new releases are such clones.
More info about the need for quality control in Horizon Store
Meta Discontinues Move
Meta is pulling its fitness app, Move, having relied on outdated technology. Despite its exit, it’s a reminder of the initial controversy, where Meta’s service replaced the startup YUR’s platform. Unfortunately, it seemed to have fallen out of the spotlight, only to be abandoned now.
More info
Avatar Innovations by Meta
Avat3r, a collaborative research project by Meta Reality Labs and the University Of Munich, can create highly realistic avatar heads from a few photographic inputs. The detail and expression mimicry achieved with these avatars are impressive, enhancing virtual presence.
More info about Avat3r’s advances in realistic avatars
Exploration in Virtual Taste
The Ohio State University is pushing boundaries with its virtual taste research, utilizing an e-taste interface that releases flavor particles as a VR experience. Though still in developmental stages, projects like these are paving the way for multi-sensory VR.
More info about emulating taste in VR
Introducing The VR Critic
For those passionate about VR reviews, Dr. Luke Buckmaster, an Australian enthusiast, has launched "The VR Critic." After years of preparation, the site boasts over 100 reviews of VR experiences, promising a rich resource for the community.
More info
Content Highlights
- The Steam Next Fest presented over 20 free VR demos to the community.
- Stratogun, a nostalgic shooter, is integrating VR support upon release this year.
- Sportvida CyberDash, aimed at stress relief through physical challenges, is launching soon on Quest and PC VR.
- Orion Drift by the creators of Gorilla Tag is available in Early Access.
More info about these exciting VR experiences
Content Reviews
NinjaGuyVR meticulously examined each VR demo from the Steam Next Fest, noting many had issues, while Orion Drift received mixed reviews for its potential but incomplete nature. However, games like Retronika and Detective VR showcase engaging narratives despite need for tweaks.
More info on Orion Drift and Retronika reviews
Noteworthy Ventures and Fun
- Cause+Christi, collaborating with HTC VIVERSE, is releasing "SHIP HAPPENS", a WebXR free-to-play game.
- Amid various quirky memes and funny takes on VR Store curation, we see that staying updated in the industry can be both enlightening and amusing.
More info and light-hearted perspectives on VR
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(Header image by Afference)
