As we bid farewell to the year, it’s that reflective time when we look back and ponder the events of the past twelve months. I’ve penned a couple of deep dive articles about what 2024 was like for me in the XR space. They’re filled with insights, so if you haven’t checked them out yet, please do. In one article, I recount my experiences at various XR events throughout the year, while the other examines the XR landscape in 2024—both its upsides and pitfalls. Besides catching up on my reflections and today’s news highlights, I hope you also take a moment to celebrate the year’s end with your loved ones. Here’s to an incredible 2025! 🙂
This Week’s Headlines
Bricked Meta Quest Headsets Over Christmas
The v72 update from Meta Quest has reportedly rendered some headsets unusable. This notably hit devices needing cumulative updates due to delayed installations. Affected users were met with a boot screen indicating a corrupted device with no recovery option. This glitch was especially distressing over Christmas, as many headsets served as holiday gifts. Initially, there was considerable online outrage as Meta’s response lagged, partially due to the holiday season staff absences. Customer service initially declined to assist out-of-warranty devices, but after extensive user complaints, Meta acknowledged the bug, fixed the issue in updates, and guided users on how to restore their devices, even extending support to out-of-warranty devices. Those still affected can now request a complimentary Quest 3S replacement with some Horizon Store credits. Meta managed to address the problem, although they might want to avoid rolling out significant updates around festive breaks in the future—a lesson tech managers typically heed.
Pimax’s New Dream Air Compact Headset
Pimax has unveiled yet another device—the Dream Air. Unlike their usual bulky designs aimed at a wide FOV, Dream Air is compact and competes with BigScreen Beyond, Visor, and MeganeX. What makes it stand out is its features like hand tracking, eye tracking, automatic IPD adjustment, and a unique self-adjusting strap for comfort. An external puck, known as Cobb, can be attached to function as a semi-standalone device powered by a Snapdragon XR2 chip and a battery.
The device boasts impressive specs with dual micro-OLED displays, an eye-popping resolution, and a 102° field of view. Pimax plans to release Dream Air by mid-2025 at $1900, which includes a peculiar upfront payment linked to a "two-year subscription.” The headset’s announcement stirred mixed reactions in the community, with some praising it while others question the constant new launches. Pimax’s strategy seems to capitalize on market excitement by launching intricate devices, often with more features and aggressive pricing, capturing attention away from competitors. It’s a bold tactic typical of competitive markets, helping Pimax offer devices like the Pimax Crystal Light, which is highly valued for its price.
There’s speculation Dream Air might rival the MeganeX SuperLight 8K gaining attention. It’s a test for Pimax targeting a market more interested in clarity and comfort than just FOV. Let’s see if they can stick to their timeline and deliver this product successfully.
Meta’s Future Ray-Ban Glasses
Meta is reportedly enhancing its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses by adding a display to showcase notifications and AI interactions. There were earlier indications of Meta’s interest in integrating displays into smart glasses, but initial resistance from Luxottica highlighted bulk concerns. If these updates proceed under Luxottica’s banner, it could leverage their vast distribution channels effectively.
Exciting Announcements at CES
Next week marks the start of CES, one of the largest tech events worldwide, and I’ll be there in person! Some XR-related unveilings are already anticipated, with Sony promising to "Create Infinite Realities" and DPVR teasing a new mysterious product. NVIDIA might also reveal the RTX 50 series. With so much happening at the event, expect a fun, tech-filled week and stay tuned for exclusive insights from my experience there.
Noteworthy Mentions
Meta Horizon App’s Holiday Success
The Meta Horizon app, essential for Quest headset configuration, has once again topped download charts during the holiday season, reflecting strong Quest sales. This marks the third consecutive year of such performance, signaling a positive outlook for Meta.
Pico’s SecureMR Privacy Solution
Pico’s new SecureMR solution promises passthrough analysis with complete user privacy. By allowing developers to deploy ML models with rendering logic, SecureMR enables privacy-preserving features. Though too restrictive for developers desiring full camera access, it’s a technical marvel for consumer headsets fostering privacy.
Magic Leap One’s Imminent Shutdown
Magic Leap is set to disable related servers, which will render Magic Leap One headsets nonfunctional. This marks a sad end for users who invested thousands in the device, with previous experiences now at risk of being lost forever.
Global Access to LiDAR Data
Recently, the Tokyo municipality released a point cloud of the city publicly. In a viral tweet, it was noted that similar LiDAR initiatives exist in other countries, offering accessible data despite varying accuracy—a boon for businesses in VPS or digital twin sectors.
Road To VR’s Game Picks of the Year
The team at Road To VR has announced their game selections for the year. Unsurprisingly, Batman: Arkham Shadow topped the Quest game list; the rest offers some intriguing choices.
Fanatical’s VR Game Bundles
Check out Fanatical’s "Build Your Own Quest VR Bundle Winter Edition," where you can get two games for $17.99 or up to seven games for $59.99, featuring a collection of engaging titles at a substantial discount.
Content Updates
Warpfrog, known for Blade & Sorcery, is working on a new game focusing on physics-based interactions. "Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable" released its complete edition, receiving varied reactions. Meanwhile, Game Night emerges as an exciting local multiplayer for Quest, blending brain games with physical challenges!
Other Developments
Samsung’s upcoming XR headset will feature Google’s Find My Device. Additionally, it was discovered that when you turn on the Quest, what seems like a video is actually a real-time rendered 3D animation.
Partner Updates and Greetings
Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a wonderful time with your cherished ones! For a sprinkle of festive joy, check out this enchanting holiday link.
XR Humor
AI isn’t the only thing hitting walls; check out this delightful and humorously tangled web of XR-related fun.
Charitable Acts
In the spirit of these festive times, I encourage you to support those affected by conflicts. Join me in contributing to the Red Cross’s efforts in Ukraine through the link below. A warm thank you to all my Patreon supporters—you’re the reason this blog continues to thrive! 😊
Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image by Pimax)
This blog features advertisements and affiliate links that support its sustenance. If you make a purchase through some of these links, I may earn a small commission, for which I’ll be truly grateful. My full disclosure is available here.
