Returning to Italy after my incredible time at CES has been quite the transition. It’s surreal to think I attended that massive event. The trip took a toll on me physically, but my spirits are high. Experiencing CES was tremendous on every level: as a blogger, a tech enthusiast, and an entrepreneur. The excitement is still fresh as it’s the main focus of this week’s update, though there’s more happening in the tech world that’s caught my attention lately. Let’s dive into it! (Pardon the delay in sharing this newsletter; catching up after Las Vegas has been hectic…)
Top News of the Week
The XR Scene at CES
CES is undoubtedly the grand tech spectacle of the year, and seeing XR gain its own spotlight there was refreshing. Many from the XR community attended, underscoring the sector’s ongoing momentum, even if it’s still somewhat niche. The XR arena was buzzing with new smartglasses, many leveraging AI, like the Ray-Ban Meta and the ultra-compact Halliday glasses. Goertek, a leader in XR manufacturing, introduced reference designs for smart and AR glasses, likely fueling further product releases soon.
While CES didn’t unveil any groundbreaking XR news, giants like NVIDIA and Sony shared significant updates in the space during their presentations. NVIDIA announced its RTX 50 series graphics cards, promising a leap in PCVR performance. Interestingly, their premium 5090 model is priced steeply at $2000. Additionally, NVIDIA’s Geforce Now is expanding to Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, enabling mixed reality users to enjoy flat games on large virtual screens.
Sony introduced XYN, a suite of XR software and hardware aimed at creatives, though details remain sparse. They spoke about a new headset inspired by their costly enterprise model, alongside enhanced body tracking via Mocopi and simplified object digitization. It’s promising to see Sony’s dedication to XR, even if clarity is needed on how their offerings coalesce.
HDMI pushed forward with a 2.2 standard boasting a whopping 96Gb/s bandwidth. This might lure some headsets back to HDMI, given the improved throughput.
I’ve penned some preliminary takes on devices I got hands-on with at CES, including the Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K, Ray-Ban Meta, and Pimax Crystal Super—you’ll find those below. I was particularly impressed by the Play For Dream headset, and a full review is on the way. Amanda Watson shared my enthusiasm, dubbing it her best in show (meeting her for the first time was a highlight of CES for me). For those who couldn’t attend, I recorded a walkthrough of the XR section, linked below for your enjoyment. This year’s CES may not have been a groundbreaking one for XR, but it still delivered.
More details about the Sony enterprise headset, NVIDIA and AMD’s new graphics cards, and the impressive Play For Dream device can be found in the links below.
Other Relevant News
The Rise of Meta Quest 3S
I was thrilled to learn that Meta Quest 3S topped Amazon US’ 2024 console sales, not just in VR but across all gaming systems for the year! It even ranked third in overall video game sales. Despite launching in October, the Quest 3S made a significant impact.
Statistics suggest it performed extremely well over the holiday season. Besides Amazon sales figures, the Meta Horizon mobile app dominated the Apple App Store. Further, game achievement data reveals a spike in Batman Arkham Shadow’s player base around Christmas, implying a holiday sales boost for Quest 3S.
While this doesn’t signal that VR has gone mainstream, it demonstrates VR’s continued growth and appeal during festive seasons with many new headset owners joining the community.
Farewell to Meta Quest Pro
Meta has decided to cease the Quest Pro, its pioneering prosumer headset. It’s no longer available on their site, which now redirects users towards the Quest 3. However, its controllers, the Touch Pro, continue to be sold as they are compatible with other Quest models.
This news likely won’t surprise anyone. The Quest Pro, rushed to market amid Vision Pro concerns, emerged as an overhyped, overpriced product. Initially priced at $1,500, sales flopped, resulting in a rapid price cut to $1,000. Meta even resorted to giveaways. The writing has been on the wall for some time. Still, we might miss its unique features like eye and face tracking advantageous for research. With the discontinuation came rumors of an ASUS headset incorporating those very features, possibly to assure the Horizon ecosystem retains these capabilities.
More on Meta’s Quest Pro discontinuation can be found below.
News Worth Mentioning
Insightful Leaks about ASUS ROG VR Headset
Details have emerged (thanks to leaker Luna) about ASUS’s upcoming ROG VR headset. The device, codenamed Tarius, is set to feature eye and face tracking technologies and will run HorizonOS. Display options include QD-LCD with local dimming or micro OLED.
These tidbits are encouraging, marking progress in third-party Horizon headset development.
Infinite Reality Scales Up
Infinite Reality brought a stir to the XR scene by raising a monumental $3 billion for furthering immersive web content with WebXR support. The sheer volume of this funding parallels the likes of OpenAI’s finances, though it reportedly comes from a single investor. It’s a jaw-dropper and quite baffling. Why didn’t I meet this generous benefactor? Meanwhile, I’m still struggling to get anyone to buy me lunch…
Creative Steps in VR Movement
The "What The F" spotlight of the week highlights a novel research project enabling VR locomotion while lying supine. Users simulate walking with cycling motions while flat on their backs—a challenging workout for the abs. Watching, I couldn’t help but wonder, “But why?”
DotLumen’s Groundbreaking Work
On a more inspiring note, DotLumen introduced a headset designed for visually impaired users. This device scans surroundings and guides users to avoid obstacles—potentially life-changing tech for those with vision disabilities.
Sales & Development Updates
Meta has launched a promotional offer, reducing the price of the Quest 3S 256GB by $50 while bundling it with Batman Arkham Shadow. Perhaps the larger storage variant didn’t fare as well as the budget-friendly model during the holidays?
Sanzaru Games has wrapped up content for Asgard’s Wrath 2 and is pivoting to a new project poised to deliver “AWESOME stuff.” Could it be something innovative in the mixed reality space?
In content news, big things are coming our way: Stress Level Zero is bringing Boneworks to Quest 3, and Sanzaru is plotting their next blockbuster. Meanwhile, Synth Riders is rickrolling fans with an ’80s Mixtape Side B. Also, several intriguing VR games are on the horizon including Detective VR, available early next year. Have you tried the updates to titles like I Am Security lately? It’s hitting the charts!
Some Reviews about Content
- "Epyka" provides a brief yet captivating puzzle-adventure reminiscent of Myst.
- "Pirates VR: Jolly Roger" offers a vibrant experience but struggles with gameplay depth.
- "Shardfall: FitQuest VR" is a delightful fitness title, invoking a Ring Fit Adventure vibe.
- Apple Vision Pro users can delight in the “Gears & Goo” tower defense game, boasting intuitive, well-considered controls.
Other News
A nifty Reddit invention improved Oculus Touch controller performance in combat games. A game-inspired movie is underway, promising a unique adaptation of "Exit 8." Meanwhile, Road To VR handed a first look at Surreal Touch controllers and pushed the boundaries of virtual mods by integrating full-body tracking in Minecraft.
And as always, Tyriel and I collaborated at CES, and his channel is brimming with delightful XR insights—check it out!
Before wrapping up, I’ll gently nudge you to donate to help those impacted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Your generosity to the Red Cross truly makes a difference.
For more details and vibrant discussions, keep exploring the helpful links provided throughout.
Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliated, supporting my work through small commissions.
