Hey there, and a warm Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all my American pals! While we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in Italy, I’m well aware of how significant it is in the US, Canada, and a few other countries. I hope those of you who did celebrate had a fantastic time with your loved ones. And for everyone else, I trust you made the most of Black Friday shopping. I snagged a few items myself, most importantly a new phone. My old ones had taken quite a beating and were well past their prime for work use. A wake-up call came when a friend from Helsinki saw my phone and jokingly asked if there was a donation link to help me get a new one, haha. Before we dive into the week’s XR news, a quick update: I’ve now joined Bluesky! If you’re on there, give me a follow. It seems X is getting harder for real interactions, so I’m giving Bluesky a shot. But don’t worry, I’m not leaving X just yet, so you can still find me there too.
Let’s jump into the top news of the week.
The dataminers have been busy again! They’ve uncovered 3D models of Valve’s Roy controllers within the SteamVR files, confirming what recent leaks have suggested. Valve appears to be in the final phases of these controllers’ development, signaling that the Deckard headset might not be far off. With these 3D models already part of SteamVR, a full headset kit release seems plausible by 2025. The details align with previous leaks: each controller boasts bumpers, a D-pad, thumbsticks, buttons, triggers, and more, essentially forming a complete gamepad for all your Steam library needs on the big screen. Plus, the datamine hints that Valve’s using Arcturus Technologies for inside-out tracking – a promising sign, given Arcturus’ 2020 demo showing excellent tracking and passthrough capabilities.
If you’re keen on Cyber Monday deals, you’re in luck because they’re still rolling out. VR hardware and software discounts remain in full swing, and I’ve highlighted a few notable ones. PSVR 2 has dropped to $350 and comes bundled with the awesome Horizon Call Of The Mountain. This could really boost sales, considering the last sale’s success. Pico 4 Ultra’s deal includes Pico Motion Trackers, games, and a month of VRChat Plus. Quest 3S is listed at $299.99 with a $75 gift card in the US, while HTC offers various hardware discounts. On the Horizon Store, the code ‘BFCM24’ nets you up to 40% off select games.
In other exciting news, Apple might have been tinkering with XR tech since 2008, long before their Vision Pro. A Mac World journalist revisited an old Apple patent from that year for a VR headset, showcasing head and eye-tracking abilities to immerse users in virtual settings. While big companies often file patents for many reasons, this finding suggests Apple was contemplating immersive reality well before Oculus Rift’s time. Fascinating, right?
Moving to VRChat – they’ve introduced age verification through a collaboration with Persona. This isn’t compulsory across the board but will apply to certain age-restricted instances. Users can verify their age with an ID and opt to display a “Verified 18+” badge. I believe this move is pivotal for social VR, segregating interactions between adults and younger users. However, I’m curious to see how many users will agree to verify their age. When I suggested a similar feature at VRROOM, there was resistance to sharing IDs even for age verification. Making it optional seems like a wise decision.
On the hardware front, Pimax has officially opened orders for the Pimax Crystal Super, promising stunning resolution specs. With a 3840×3840 resolution per eye and a PPD of 57, it suggests nearly retina-level clarity. This headset also allows for an interchangeable optical system, offering different field-of-view and display options. Pimax’s history of innovative yet sometimes delayed releases makes me eagerly await reviews on this one.
XREAL is gearing up to unveil new AR glasses on December 4th, and the hype is real whether they’ll be 3DOF or 6DOF glasses remains to be seen, but we’re guessing the latter from the teaser.
On a lighter note, did you ever imagine insects in VR? Researchers at Flinders University have set up a tiny VR environment for studying insect behavior—talk about high-tech bug watching! And then there’s the virtual lollipop by researchers from the University of Hong Kong that delivers diverse tastes through hydrogel and iontophoresis tech. Wonder why they included durian flavor, though…
For book lovers, Tom Emrich, a big name in AR, has released a new book, “The Next Dimension: How to Use Augmented Reality for Business Growth in the Era of Spatial Computing.” It’s packed with practical insights and promises a look into AR’s transformative power for businesses.
In gaming, exciting news: a mod now lets PC VR users play the full Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, and initial reports are glowing with satisfaction.
Don’t miss out on upcoming releases: “Home Sports,” “Premier League Player,” and more shuffle onto the VR scene soon, offering a mix of sports fun and trivia challenges.
Before wrapping up, I’d like to give a shout-out to everyone who has been asking for smarter age controls in VR spaces. VRChat’s latest move might just be what we’ve all been waiting for—a safer, more tailored adventure for everyone. We’ll wait and see how this evolves.
Lastly, if you’re able, please consider donating to support those affected by war. The Red Cross is doing crucial work in Ukraine, and your help can make a tremendous difference. Thank you to all my Patreon supporters for your continued encouragement.
Stay safe, have fun, and see you in the next update!
