The XR Weekly Roundup (02/25/2025): Potential Sale of Pokémon Go by Niantic, Meta Launches $50M Creator Fund for Horizon Worlds, and More!

A fresh week greets us with some intriguing news from the XR world!

Highlight of the Week

Niantic Ponders Sale of Gaming Division

In a surprising turn of events reported by Bloomberg, Niantic is reportedly in discussions with Scopely, owned by Saudi Arabia, about selling its gaming division for a hefty $3.5 billion. For those not quite in the loop, this suggests Pokemon Go could soon change hands. Despite its initial hype dwindling, Pokemon Go continues to generate substantial revenue thanks to its loyal fanbase. However, Niantic hasn’t been able to mirror this success with its other ventures, like their short-lived Harry Potter AR title. It’s perplexing that a company might sell off its flagship product, which not only brings in capital but also valuable data to refine their AR tech. Analysts believe Niantic aims to pivot towards constructing an "outdoor metaverse," banking on AR services and potentially powering AR headsets in the future. The sale could fund this vision, despite the inherent risks of parting with its primary revenue stream. While this means Niantic is fully committing to AR, betting on an anticipated AR surge in the coming years is indeed a bold move.

Other Significant Updates

Meta Bolsters Horizon Worlds with $50M Creator Fund

Meta has unveiled a $50 million fund aimed at incentivizing creators on their Horizon Worlds platform. This fund will provide monthly bonuses to creators making significant contributions, taking into account engagement and purchases within their VR worlds. Additionally, Meta has launched a contest with substantial prizes, encouraging even more creative development on the platform. The ambition doesn’t stop there—tools for creating within Horizon Worlds are becoming more robust. The new desktop editor offers functionalities reminiscent of game engines like Unity, thus enhancing world creation possibilities. However, the timing of this initiative has raised eyebrows. The constant promotion of Horizon Worlds comes amid widespread frustration among XR developers, who feel overshadowed, reducing visibility on the store.

Moreover, rather than inviting project pitches that could ensure fairer opportunities for developers, Meta’s approach means creators gamble on success before seeing any financial return. Critics argue this echoes a tantalizing yet precarious setup like that of platforms such as Roblox. Despite these challenges, any support that boosts creator motivation and vitality in virtual ecosystems is seen as positive progress.

XR Industry’s Ongoing Challenges

This period has been marked by turbulence across the XR landscape, with layoffs and developer visibility woes persisting. Nonetheless, stories of triumph offer a silver lining. Here’s a brief rundown:

• Embracer Group announced that “Metro Awakening” did not meet financial expectations, despite good sales and reviews.
• Toast Interactive faced downsizing due to marketing challenges with their game “Max Mustard.”
• Reddit discussions highlight recurring dissatisfaction with content discoverability on the Horizon Store.
• Schell Games is expanding “Among Us VR” to flatscreen devices, reflecting a strategic shift to grow its user base.
• On a brighter note, 3R Games celebrated selling over 310,000 units of “Thief Simulator VR,” affirming potential for prosperity amid adversity.

Meta Connect 2025 Dates Revealed

Meta Connect is slated for September 17-18 this year. While a Quest 4 launch is off the table, expect updates on new smart glasses and partnerships on Horizon headsets. Notably, AI will have its separate extravaganza, LlamaCon.

News Highlights

• Palmer Luckey’s Military Headset: In a chat with Shawn Ryan, Palmer Luckey shared insights on his groundbreaking headset designed specifically for military needs, touting its revolutionary specs.

• Meta’s MR Shift: Meta’s latest terminology shift now involves using "MR" as a more encompassing term for both mixed and virtual reality, sparking debate over its implications and logic.

• DisplayPort Surprise in Meta Quest v74: The Quest’s latest runtime introduces “DisplayPort” not for PC connectivity, but enabling high-quality displays for third-party monitors.

Upcoming and Current Releases

• Detective VR and Silent North are gearing up for releases, promising immersive experiences.
• Gorilla Tag’s studio introduces early access to their new game, Orion Drift.
• VR parkour title Pixel Arcade is now available, while Pinball FX VR is set to launch on April 3rd. Plus, a host of fresh content from other developers promises an exciting year ahead.

For more information on these stories and more, don’t miss the detailed mentions and links provided.

As always, the XR landscape remains dynamic and full of both hurdles and breakthroughs. Amidst these changes, supporting creators and fostering innovation across the board will hopefully lead to a vibrant future for immersive technologies.