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It’s another week packed with XR news to catch up on, and there’s plenty to explore!
The Week’s Top Headlines
Is Niantic Considering Selling Its Gaming Division?
In a surprising move, Bloomberg reports that Niantic, the creator of the massively popular Pokemon Go, is contemplating selling its gaming division to Saudi-owned Scopely for a staggering $3.5 billion. For many, this might come as a shock given Pokemon Go’s continued success and its substantial revenue stream, despite the initial frenzy having subsided. While Niantic hasn’t had the same hit success since, Pokemon Go still fuels the company’s operations and technological advancements, including its AR algorithm training.
Rumor has it that this sale would allow Niantic to zero in on creating an "outdoor metaverse," translating to a stronger focus on developing comprehensive AR services and even potentially stepping into AR headset production—a plan hinted at years back. The bold gamble is tantamount to trading a financial safety net for empirical innovation in AR. As risky as it sounds, it highlights Niantic’s commitment and belief in XR’s potential growth in the coming years. As an XR enthusiast, I’m excited, but as a business strategist, I’m apprehensive about the risks involved.
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Additional Noteworthy News
Meta Unveils a $50M Fund for Horizon Worlds
Meta is rolling out a $50 million fund aimed at rewarding creators in its virtual universe, Horizon Worlds. This initiative will dole out monthly bonuses based on various metrics like time spent and in-world purchases. Additionally, March 11 marks the date for a new contest with top creators vying for a $100,000 prize.
Alongside these incentives, Meta is upgrading Horizon Worlds’ creation tools. The debut of a more robust desktop editor—akin to game engines like Unity or Unreal—signals a step toward higher quality and more engaging virtual landscapes. While this funding boost is well-intentioned, there are voices of concern over its timing. Developers are vocal about the ecosystem’s visibility issues, which overshadow smaller startups.
The compensation strategy Meta employs here might deter professional teams unless they gamble on success without initial funding. Despite this, the fund offers new opportunities within the Horizon ecosystem but leaves room for improvement in its strategic execution.
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Continuing Challenges in the XR World
XR industry turbulence is still taking its toll, with notable instances of developer dissatisfaction and economic pressures affecting companies. Yet, there are still glimmers of success. Take the Embracer Group’s ‘Metro Awakening’, which, despite not meeting expectations, has been well-received. Meanwhile, Toast Interactive, known for games like ‘Richie’s Plank Experience,’ faced a lay-off while battling sales struggles exacerbated by poor visibility.
On a brighter note, ‘Thief Simulator VR’ has thrived with impressive unit sales, embodying hope amidst adversity.
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Dates for Meta Connect 2025 Revealed
Mark your calendars for September 17-18, as these are the dates set for Meta Connect 2025. Although details are still thin, expectations are set for new smart glasses announcements alongside updates for Horizon headsets from third-party partnerships. Meta’s recent move to host an AI-exclusive event, LlamaCon, confirms AI discussions won’t headline this conference.
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More News You Shouldn’t Miss
Palmer Luckey’s New Military Headset: Palmer Luckey teases an AR/VR headset designed specifically for military applications, boasting groundbreaking functionalities that set it apart from existing IVAS devices. Lucky predicts it will revolutionize AR/VR interactions, but the tech world eagerly awaits seeing it in action.
Meta’s Terminology Adjustment: In a move likely echoing Apple’s marketing strategies, Meta now refers to both MR and VR under the "MR" umbrella. This shift might mirror Meta’s intentions for its Quest to align with the Vision Pro’s category.
Quest v74 and More: Meta Quest’s latest runtime brings significant display features like high-quality mirroring to external monitors. In addition, improvements in multiple-room setup and seamless casting experiences are part of this update.
Get Ready for VR Game Announcements: March 11 is also set for the VR Games Showcase–expect new insights into games like Hitman: World of Assassination for PSVR 2 and new projects from Flat2VR Studios.
Humble Bundle for Developers: Humble Bundle’s latest offering targets developers, packing valuable resources across Unity, Unreal, and Godot engines.
Content Corner: Innovations and releases are ramping up. Highlights include innovative titles like ‘Detective VR’ and ‘Silent North’ alongside announcements of new experiences and anticipated releases.
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Community and More
The virtual reality realm continues evolving with fresh narratives, experiences, and reviews, from ‘One True Path – Part 1’ and its enthralling storytelling to ‘Selina: Mind At Large,’ a tale with room for finesse. Dive deeper into the lush worlds of game reviews and related technological news to discover compatibility, tracking prowess, and future tech advancements.
Finally, let’s remember those in need. Consider donating to humanitarian efforts by the Red Cross in Ukraine. Here’s the link for you to make a difference.
Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image by Niantic)
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