Back in Italy with a mix of exhaustion and elation, I hope your Valentine’s Day was filled with joy and cherished moments. My recent article on Android XR’s camera frame permissions nabbed mentions in top-tier outlets like Road To VR, Upload VR, and Android Authority—nothing like a little fame to brighten the week! Now, let’s dive into the hottest XR news you simply can’t miss.
This Week’s Highlights
Ray-Ban Meta Hits 2 Million Units Sold
In Q4 2024, EssilorLuxottica’s CEO Francesco Milleri celebrated the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, reporting sales of 2 million units. These figures, confirmed by reliable sources, indicate significant user retention—a vital sign of a product’s triumph. Luxottica plans to ramp production to over 10 million units yearly by 2026. This success has sparked buzz, as seen at CES with numerous smartglasses startups and whispers about Apple and Samsung’s ventures. But let’s stay grounded: Ray-Ban’s dominion in style and distribution plays a huge part in this success, possibly challenging tech rivals to replicate. The upcoming market journey will show whether these stylish gadgets can evolve into daily essentials.
More News You Shouldn’t Miss
Meta Ventures into Humanoid Robotics
As Bloomberg reports, Meta is delving into humanoid robots under its Reality Labs division, known for XR headsets. By leveraging data from its headsets and Project Aria glasses, Meta aims to refine AI and software rather than construct the robots internally. While this innovative move is strategic, it seems risky given Meta’s current XR challenges.
Apple to Enhance Vision Pro with Apple Intelligence
Plans to upgrade the Vision Pro headset with Apple Intelligence are underway, according to Bloomberg. Expected features include guest user modes and a spatial content app, set to launch this spring. This aligns with Apple’s push to compete with Google’s Android XR enhancements.
AugmentOS Simplifies Smartglasses App Development
Mentra unveiled AugmentOS, facilitating app development across various smartglasses models, including Vuzix Z100. It promises cross-compatibility, although specifics about Ray-Ban Meta support remain unclear. While smartglasses attract attention, developing for a fragmented ecosystem poses challenges; AugmentOS offers a cohesive solution.
News Worth Mentioning
Impressive PSVR 2 Holiday Sales
A price cut from $550 to $350 propelled PSVR 2 sales to new peaks during the holidays, according to Amazon US data. Although it doesn’t match Quest’s numbers, the surge is notable. A permanent price reduction might further boost Sony’s presence in the market.
Big Moves by Anduril in Military Tech
Palmer Luckey’s Anduril has taken over the IVAS project from Microsoft, focusing on a new military headset. With Luckey making bold claims about its potential superiority, expectations are sky-high.
Wonderland Cloud: The Future of WebXR
Create Worlds presents Wonderland Cloud, a hosting service dedicated to WebXR apps offering tools like multiplayer and voice chat support. This venture promises to streamline WebXR development significantly.
NVIDIA’s RTX 5090: A VR Powerhouse
YouTube comparisons reveal the RTX 5090 outshines the RTX 4090 in VR performance, marking another leap forward for gaming hardware.
Engage with VR Communities
Bobby Carlton highlights the vibrant VR communities spanning all ages, especially those 50+, thriving on fitness and social applications.
Tabletop NBA Games via Apple Vision Pro
You can now watch NBA games in Tabletop diorama via the Apple Vision Pro— an imaginative feature that enriches the viewer experience despite being less immersive than full-screen views.
Notable Promotions and Releases
Quest Store’s Big Sale
Enjoy massive discounts on titles like Among Us VR and LEGO Bricktales until February 23.
PSVR 2’s First Hand-Tracked Game
Waltz Of The Wizard introduces hand tracking, showcasing impressive precision on PSVR 2 compared to Quest.
Game Updates: Behemoth and More
Skydance updated Behemoth with over 700 fixes, and Into The Radius 2 launches in early 2025. Meanwhile, newcomers disrupt the scene with multiple VR game announcements across genres.
Industry Tidbits
John Carmack’s attempt to push ID Software for community-backed versions of Doom and Quake didn’t swing. Dbrand, Crytek, and Unity made waves with unique offerings and staffing changes. Horizon Worlds expands with new avatars, and UGVR brings a universal mod for Godot.
As VR continues to innovate, partners like Prima Immersive and Aviar are enhancing experiences with high-quality content and accessible training solutions. The vibrant XR scene is brimming with opportunities, promising a dynamic future for developers and users alike.
Please consider supporting the Red Cross’s efforts in Ukraine—every contribution counts. Special thanks to my Patreon supporters for your continued encouragement.
Lastly, do explore funny VR moments and industry fun shared in this week’s roundup. Thank you for your unwavering interest and see you in the next edition.
