XR Weekly Preview (April 8, 2025): Meta’s New Smartglasses Priced at $1400, Concerns Over US Tariffs, and More!

Even though the XR scene is somewhat quiet lately, April Fool’s revved things up a bit! This week, a few eyebrow-raising stories emerged, and I’ve gathered them all here to keep you in the loop on the latest XR buzz. 😊

Highlight of the Week:

Meta’s Anticipated Smartglasses Could Be as Much as $1,400

According to Bloomberg, Meta has some intriguing plans for its new smartglasses, expected to debut this year. Dubbed ‘Hypernova’, these glasses might surprise you. They’re a slightly bulkier take on the Ray-Ban Meta, featuring one display that gives visual cues to just one eye. To keep your vision clear, these prompts appear at the bottom of your view, requiring you to glance down to notice them. You can operate them via capacitive temples or a neural wristband included with the glasses. The model also promises an improved camera akin to the iPhone 13’s from 2021. By 2027, Meta plans to unveil a dual-display version—one screen per eye.

The surprising twist? These glasses won’t carry the Ray-Ban crest; instead, they’ll bear Meta branding. This might puzzle some, given the popularity of the Ray-Ban style, while ‘Meta’ doesn’t have the same desired fashion appeal. This branding shift eliminates key success drivers of the Ray-Ban Meta—namely, its recognizable brand image and Essilor Luxottica’s distribution network. Adding to the shake-up is the price, projected between $1,000-$1,400. That’s quite steep for glasses primarily used for viewing notifications and capturing insights from everyday life—not exactly a device people are eager to invest heavily in, unlike say, an Apple device.

Who’d splash that kind of cash on such tech? Probably just die-hard Meta supporters and tech enthusiasts, curious developers, and early adopters. However, here’s the catch: the limited app ecosystem, curated by Meta, suggests it’s not meant as a tool for developer experimentation.

I’d hope this report isn’t entirely correct (always sensible to take these leaks with skepticism) because it’s otherwise hard to see who this product is aimed at. Photography and filming fans can stick with standard Ray-Ban Meta offerings, developers could seek out more accessible smartglasses options (like those from Brilliant Labs), and consumers after notification quick-views can grab a smartwatch—all for less than the cost of Hypernova.

For further insights, check out these additional sources: Road To VR, Upload VR, Forbes.

Other Noteworthy Tidbits:

April Fool’s Day Stirs XR Landscape:

This year, a range of companies and individuals jumped into the April Fool’s fun. Some highlights include: my Decagear announcement; a video from Sebastian Ang (MRTV) proclaiming himself Pimax’s new CEO; Synapse 2’s announced arrival exclusively on Google Cardboard by nDreams; and a sneak peek at futuristic tech by Voodoo DE. Razer’s comedic twist was also on point with their purported Razer Skibidi—translating phrases into Gen Z lingo—a handy tool for adults amid Gorilla Tag’s youthful chaos.

Want a laugh? Here’s a selection of the year’s quirkiest pranks: Decagear Launch, Sebastian Ang at Pimax, VooDoo DE Sneak Peek, Synapse 2 for Google Cardboard.

Potential Price Hikes Ahead Due to U.S. Tariffs:

Monday marked a grim moment for global markets due to fresh U.S. tariffs. It’s unclear if these are long-term or strategic bargaining chips. Should they stay, electronics, including XR headsets, could see a cost surge. Components sourced from Asia will mean a pricier bill of materials (BOM), very likely impacting consumer prices, potentially pushing costs to $500 for items such as the Quest 3S once Meta empties its current stock.

VR headsets, being non-essential luxuries, hinge on affordability. Quest 2’s success came from its budget-friendly price tag versus its value, yet XR hasn’t hit full mainstream acceptance. Price rises could slow sales, stymie our stagnant field, and further postpone XR recovery.

In short: let’s hope this is a storm that quickly passes. Thanks to Rob Cole for sourcing some of these links: Tariffs Impact, Computer Market Effects, Chip Tariff Speculation.

News Worth Noting:

Apple has adorned its Vision Pro with the 2.4 version of VisionOS, which adds:

• An expanded rollout of Apple Intelligence for tasks like proofreading and image generation.
• Spatial Gallery, a collection of striking immersive photos and videos.
• A Companion App for Vision Pro, seemingly validating Meta’s earlier prognostications.
• Enhanced guest settings configurable via the Companion app, along with improved streaming implementation.

For details: VisionOS 2.4 Road To VR, Upload VR coverage.

The Quest Quandary: Success and Struggles:

The Quest ecosystem is living in a paradoxical state; some analytics suggest soaring successes, while others herald decline. Gorilla Tag and I Am Cat are smashing records. Meanwhile, Animal Company has breached the 100K mark on the Quest Store, poised to perhaps surpass Gorilla Tag itself.

Nevertheless, diminishing sales figures and layoffs continue to shadow the scene. GDC data from Meta indicates a static $2B figure spent on Horizon Store—an unchanged statistic since a year ago. This stalemate potentially reflects recent pivots towards a younger audience favoring free-to-play models.

Findings here: Quest Sales Plateau, Successful Quest Titles, Animal Company Triumph.

Nintendo Labo Won’t Jibe with Switch 2:

Much chatter surrounds the Nintendo Switch 2, but for XR buffs, one tidbit is a damper: the new device’s larger screen means the original Nintendo Labo accessary won’t fit. And disappointedly, Nintendo shows no signs of releasing a compatible Labo edition.

More Info: Link.

Developing Quest Add-Ons and PSVR 2 Eye Tracking for PC:

An industrious developer, “whatdahopper”, devised a hack unlocking PSVR 2 eye-tracking on PC. iVRy, known for its PSVR 2 to PC adapter, is on a parallel quest, with both teams in collaboration. Success here could make PSVR 2 the most cost-effective eye-tracking headset, a boon to VRChat aficionados, researchers, and specialists keen on foveated rendering.

For more details: Eye Tracking on PC, iVRy’s Progress.

Quest Devs’ Surprising Camera Hacks:

Quest developers continuously push boundaries, introducing awe-inspiring camera manipulation. Check out the latest innovations:

• A demo animating environments into boxed visions.
• A tool that constructs rough 3D voxel models of scanned items.
• Ball-tracking tech, spotlighting Quest’s potential in spatial reality.
• A mixed reality drone prototype capable of autonomous photography, leveraging a webcam for user visibility.

Delve into these demos: Voxelization Demo, 3D Object Scan, Ball Tracking, MR Drone Demo.

Haptic Advancements: A New Frontier:

Recent research presents a novel synthetic skin, offering comprehensive haptic feedback. Tested on fingertips, it sports inflatable nodes producing pressure simulations of various skin contact points. An extraordinary breakthrough, although practical applications are a ways off.

More Info: Technology Details.

Ruff Talk VR Showcase Spotlight:

Ruff Talk VR orchestrated a vibrant VR gaming showcase, spotlighting noteworthy indie titles and news:

• Civilization VII VR, exclusive to Quest 3 & 3S, debuts April 10 at $60.
• Velociblaster, where you become armed velociraptors, is now wishlist-ready on Quest.
• Train Sim World transitions into VR for $32, offering an authentic train operation experience.
• "Township Tale" studio teases "REAVE," a thrilling dungeon-crawler.
• Bearly Escape, a puzzle-solving delight, launches May 1 for $14.99 on SteamVR and Quest 3.
• Exer Gale, an agile arcade racer, enters Early Access on Quest this June.
• Manage horses like never before in Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition, landing April 17.
• An ambitious project is recreating Half-Life: Alyx on Quest 3—a loving tribute with an early-access scene available for sideloading (kudos to Rob Cole for the scoop).

Discover more: Civilization VII, Velociblaster, Train Sim World, REAVE, Bearly Escape, Exer Gale, Horse Racing VR, Half-Life Alyx Project.

Reviews and Impressions:

Pinball FX VR delivers a true-to-life pinball sensation with an impressive array of machines. Its mixed reality mode virtually transforms your space into a vibrant arcade—how fun is that?

Wanderer: Fragments Of Fate packs compelling puzzles with much potential. Some refinements, namely with combat mechanics and bugs, would elevate it further.

Upload VR praises the new Hitman World Of Assassination for PSVR 2 as a standout title, validating its acclaim.

Reviews: Pinball FX VR Details, Wanderer Game Review, Hitman VR Review.

In Other News:

• ACE collaborates with SIG SAUER for a Quest controller emulating a genuine gun’s form and heft. Details.
• Sandbox VR’s Squid Game VR experience hit over $30 million in ticket sales. Full Story.
• Don Hopper gives a favorable review of the Mocopi Pro tracking set post-GDC. Read More.
• Virtual Desktop now supports Mac-based virtual monitors, showcasing remarkable quality. Full Scoop.
• Modern kids reportedly endure less motion sickness than adults, a study finds. Study Details.
• A major milestone for HTC, celebrating nine years of Vive. Happy Anniversary! Celebration Link.

Partner and Colleague News:

Introducing a New XR Testing Service:

I’ve been approached by “Mixed Reality Tech,” a new venture from an experienced XR entrepreneur. They offer XR application testing services, channeling a QA team you can hire on-demand to evaluate your app on various headsets, identifying fixes needed. Should you require such services, consider reaching out. More Info.

XR Amusements:

• Discover how a 96° FOV might conquer motion sickness once and for all. Laugh Here.
• Imagine if human beings ran on LLM prompts. Grin Here.
• Peek into my future with this speculative gag. Chuckle Here.
• Learn the one-step secret to distinguishing a Terminator from a human. Smile Here.

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(List of Patreon donors here)

Here’s where you can lend a hand: Support The Red Cross in Ukraine.

(Header image by Razer)

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