I’m back in China for a quick visit and finally caught a mesmerizing street performance that celebrated the New Year with the classic dragon and tiger figures. It feels great being here, indulging in delicious food to the point where I jokingly feel I might burst soon—but what a way to go! As we welcome the Year of the Snake, let me share some of the latest exciting updates in the XR world with you. (UPDATE: This newsletter is coming out a bit later than planned because I got sick—no, not from the food—and was bedridden for a couple of days. I’m back on my feet now and got a good chuckle rereading my earlier cheerful note. Sorry for the delay; hope you’ll forgive me!)
Top News of the Week
When Meta released its financial results for Q4 2024, there was much to talk about. On the upside, Reality Labs hit an impressive $1.08 billion in revenue, their highest quarterly earning to date. It’s known that Meta’s earnings bolster each Q4 as people tend to gift Quests during the holidays. Indicators suggested strong performance this year, from the Meta Quest app topping the iOS store charts to Batman Arkham Shadow attracting 1 million players, and the Quest being Amazon’s best-selling console of 2024. Yet, mixed realities like MR/VR are having a moment of stagnation, with the market waiting for a significant innovation leap.
Interestingly, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses’ unexpected selling over a million units brought in over $300M in revenue, further contributing to Meta’s record numbers. While these sales are promising for the smartglasses market, spurring informal speculation about future sales ranging from 2 to 5 million units, Zuckerberg is bullish on their potential.
However, as exciting as these numbers are, Meta also faced a hefty cost of $6.05 billion this quarter, marking its greatest expense yet. They are investing heavily in R&D, aiming for a breakthrough with consumer AR glasses, but also notably selling their hardware at a loss. Meta Reality Labs continues to lose money as it sells more, hinting at a financially risky business model. According to Road To VR, Meta has sunk $69 billion into Reality Lab since 2020, generating only $9.19 billion in that time. Despite this, there’s no intention of slowing down investments, with expected returns beginning in the 2030s.
More details: Meta’s Q4 2024 financials | Leaked memo pre-announcing revenues | Record revenues and losses | Batman Arkham Shadow success | Ray-Ban Meta sales | Horizon Worlds upgrade
Other Relevant News
Apple is reportedly still figuring out the way forward with its AR glasses endeavors, as per Marc Gurman’s insights. Initial models, which were supposed to pair with the iPhone, faced battery issues leading to their scrapping. Despite setbacks, Apple hasn’t abandoned the idea and is working on MicroLED display technology in their Santa Clara labs, with a more viable product timeline projected around 2028 or later. Internal sentiment at Apple’s Vision Products Group reflects a need for clearer direction, impacting team morale—a familiar challenge in cutting-edge tech development.
More info: Apple’s MicroLEDs | AR Glasses plans
A happy first anniversary to the Apple Vision Pro. Social media buzzed with appreciation for Apple’s role in driving XR innovation and competition since its launch.
More info: Happy Birthday Vision Pro 1 | Event posts
News Worth a Mention
VRChat is pioneering age verification among social VR platforms, allowing VRC+ members to confirm their age with the help of Persona, unlocking access to age-restricted worlds. This method could potentially resolve long-standing issues with young users disrupting adult experiences, though it raises privacy concerns over sharing personal information with third parties. Only time will tell its impact on user behavior and creator restrictions.
More info: VRChat age verification
Are XReal One glasses giving Apple Vision Pro a run for its money? Scott Stein’s review highlights them as an affordable, movie-watching powerhouse despite the Vision Pro’s broader feature set and higher price. It’s food for thought on where to invest for your desired use case.
More info: Comparison critique
Viture just launched their Pro XR glasses featuring 1920×1080 micro OLED displays among other advanced specifications, priced at $459 with an early-bird discount.
More info: Viture Pro XR Details
The Logitech Pen has emerged as an unexpected tool for object tracking on Meta Quest, allowing developers to explore new interactive possibilities in XR environments.
More info: Logitech Pen in action | Educational usage
Sunnyvale and Athens-based startup, Haptikos, showcased a prototype hand exoskeleton designed to deliver tactile sensations and finger tracking. Set to be priced at $1000 upon release in 2026, it promises a competitive rate compared to existing XR glove options.
More info: Haptikos beta
Meta is cracking down on information leaks within the company, vowing repercussions for those responsible after Zuckerberg expressed frustration over the transparency that backfired—ironically, in a meeting that was itself leaked.
More info: Meta’s internal stance
An anticipated integration between the Meta Quest 3’s camera and OpenAI’s GPT-4o is on the way, promising to merge passthrough features with AI capabilities.
More info: Integration plans
Meanwhile, the VR industry faces challenges, with Orbus VR shutting down, Fast Travel Games reducing its workforce due to slow sales, and Vertigo Games selling Springboard VR for operational improvement.
More info: Orbus VR closure | Fast Travel layoffs | Springboard VR sale
Game Content News
Get ready for some virtual adventures:
- "COLD VR" releases on February 11th.
- "Aces of Thunder," an aerial VR combat game, is coming to PSVR 2 and PC VR in 2025.
- "DEMEO X DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: BATTLEMARKED" marks a new adaptation for Demeo.
- "Cave Crave" offers a claustrophobic spelunking experience on the Horizon Store for $13.
- Daisy Ridley stars in "Trailblazer," a Quest storytelling experience set in the 19th century.
- "Beyond Blue: After the Storm" now lets you explore oceans in VR for $15.
- "Darknet: Remastered" lands on Quest for $9.99 on the Horizon Store.
- "Craftrium" lets you create ambient aquatic displays with Apple Vision Pro.
- "Synth Riders" gears up for a Kendrick Lamar Experience as a time-exclusive for Apple Vision Pro.
- "Farming Simulator VR" arrives on the Horizon Store February 28th with new VR experiences.
- Owlchemy’s "Vacation Simulator" and "Cosmonious High" are now $19.99 across major platforms.
- "Ahoy!" aims to move players with storytelling on Apple Vision Pro.
- Catch up with Upload VR’s XR News Round-Up for more updates.
More info: Game Releases and Updates
Content Reviews
Excitement surrounds upcoming titles:
- "Path of Fury: Episode I — Tetsuo’s Tower" promises engaging gameplay with an ’80s action theme, as noted by Road To VR.
- "StageTime VR" offers a promising multiplayer karaoke experience with potential for immersive audio interactions.
More info: Path of Fury review | StageTime VR preview
Other News
The VR Games Showcase is expected in March, promising an extensive line-up. Additionally, Mindshow is gearing up to launch enterprise tools for virtual animation, and XR4Europe released insightful reports on the European XR scene.
More info: Upcoming VR events
Google Blocks has been revived by Icosa Foundation as Open Blocks, expanding access to a creation tool and ensuring its open-source longevity. Bravo to the Icosa team for reviving this beloved platform and working on the Icosa Gallery, a successor to Google Poly.
More info: Icosa Foundation’s work
Fun in XR
Here’s some humor from the XR world: A simulator generates laughs as its features could easily be misinterpreted. Funny link: Cave Simulator pranks
Good Deed Reminder
As always, this is a gentle prompt to consider supporting those affected by current global conflicts. The Red Cross is actively working in Ukraine, and I encourage you to contribute in any way possible. Here’s the link to make a difference: Donate to the Red Cross. Special thanks to my incredible Patreon supporters and community contributors.
(Header image by Meta)
Disclaimer: Note that this blog contains advertisements and affiliate links. Clicking an affiliate link means I earn a small commission, which helps support this blog. For full transparency, check out the complete disclosure.
Related posts: Link to related content
