After an exhilarating stint at CES, I’ve touched down back in Italy, still buzzing from what was an amazing experience. The event was truly massive, and I returned with sore feet but a big smile on my face. It was fantastic on all fronts – as a writer, tech enthusiast, and business-minded individual, I found reasons to be thrilled. Unsurprisingly, this week’s roundup will spotlight CES, yet we won’t overlook other riveting news that surfaced concurrently. So, let’s dive in! (Apologies for the tardiness of this newsletter; my return from Las Vegas left me a bit behind schedule.)
Top News of the Week
A Cornucopia of XR Products at CES – The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) takes the crown as the paramount tech forum of the year, and witnessing dedicated XR sections was exhilarating. XR may still be niche, but it’s very much alive and kicking, evidenced by the plethora of XR aficionados and companies at the event. The star attraction was undoubtedly the smartglasses, with AI-infused models like Ray-Ban Meta and Halliday’s ultra-compact display glasses capturing attention. Goertek showcased new reference designs, promising an influx of AR and smart-glasses from other companies soon. While no groundbreaking announcements emerged, both NVIDIA and Sony made notable XR-related disclosures during CES keynote speeches. NVIDIA unveiled the RTX 50 graphics cards, boosting PCVR performance, though the high-end 5090 model is set at a hefty $2000. They also revealed that their cloud service, Geforce Now, would soon be available on Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, enabling an enriching flat-screen gaming experience in VR worlds.
Meanwhile, Sony introduced XYN, a fresh line of XR-centric software and hardware meant for creatives, albeit with scant details. A new headset, Modaibus Mocopi, promises precise body tracking and offers a novel method for digitizing real-world objects, though their integration isn’t quite clear yet. HDMI announced its 2.2 standard, with an impressive bandwidth of 96Gb/s, stirring curiosity if this would revive its usage in headsets. I’ve shared detailed impressions of several devices I tried at CES, like the Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K, and reviewed the prodigious Play For Dream headset. Onlookers like Amanda Watson praised it as a standout item at the event. For those who couldn’t make it to CES, I’ve got you covered with a comprehensive video tour of the XR area linked below. CES may not have been phenomenal for XR, but it was certainly a solid exhibition.
[Here are some detailed impressions and insights shared in various posts: More info on Sony’s enterprise headset price, NVIDIA’s and AMD’s latest graphic cards, GeForce Now on XR headsets, and more.]
Other Noteworthy News
Image by Meta
Meta Quest 3S Tops Amazon Sales Charts in 2024 – A heartening piece of news is that the Meta Quest 3S has clinched the title of the most-sold console on Amazon in the US for 2024. And we’re not just talking the VR segment or an isolated stint; it outstripped all gaming consoles throughout the year, nestling as the third-best seller in the entire Video Games category. Given its October debut, these figures are remarkable. Indications suggest a boisterous holiday season for the Quest 3S. In addition to leading Amazon’s list, the Meta Horizon app for mobiles topped Apple’s App Store downloads recently. Data analysis reveals a Christmas uptick in players for games like Batman Arkham Shadow on the Quest 3S, further highlighting its holiday boom. While VR isn’t mainstream just yet, this signifies another leap forward during festive times as more users join the VR ecosystem, which is promising.
Meta Halts Quest Pro Sales – Meta has retired the Quest Pro from its product lineup, suggesting prospective buyers turn to the Quest 3 instead. While the Quest Pro controllers remain available and compatible with other Quest headsets, the expensive $1500 headset itself faced market apathy leading to its demise, especially after price cuts and underwhelming sales. Yet, it stood out for its unique eye and face tracking features useful in some research applications. Notably, an ASUS headset leak points to similar features in development, suggesting those functionalities may stay within Meta’s horizon ecosystem despite the Quest Pro’s departure.
[Additional Information: Find more about the discontinuation of Quest Pro from Road To VR and Upload VR]
News Worth Mentioning
ASUS’s Upcoming ROG VR Headset Promises Innovation – Leaks about ASUS’s ROG VR headset, codenamed Tarius, have surfaced. As one of the pioneer third-party headsets on HorizonOS, it’s anticipated to include eye and face tracking, utilizing QD-LCD with local dimming or micro OLED displays. Project leaks often signal progress, so fingers crossed for swift developments ahead in this promising endeavor.
Infinite Reality Secures a Staggering $3 Billion – In an eye-popping announcement, Infinite Reality has secured $3 billion to fuel its vision for creating immersive WebXR experiences, a jaw-dropping sum that’s half of what even OpenAI garnered. This startling revelation raises eyebrows since the majority investment came from a singular source – presumably an anonymous benefactor from the Middle East, which leaves the community in awe and some perhaps reconsidering their circle of friends.
Curious VR Walking Research – A quirky research project allows users to "walk" in VR while lying down, by performing a bicycle-like pedaling motion. The outcome is intense on the abs and potentially (hilariously?) exhausting, prompting one to wonder… but why?
DotLumen’s Revolutionary Headset for the Visually Impaired – DotLumen has developed a groundbreaking headset to assist the visually impaired in navigating their surroundings. This device promises to dramatically enhance mobility for those with visual disabilities, marking a huge step forward in accessibility technology.
[Additional links and details: You can learn more about each of these developments using the additional info links available.]
XR Enthusiast Highlights
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Discounted Meta Quest 3S – Snag the Quest 3S 256GB at a $50 discount, bundled with Batman Arkham Shadow. A Meta effort to boost sales of the higher-capacity model, it’s a good deal for buyers at Meta’s site, and similar promotions are appearing elsewhere.
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Sanzaru’s New Adventure Awaits – After a final update for Asgard’s Wrath 2, Sanzaru Games, celebrated for the Asgard’s Wrath series, is shifting gears towards its next big project, hinting at "some AWESOME stuff" that leaves us speculating about their upcoming innovations, possibly in mixed reality?
- Content News Galore – Exciting titles are landing on Quest and other platforms. From the highly awaited "Boneworks" to Synth Riders’ nostalgic ’80s pack and narrative-driven Detective VR, there’s no shortage of engaging new experiences in VR gaming land. Additionally, popular crowd-pleasers like "I Am Security" are climbing the sales charts hand-in-hand with immersive adventures like "Dawn of Jets" entering early access. It’s an exciting era for VR content.
Editorial Reviews
Get a taste of what’s trending among new launches:
- Epyka – A fresh puzzle-adventure game with commendable graphics – although a bit short in gameplay.
- Pirates VR: Jolly Roger – Brings colorful adventures marred by shallow combat design.
- Shardfall: FitQuest VR – Breathes new life into VR fitness gaming with engaging mechanics reminiscent of Ring Fit Adventure.
Discover more reviews and content from these immersive experiences through detailed links provided above.
Extra Bytes of News
- A savvy Redditor created an innovative add-on for Oculus Touch controllers to elevate VR combat gameplay, showcasing the ingenuity of the community.
- An Exit 8-inspired film is brewing; let’s see how this transforms on the big screen.
- The allure of Minecraft in VR, played with 100+ mods alongside expansive body tracking, promises an utterly absorbing experience.
Shout Outs and Partner Highlights
Check out fellow XR pioneer and my CES sidekick, Tyriel Wood, on YouTube. He curates brilliant XR content and captures our shared CES adventures. You won’t be disappointed!
Let’s Have Some XR Fun
What’s life without a bit of humor? Take a break with funny links showcasing a truck drive in mixed reality, augmented Gemini antics, and more memorable VR moments that capture the delightful quirks of our digital era.
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[For more informative details, supportive links, and enthusiastic partnerships, check above accordingly. Dive into related content and enjoy the rich tapestry of developments at CES, Quest advancements, game releases, and amusing XR insights. Keep exploring the ever-evolving world of gaming and XR innovation!]
