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Hey there, everyone! Happy Lunar New Year! As we welcome the Year of the Snake, I hope it brings you plenty of joy, happiness, money, success, love, and of course, some amazing XR headsets! For those celebrating, I wish you a fantastic time with family and loved ones, and don’t forget to indulge in some delicious food! 😊
Now, about this newsletter—sorry it’s a tad delayed and a bit shorter than usual. I’m up to my neck in work, but I’ve still packed in everything you need to stay updated on the latest in XR!
Top News of the Week
Google Acquires HTC Vive Engineers for $250M
Here’s a surprise from the tech world: Google has scooped up some top-notch XR engineers from HTC Vive, along with a non-exclusive license to HTC’s intellectual property, all for a cool $250M. While the nitty-gritty details are sparse, Google mentioned that this move is to turbocharge the development of the Android XR platform across headsets and glasses. This acquisition means Google can tap into HTC’s XR know-how to speed up its product development. While it’s unclear if these engineers will focus on Android XR or something like a new Google headset—perhaps a Pixel headset—my money would be on Android XR. This isn’t Google’s first rodeo with HTC, either; back in 2017, Google acquired HTC’s design team for around $1.1M, highlighting an ongoing collaboration between the two. This big acquisition underscores Google’s commitment to XR, which is great, though we know how unpredictable large companies can be! Still, for now, Google’s investment in immersive realities looks promising. That said, I can’t help but wonder: what’s next for HTC? Losing this talent might mean they’re shifting focus, maybe making headsets for others or reducing their output. Time will tell where HTC is heading in the VR market they once led.
If you’re curious about the details, check out more info on Google’s acquisition on Road to VR, Upload VR, and other sources.
Other Relevant News
Meta’s Smartglasses Ambitions
Meta’s Ray-Ban collaboration turned out to be a hit, sparking more ventures into smartglasses. According to insider Mark Gurman, Meta is allegedly teaming up with EssilorLuxottica to launch Oakley-branded glasses geared for cyclists and athletes, complete with a center-positioned camera and built-in speakers, but no display. Additionally, reports suggest a higher-end model with a display for notifications and touch-sensitive frames or wrist controls—like the Orion AR prototype—targeting prosumers with a $1000 price tag. Not leaving the original Ray-Ban Meta behind, Meta’s prepping for some star-studded Super Bowl ads. As for Orion, more developers might get their hands on it by 2026, with a consumer-focused, cheaper model possibly landing in 2027, dubbed Artemis. It’s exciting to see Meta exploring all XR facets—VR, MR, and smartglasses.
Find more info on Meta’s smartglasses journey over at Road to VR, Upload VR, and Bloomberg.
Meta’s Quest Pro Successor in the Works
On the VR side of things, Mark Gurman reports that Meta is eyeing a Quest 4 and a high-end model, potentially the "Puffin" headset—a lightweight MR headset with an external battery. Though the Quest Pro’s initial release flopped, courtesy of its priciness and rushed nature, a polished Pro 2 could carve out a space in the enterprise market, especially with other brands launching high-end devices like Vision Pro and Project Moohan.
For more insights, keep an eye on the ongoing updates.
Samsung and Google’s Moohan Project Gets Closer Attention
Many anticipated big XR reveals from Samsung’s Unpacked event, but though AR glasses weren’t officially announced, there’s still news to share. Samsung and Google’s deeper Gemini AI integration into their phones hints at broader AI incorporation across devices, including the headset, which was subtly showcased at the event. Notable YouTuber Marques Brownlee got his hands on it, offering a closer look that suggests inspirations from Vision Pro and VisionOS. Slowly but surely, Samsung and Google are unveiling more about this new device.
Discover more on Project Moohan through various available sources.
News Worth a Mention
Meta shed some light on why Christmas saw many Quest headsets bricked. Blame it on a pesky Android Open Source Project (AOSP) race condition bug tied to ext4 filesystem corruption and a security patch. Fortunately, Meta’s engineers identified and resolved the issue, helping Google with a broader fix too. Hats off to them for handling such a complex bug!
CM Games is riding high with "Into The Radius 2," grossing $3M already, thanks to a community-driven development approach, proving Steam’s value for early access releases.
CREAL shows off its magic with a further-miniaturized lightfield engine, nearly fitting into standard glasses, bringing realistic AR visuals closer to wearable reality.
The Quest 3 might soon support automatic room scanning, reducing MR friction by allowing dynamic updates to your space layout. This development is certainly something to look forward to!
For a creative twist, check out Keiichi Matsuda’s video on our future with ever-present AI agents and augmented reality—it’s an inspiring watch.
In terms of content news, Fitness Fables hits Quest with a blend of fantasy action and VR fitness, arriving January 30 at $12. FlatVR Studios aims to capture the best elements from the FlatOut games with FlatOut VR. Path of Fury, a Kung-Fu inspired VR fighter, makes its Quest debut on March 12. Enjoy Elsewhere Electric’s cooperative puzzle adventure or defend The Smurfs’ iconic world in VR this May. Plus, thanks to a mod, "Crysis" is now playable in VR—finally, a “Yes” to running Crysis on your headset!
For more details on these exciting developments, dive into the many info links provided.
Other News
A GDC survey reveals 35% of game developers dabble in XR. Plus, students and teachers now enjoy Snap Spectacles at half price. VRgamerdude explores the Mudra Link neural bracelet’s potential, and Miami’s newest Apple Store boasts a dedicated Vision Pro area. Check out Gabriele Romagnoli’s deep dive into MR apps on Horizon Store, and marvel at CaddieVision AR glasses assisting golfers.
Partner and Friend Updates
SkyClimb’s multiplayer mode is now free! This indie game by VRMonkey offers an engaging arm-based platform adventure praised on the Quest. Try it out—you’ll find it’s worth the play.
Some XR Fun
Being the parent of a VR-loving child presents unique challenges—check out a funny link capturing the humor in this situation. Plus, see Doom running inside a PDF and the quirky gadgets enhancing VR experiences. Warning: beware of the “dangers” of VR during intimate times, and remember to clear your room—these humorous takes will give you a laugh.
Support a Good Cause
In this final segment, I’m asking you not to give to my blog this time, but rather to support those affected by the crisis in Ukraine. The Red Cross is working hard to address the humanitarian needs there, and any donation can help make a difference.
Big thanks to my Patreon supporters for your incredible backing:
[List of supporters]
Here’s a link to contribute to the Red Cross in Ukraine.
Lastly, a reminder: this blog is supported by advertisements and affiliate links. If you decide to click on these, I’ll earn a small commission, which I deeply appreciate. For full details, see my disclosure.
And that’s it for this edition. Stay innovative and keep exploring new realities!
