March is wrapping up with a flourish, the sun is shining, and I’ve just finished a big project, making it the perfect time to dive into some of the week’s most intriguing AR and VR news. Plus, we can’t ignore all the buzz around "Studio Ghibli" AI—gotta mention that too!
This Week’s Highlights
First up, reports from Korean magazine ETNews suggest that Samsung might be gearing up to launch XR glasses before the year ends. While it’s uncertain if these are AR glasses or just smartglasses, there’s buzz about their comfort and built-in cameras and sensors that track the user or surroundings. They’re going by the codename Haen, which means "coast" in Korean—a nod to either their design or origin. With whispers of XR glasses circulating for a while now, it’s clear Samsung is stirring up something big. If both Project Moohan (their MR headset) and Haen hit the market this year, 2025 might just be Samsung’s grand return to XR with style.
Switching gears, smartphone giant Vivo has announced its foray into mixed reality with its Vision headset. While details are scarce aside from the exterior design—strikingly similar to the Vision Pro’s look—the official debut is set for mid-2025. It’s exciting to see yet another heavyweight joining the XR competition.
On the Meta front, an interesting tidbit has surfaced from Chris Pruett’s GDC talk, now summarized on the Meta blog. It appears that more mainstream adults are using the Quest for media and entertainment rather than gaming. These individuals, mostly men in their 30s, who are less about hardcore gaming and more into high-fidelity media consumption, treat their headsets as premium TVs. This evolving demographic could become key players by 2027, contrasting the premium gamers Meta typically targets. This shift hints that the upcoming Quest 4 could see enhancements geared toward movie enthusiasts, putting it head-to-head with Apple’s Vision Pro initiatives.
Apple’s big reveal, WWDC, will take place on June 9th. Anticipation is mounting for the unveiling of visionOS 3, expected to bring exciting new features to Vision Pro.
Pimax has announced that their high-resolution, wide-FOV Crystal Super headset will start shipping on April 7, which promises some much-anticipated tech for enthusiasts.
And don’t miss out on Sony’s PlayStation Spring Sale—it runs till April 23, featuring thousands of games, including over 60 PlayStation VR2 titles. A perfect chance to snag some deals!
In WebXR news, The Polys celebrated its fifth anniversary by honoring the best WebXR content, spotlighting a technology steadily on the rise despite being somewhat immature. Kudos to the team behind this important event.
On the Horizon with Valve: An editorial penned by David Heaney questions Valve’s passive stance on XR content since its last major release, Alyx, five years ago. Despite having the resources and benefiting from game sales on Steam, Valve hasn’t pushed forward with VR content, raising eyebrows even within the forgiving gaming community.
Cool creative endeavors using newly available Quest camera access showcase the innovative ways developers are pushing boundaries, from manipulating real-world elements to dynamic lighting adjustments.
Exciting Content Developments
ILM and Lucasfilm have teased Star Wars fans with the announcement of Star Wars: Beyond Victory, set in the "Solo: A Star Wars Story" era, exclusively for Quest and Quest 3S. Meanwhile, Hitman World of Assassination, now available as a PS VR2 DLC, has received positive feedback. Unfortunately, the anticipated System Shock 2 VR has been canceled by Meta, alongside other VR projects. Moreover, RoboCop: Streets of Anarchy isn’t coming either, due to rights issues.
Here’s more: HARD BULLET and Orion Drift are getting new content and updates, and exciting launches are on the horizon for other popular VR titles, including Avatar: The Last Airbender-inspired Elements Divided and dystopian RPG Resist.
Exploring reviews, titles like Pinball FX VR and Final Fury are hailed for their immersive and engaging experiences, promising a bit of everything for VR enthusiasts.
Other Noteworthy Tidbits
Infinite Reality’s acquisition of Napster for a colossal $200 million aims to build a social music platform, hinting at virtual concerts. Meanwhile, Cyan, creators behind iconic Myst, have had to lay off half their team, showing that the tech world has its fair share of ups and downs.
For XR professionals, Jamie Feltham offered insightful predictions on the XR store’s future landscape, spotlighting potential shifts in purchasing ecosystems. And GDC’s showcase of the craziest control schemes is worth a look!
Fun and Generosity
In lighter news, a few humorous links highlight why it’s maybe best not to bestow humanity upon robots. And ending on a heartfelt note, if you’re able, please consider supporting the Red Cross to aid those affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Thank you to all Patreon supporters who continue to fuel the passion for sharing valuable insights and updates within our community. Together, we can make a difference globally and celebrate the wonders of innovation.
For those eager to explore further, you can check out Chrono Craft, an innovative immersive experience currently operating in Beijing, China.
(Header image by Vivo)
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