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

While the XR landscape might not be bustling with activity at the moment, this week brought a bit of amusement thanks to April Fool’s Day, which stirred up the ecosystem! There were also some noteworthy developments, and I’m here to wrap up all the key happenings in XR for you—ensuring you stay in the loop with everything you need to know. 🙂

Highlights of the Week

Meta’s Upcoming Smartglasses Could Be Pricey, Topping $1400

According to Bloomberg, Meta’s plans for its forthcoming smartglasses, set for release this year, might surprise you. Among the new models is one codenamed Hypernova—a bulkier Ray-Ban Meta version equipped with a single display for visual info in one eye. To avoid crowding your view, these visuals are positioned lower in your field of vision, requiring a downward glance to see them. You can control these glasses through capacitive touch temples or the accompanying neural wristband. A camera upgrade is also slated, akin to the iPhone 13 from 2021. Meta eyes a 2027 launch for a version with two displays (one for each eye), aligning with previous expectations of an evolutionary step for Meta’s smartglasses.

However, there’s a twist. The new glasses won’t carry the iconic Ray-Ban brand but will sport Meta’s branding. Considering the stylish appeal of Ray-Ban and the lesser allure of Meta’s branding, this move is puzzling. It undercuts key success drivers of Ray-Ban Meta: the stylish branding and Essilor Luxottica’s distribution network. The report further indicates a staggering cost between $1000 to $1400—a hefty price for glasses without essential functions, primarily offering notification views and media capture, without an undeniable reason to warrant such spending unless perhaps it bore the Apple logo.

Beyond Meta fans and hardcore tech enthusiasts, these glasses might appeal primarily to developers keen on exploring new hardware or gaining an early edge. Surprisingly, it’s not a traditional developer kit; app offerings are curated by Meta. So even developers might not be enticed. Let’s hope this report misses the mark (as always, such reports need skepticism), as it’s hard to see who would be eager to buy this device. Enthusiasts can turn to existing Ray-Ban Meta for media ventures, open smartglasses for development, or simply settle for a smartwatch for notifications—all potentially costing less than Hypernova.

More information:

• Hypernova glasses insights: Road To VR
• Hypernova glasses details: Upload VR
• Hypernova glasses report: Forbes

Other Noteworthy News

April Fool’s Fun in the XR Sphere

This year saw an upsurge in April Fool’s antics across the XR landscape! To recap: I jokingly introduced the Decagear, while MRTV’s Sebastian Ang claimed Pimax’s CEO position in jest. Ndreams teased Synapse 2 for Google Cardboard; Voodoo DE previewed a whimsically futuristic gadget. Beyond XR, the tech world joined the fun. Razer’s humorous debut of the Razer Skibidi—a headset translating conversation for Gen Z—was a standout sketch, something parents engaging with screeching kids in Gorilla Tag might find amusingly practical.

More on April Fool’s Amusements:

• Decagear and Pimax CEO spoof
• VooDoo DE’s whimsical preview
• Synapse 2 for Google Cardboard ruse
• VRCDN’s fictional legal battle
• Walkabout Minigolf’s Puppeteering prank
• Top tech jokes of 2025, featuring Razer Skibidi

Potential Impact of New US Tariffs on Headset Prices

With the introduction of new tariffs by the USA, a ‘black Monday’ descends upon worldwide stock exchanges. The situation remains fluid, and it’s unclear if these tariffs are here to stay, or a strategic maneuver for trade leverage. If persistent, these tariffs could impact electronic gadgets, notably XR headsets. US companies sourcing parts or manufacturing in Asia might face increased BOM costs, potentially leading to higher consumer prices, like a $500 Quest 3S price post existing stock depletion.

VR headsets, being luxury gadgets rather than essentials, are price-sensitive. The success of Quest 2 and Quest 3 rests partly on their affordability. Should prices rise, sales might plummet, slowing XR adoption further during an already stagnant period. Let’s hope this is a passing phase, or it could spell trouble for all of us.

Further Reading:

• Tariff-induced XR headset impacts
• Computers’ market strains from tariffs
• Future chip tariffs likelihood

Notable Mentions

Apple Rolls Out Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro

Vision Pro’s VisionOS version 2.4 introduces compelling features:

• Apple Intelligence deploying tools like text proofreading, summarization, and image editing
• The Spatial Gallery with curated immersive images and videos
• A companion app for Vision Pro, echoing Meta’s earlier predictions
• Enhanced guest features, allowing Vision Pro owners to configure guest modes via the app and activate content mirroring.

Quest’s Contradictory Trends

The Quest landscape is in a paradox. Some metrics show vibrancy, yet others point to stagnation. Games like Gorilla Tag and I Am Cat are major successes. Animal Company has hit $100K in Quest Store revenues, and its popularity is soaring. Conversely, some developers report shrinking market share and industry layoffs are not uncommon. Moreover, Meta’s disclosure of $2B in Horizon Store spending (unchanged in a year) suggests a slowdown in Quest revenue—a likely outcome of an influx of kids enjoying free-to-play gaming.

Nintendo Labo Won’t be Compatible with Switch 2

The highly-discussed Nintendo Switch 2 presents a drawback for XR fans: the new, larger display size renders the previous Nintendo Labo accessory incompatible. Presently, Nintendo has no plans to release a new Labo to accompany the upgraded console.

Eye-Tracking Innovations for PSVR 2 on PC

The developer "whatdahopper" has prototyped reading PSVR 2 eye-tracking data on a PC. Collaborating with iVRy—the developer of a known PSVR 2 PC adapter—they intend to make PSVR 2 an affordable eye-tracking headset option. This development could benefit VRChat aficionados and research centers interested in eye interaction studies.

Explore More:

• PSVR 2 eye-tracking for PC breakthroughs
• iVRy’s similar ventures

Quest Developers’ Exciting Camera Access Work

The Quest dev community continues to surprise with visionary projects involving camera access. Explore these feats:

• A demo voxelizing surrounding spaces
• A prototype scanning 3D models from physical objects for Quest
• A user tracking a ball physically while wearing Quest
• A mixed reality drone project enabling self-photography—employing a webcam for drone viewing.

Fascinating Projects:

• Voxelization demo
• 3D object scanning
• Ball tracking with Quest
• Mixed reality drone photography

Progress in Haptic Feedback Technology

A notable research initiative introduces a thin synthetic skin providing haptic feedback. Designed for fingertips, this skin inflates to simulate varied points of external object contact. While intriguing, it’s not market-ready yet.

More on the Subject:

• Thin haptic skin technology insights

Ruff Talk VR Gaming Showcase’s Prominent Role

Ruff Talk VR, a YouTube channel, has successfully hosted a VR gaming showcase, spotlighting various indie VR games. Below are some highlights from their event, with links to view the full showcase included.

Further Details:

• Civilization VII VR’s exclusive April 10 Quest 3 and 3S launch at $60
• Velociblaster—an armed velociraptors multiplayer game—now wishlistable on Quest
• Train Sim World debuts on Quest for $32, a VR train-driving firsthand experience
• “Township Tale” creators tease REAVE, a new dungeon-crawler extraction game
• Bearly Escape, an early access claw-machine puzzle game, to launch May 1st on SteamVR and Quest 3 for $14.99
• Exer Gale, an arcade racer, entering Quest Early Access this June
• Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition hitting Steam and Quest on April 17
• A recreation of Half-Life: Alyx for Quest 3 underway—the project’s vast ambition manifests in its first scene, available via sideloadable APK.

Dive Deeper:

• Civilization VII developments
• Velociblaster wishlist availability
• Train Sim World VR release
• REAVE game insights
• Bearly Escape market entry
• Exer Gale early access
• Rival Stars Horse Racing launch
• Quest’s Half-Life: Alyx homage

Community Reviews on Recent Releases

Pinball FX VR offers an impressive pinball experience with a variety of machines. Its mixed reality mode, letting players set machines room-like an arcade, adds a unique element.

Wanderer: Fragments Of Fate stands as a thoughtful puzzle game with vast potential, albeit glitch and bug issues mar the experience.

Upload VR’s review affirms the worthiness of Hitman World of Assassination for PSVR 2 as a solid gaming choice.

Critical Reviews:

• Pinball FX VR overall experience
• Pinball FX VR machines’ diversity
• Wanderer Fragments Of Fate insights
• Hitman World Of Assassination for PSVR 2 overview

Additional News Tidbits

• ACE and SIG SAUER’s Quest controller replicating real-gun shape and weight
• Squid Game VR excelling at Sandbox VR with over $30M in ticket sales
• Don Hopper praises Mocopi Pro tracking set in GDC coverage
• Virtual Desktop’s new feature for Mac virtual monitors
• Study reveals modern kids’ lesser susceptibility to motion sickness
• HTC celebrates 9-year Vive anniversary

For More Insight:

• Quest’s ACE and SIG SAUER partnership
• Squid Game VR experience sales success
• Mocopi Pro tracking at GDC review
• Virtual Desktop’s Mac capabilities
• Kids and motion sickness trends
• HTC Vive’s ninth birthday

Partner and Friends News

Mixed Reality Tech Testing Service

A new startup by a familiar XR entrepreneur, Mixed Reality Tech, offers on-demand testing services for XR apps. They act as a QA team, assessing your app on various headsets and compiling bug lists for fixing. If you need testing, reach out for support.

Explore More:

• Mixed Reality Tech Testing Service details

A Dose of XR Humor

• 96° FOV to counter motion sickness: Humorous link
• Programming humans with AI prompts: Amusing link
• Glimpses of the future: Entertaining link
• Identifying terminators from humans: Humorous insight

Bring Your Goodwill

This week, rather than seeking blog donations, I urge support for those affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Please consider donating to the Red Cross to aid in the humanitarian crisis relief efforts. Here’s the link to make your contribution. A heartfelt thank you to my Patreon supporters for their continuous backing:

Generous Supporters:

• Alex Gonzalez VR
• DeoVR
• GenVR
• Eduardo Siman
• Jonn Fredericks
• And many more…

Donate and Make a Difference:

• Support The Red Cross in Ukraine

(Header image courtesy of Razer)

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