The XR Weekly Overview (January 21, 2025): XR Season Continues, Windows 11 Ends WMR Support, and More!

I can definitely vouch for the infamous CES sickness—it sticks around long after the event wraps up. But hey, nothing’s going to stop me from bringing you the latest in XR, right? So here’s a roundup of XR news I’m sure you’ll enjoy!

This Week’s Big Stories

XR’s Challenging Season Continues

Right now, immersive realities are going through some turbulent times. The market remains sluggish, making it tough to conduct business. While we’re all optimistic about the future of AR/VR, the current reality is that these technologies are still quite niche. I’ve touched on this topic in a previous article where I examined the state of our field.

This past week, more events reinforced my previous insights:

• The team behind PowerWash Simulator VR announced they’re halting updates after just 14 months, as development costs outweigh revenue.
• Soul Assembly, creators of Drop Dead: The Cabin and Just Dance VR, is laying off 15% of their staff.
• An analysis from Omdia and Sensor Tower noted a 27% drop in downloads of the Meta Horizon app on Christmas Day 2024 compared to 2023. This suggests that the VR holiday bump wasn’t as pronounced this year. It may partly be due to Quest 2 users not seeing a compelling reason to upgrade to a Quest 3 or 3S, and similar trends were noted during Black Friday sales on Amazon.
• Counterpoint research shows a 4% dip in the global VR market in Q3 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
• Ex-Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida admitted to being "sorry" for his misplaced optimism regarding PS VR2.
• The F.Reality podcast, after a solid seven-year run, is signing off.

Given these developments, Blair Renaud, the creative mind behind LOW-FI, expressed his concerns on X about the current state and future uncertainties he feels as a developer. Sadly, he’s not alone in this sentiment.

But let’s not lose hope entirely—there’s some good news:

• Forbes published a piece highlighting how the metaverse is becoming a social hub for younger generations, overtaking traditional social media.
• Counterpoint’s analysis also noted that Apple Vision Pro’s shipments exceeded IDC’s expectations, particularly internationally. If these shipments reflect sales, then Apple’s initial projections might be accurate.
• Beat Saber is on track to hit 10 million copies sold on Quest.

The reality? The upcoming years will likely be challenging for the industry. At CES, I saw little to suggest a change in the current AR/VR technology trends, except perhaps with smartglasses. I included the positive news here to remind you—and me—that there’s hope. It’ll take time, but things will improve. Our mission now is simple: keep going.

More Headlines You Need to Know

Microsoft is Pushing the Windows 11 24H2 Update

It’s happening—Microsoft has started forcing the infamous 24H2 update on all machines it can, particularly those running Home versions. This affects our XR community because this update removes support for Mixed Reality from Windows 11, essentially turning Windows Mixed Reality headsets into expensive ornaments. Though there are some workaround options for those with pro versions or enterprise setups, it’s not as simple for Home users. Many virtual hugs to the WMR device users facing this change.

ASUS Teases AirVision M1 Glasses with New Trailer

ASUS just dropped a slick new trailer for its AirVision M1 smart glasses. While these aren’t new—they were first talked about during CES 2024—I stumbled across them and thought you’d be interested. The AirVision M1 glasses offer a virtual screen in your view, boasting 1100 nits brightness, 60% lens transparency, TÜV Rheinland certification, and built-in speakers. They’re compatible with Windows PCs and Rog Ally handheld consoles, weighing just 87g. These smart glasses can create a virtual multi-screen environment. They’re priced at $700, slightly above the $600 XREAL One Pro.

Quick News Hits

Palmer Luckey Teases New VR Announcement

Blair Renaud’s gripes prompted an intriguing response from Palmer Luckey, who hinted at announcing something new soon, perhaps a military-focused VR headset he hinted at previously or something else entirely novel. I’m eager to see what he’s got up his sleeve.

Somnium Space’s Price Hike on Headsets

The complexities of high-quality headset production have pushed Somnium Space to hike their prices by €5–700. The new costs are as follows:

• Somnium VR1 Visionary Edition: €3000 + VAT
• Somnium VR1 Titan Edition: €3400 + VAT
• Somnium VR1 Ultimate Edition: €4300 + VAT

Meta Unveils High-Efficiency Red MicroLED

Meta and Plessey have jointly announced the development of what they call "the world’s brightest" red microLED display for AR glasses, delivering 6 million nits with minimal power usage—a breakthrough for AR tech, especially significant because red displays are traditionally less efficient than blue and green.

Chess with Ray-Ban Meta Glasses

In an innovative demo, young developers Caden Li and Eddy Xu enhanced chess games using Ray-Ban Meta glasses. These smart specs collaborate with AI to suggest moves, turning anyone into a chess master. This project showcases the amazing potential when AI and smart glasses unite. Here’s hoping for more open, programmable smart glasses in the future.

VR Propelling a Sports Career

Quarterback Jayden Daniels became a sports sensation with the Washington Commanders, and his success partly credits VR training. His story further proves VR’s valuable role in professional sports training.

Content and Reviews Roundup

• New Releases: GRIM has entered early access on Quest and SteamVR, promising an exhilarating survival experience. TableCraft offers a playful VR sandbox available on Quest, and Lovesick debuts on Meta Quest headsets on March 6.

• Upcoming Titles: Rogue Piñatas: VRmageddon drops on Quest February 6, with a Steam version this spring, and Firewall Ultra on PSVR 2 even received an update despite its studio’s closure last year.

• Reviews:
  • Iron Rebellion was celebrated for its immersive mech simulation.
  • Arken Age stands out with lively visuals and satisfying combat.
  • Assetto Corsa EVO’s early access is rough around the edges.
  • The Thrill Of The Fight 2 offers a fresh multiplayer boxing experience.
  • Human Within could serve as a cautionary tale for story-driven games.

For further details on any of these stories, feel free to dive in with the links provided.

Plus, More News and Noteworthy Mentions

• Meta took away the app that showed achievements in the headset, much to the disappointment of both developers and users.
• The LED by Quest 3S cameras stirred up some curiosity.

Immerse yourself in intriguing find: affordable, AR-glass-equipped Nintendo Switch experimentation by Michael Gschwandtner.

Partner News: Dive into the Musical Metaverse

Join an exciting musical metaverse workshop at the IEEE International Symposium in Italy this month. This event explores the intersection of musical XR and networking technologies. If your work aligns with these themes, submitting a paper might set the stage for valuable connections.

XR Fun, Humor, and Heartwarming Causes

A delightful mix of XR humor, from Meta hardware jokes to futuristic QA test speculations, are waiting for you. Plus, I urge all readers to consider donating to the Red Cross to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, a cause we’re giving special attention to this week. A big thanks to all my Patreon backers for their continued support.

You can find donation details below:

Support the Red Cross in Ukraine

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That’s all for this week’s XR news. Stay tuned for more updates, and until next time, keep exploring the infinite possibilities of XR!