XR Weekly Roundup (December 31, 2024): Meta Quest Headsets Face Issues, Pimax Introduces New Headset, and More!

As the year wraps up, it naturally calls for some reflection. I’ve penned a couple of reflective posts on my XR journey through the year. They dive into my experiences at various XR events and the state of XR in 2024—spoiler alert: it’s a mixed bag. If you haven’t checked them out, I recommend giving them a read. Besides keeping up with the news I’m about to share, I hope you find time today to celebrate with loved ones. Here’s to a fabulous 2025! 🙂

Top News of the Week

Unfortunately, some Meta Quest headsets encountered issues due to the latest v72 update. Devices not updated for a while faced a cumulative update that resulted in a boot screen error indicating corruption, leaving the devices unusable. This was especially distressing since it affected many headsets received as Christmas gifts or intended for holiday fun. The issue initially saw slow responses from Meta, likely due to the holiday season, with customer service unable to assist those with out-of-warranty devices. After significant user backlash, Meta acknowledged the problem, issued an update to fix it, and offered guidance on restoring the affected devices. They even provided out-of-warranty users with a replacement Quest 3S and store credits to make up for the inconvenience. Despite the initial hiccup, Meta ultimately handled the resolution well, but improvements in update processes are clearly needed. Pushing major updates before holidays is risky since fewer support staff are available if things go sideways.

Other Relevant News

Pimax has again announced a new headset—this time, it’s the Dream Air, a more compact option compared to their typical large FOV devices. This headset targets the same demographic as products like BigScreen Beyond, offering features such as hand tracking, eye tracking, and automatic adjustments for IPD and strap fitting—a fresh concept in VR headset design that promises enhanced comfort through automatic strap adjustments. The Dream Air can also connect to an external component named Cobb to enable standalone functionality, integrated with a Snapdragon XR2 and battery.

Set to release mid-2025 at approximately $1900, Dream Air shares its optical engine with Pimax’s Crystal Super for supposedly synchronized production. General market reception is divided; some users question Pimax’s rapid releases. However, the company continues to capture market interest by quickly adapting to consumer trends. This competitive strategy may contribute to their reputation for cost-to-performance efficiency, especially in relation to their Crystal Light model.

On another note, Meta is reportedly collaborating with Luxottica to add displays to their Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Despite previous resistance from Luxottica due to bulk concerns, the integration with well-distributed and fashionable Ray-Ban glasses could enhance the product’s market appeal significantly.

With CES around the corner, expect key announcements from tech giants, including a possible RTX 50 series reveal by NVIDIA and XR-related teasers from Sony and other top players. I’ll be there, ready to share exclusive insights!

News Worth a Mention

The Meta Horizon app saw impressive download numbers again this holiday season, signaling strong Quest headset sales. Meanwhile, Pico’s SecureMR solution pledges to ensure passthrough API functionality while maintaining user privacy, though the developer community might find the lack of direct camera access restrictive.

In a somber note, Magic Leap One devices will soon become obsolete as the company closes its servers, rendering these once-prized possessions essentially useless, alongside the loss of unique experiences built for them.

On a brighter note, I recently highlighted free LiDAR data from Tokyo, a news item that sparked further sharing of global LiDAR data links—valuable for those in VPS and digital twin development.

Road to VR has again compiled its ‘Games of the Year’ list, with Batman: Arkham Shadow taking the crown on Quest. Meanwhile, Fanatical’s VR games bundle offers affordable game access, keeping in mind the excitement around new titles.

Other News

In smaller news bites, the Samsung XR headset will incorporate Google’s Find My Device feature, and the Quest boot animation was recently discovered to be real-time 3D rather than just a video.

News from Partners and Friends

No specific partner updates this week, so here’s warm holiday wishes to you all! Embrace the festive spirit with a touch of magic through this special link.

Some XR Fun

Here are some light-hearted moments from the XR world—humorous links included for those in need of a chuckle!

Donate for Good

I’m continuing to encourage contributions to aid those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. The Red Cross appreciates any donations you can provide to improve the humanitarian situation there. Thank you to my generous Patreon supporters for helping me continue this work, and here’s the link to contribute to the Red Cross in Ukraine.

(Header image courtesy of Pimax)