XR Weekly Update (2025.02.10): Meta Quest Store’s Transition, Possible Apple Integration of PSVR 2 Controllers, and More!

I’ve been feeling much better lately, so I’m thrilled to get this newsletter out on time again—hooray! It’s been a rewarding week for me: on the work front, I managed to break some big news concerning camera access on Android XR (more on this later). Personally, I successfully whipped up some delightful Italian pasta here in China for friends, using ingredients I brought from home, naturally. Here’s hoping the upcoming week is fantastic not just for me but for all of you as well!

Top News of the Week

The Meta Quest Ecosystem is in a Delicate Phase

Henry Stockdale over at Upload VR penned a fascinating article examining the current situation on the Horizon Store. With the merging of the main store and App Lab, and the UI revamp of Meta Horizon OS and its mobile app prioritizing Horizon Worlds, it’s become frustratingly difficult for Quest developers to get their games noticed. And, as you might guess, games that go unnoticed don’t bring in revenue. Many studios are reporting a 50–80% decrease in earnings compared to earlier in 2023. Developers have been clamoring for changes, and a couple of months back, I expressed similar concerns on my own blog.

What we need is for Meta to roll out a Horizon Store update pronto that highlights quality titles instead of endless Gorilla Tag clones. Instead, Meta’s response came via a blog post celebrating a successful year for Quest 3 and 3S, noting demographic shifts in the store. It seems two-thirds of this year’s headset buyers are new users, mainly kids who prefer free-to-play games and don’t mind knock-offs available for free in Horizon Worlds. Meta’s basic stance is this: we’re attracting kids who love free stuff, so that’s what we’ll aim to provide. If you’re crafting premium games, well, best of luck to you.

Reading this, I was stunned. Sure, it’s great that XR is appealing to a younger crowd, and they could become VR-natives, driving tech evolution. But surely there’s room for users of all types to coexist on a platform that takes 30% from every transaction. The influx of kids started around 2022, but developers only began seeing revenue drops around mid-2024 when Meta changed its store. The real issue isn’t the kids—it’s the poorly organized store.

I can’t help but wonder what Meta’s plan is here since we’ve just seen layoffs in VR studios like SideQuest and nDreams. If Meta doesn’t shape up soon, developers might pivot entirely, creating flat-screen content or moving to competitors like Android XR. If Meta’s vision is headsets running Horizon Worlds and cheap content, they’ll lose the thriving Quest creator community they’ve nurtured for six years.

In the meantime, the community largely backs the developers—some Reddit users are encouraging buying premium games and suggest uninstalling Horizon Worlds to avoid seeing its content. Amidst this chaos, Mark Rabkin, VP of XR at Meta, has stepped down for family reasons. This managerial shakeup doesn’t bode well for a quick resolution to this pressing issue.

For more insights, check out Upload VR’s article on Quest developers’ situation, my take on the same topic, Meta’s take on the Quest Store’s new reality on Road to VR, Meta’s feedback on Upload VR, and a Redditor’s humorous translation of Meta’s blog post. Also, note the growing shares of Quest 3 and Quest 3S on Steam and updates on layoffs at nDreams and SideQuest. Lastly, see Reddit encouraging premium purchases and advocating Horizon Worlds uninstallation.

Other Relevant News

Andrew Bosworth Calls 2025 the "Make It or Break It" Year for XR

A notable highlight this week was Andrew Bosworth’s memo to Meta employees. It read like a motivational rallying cry pushing everyone at Meta to propel XR forward. There are some passages worth discussing.

Bosworth declares 2025 as the pivotal year for XR at Meta. Personally, I find this claim exaggerated. XR is still finding its footing, and we’re not expecting revolutionary changes this year—the big event will be Android XR headsets launching, but Samsung’s headset is too costly to challenge Meta. Meta’s long-term XR strategy involves billion-dollar investments through the 2030s, with Zuckerberg suggesting this year’s expenditures could total $100 billion. So, nothing monumental happening in 2025 seems like more of a motivational tactic.

Bosworth stated, "This year likely determines whether this entire [XR] effort will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure." Some see this as preparing for, or accepting, a potential failure, perhaps paving the way for more budget cuts in VR. Rumors floated that Meta might ditch VR for smart glasses. However, I don’t buy it. Managers don’t preemptively signal failure—staff would jump ship. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses, despite selling 1 million units, haven’t secured widespread adoption. Shifting focus to an unproven new market wouldn’t be wise.

Bosworth also mentioned Meta intends to launch "half a dozen wearables," likely including fresh smartglasses, smartwatches, and neural smartbands.

John Carmack read Bosworth’s memo approvingly, yet critiqued two aspects. Firstly, he disagreed that MR should be a priority; both VR and MR deserve emphasis, lest VR be dismissed. Also, he raised concerns about Horizon Worlds on mobile, fearing it’s becoming an undue focus, detracting from broader goals.

For further reading, Meta’s $100B XR investment expectations and leaked details from Boz’s memo are insightful. Also, Upload VR’s guesses on "half a dozen" wearables and Carmack’s commentary on the memo are worth a look.

Apple’s Efforts to Integrate PSVR 2 Controllers

Marc Gurman reports Apple’s ongoing work to integrate PSVR 2 controllers with the Apple Vision Pro. The controllers, optional and sold separately, will cater primarily to users who prefer gamepad-driven experiences. Sony doesn’t currently sell these apart from its headset, but should this partnership materialize, standalone sales may become a reality. The controllers’ support update release date is unclear, but it might coincides with VisionOS 3’s launch at WWDC in June.

Explore more here.

Android XR to Assure Camera Access

I’m excited to share that Google has confirmed Android XR will provide developers with camera access akin to what’s available on phones. With user permission—confirmed through a popup—developers can tap into both front and back cameras of the headset. The forward-facing camera equates to a phone’s back camera, while the selfie camera’s role will be filled by creating an avatar of the user’s face using headset sensors. Existing apps can leverage this to display either the user’s view or their reconstructed face. This is great news, as granting camera access allows us to build genuine mixed reality experiences, ensuring user control over permissions.

For additional information, click here.

News Worth a Mention

Quest Game Optimizer Hits 100K Users

In these challenging times often filled with somber news about XR, here’s a reason to cheer. Quest Game Optimizer, an app designed to tweak Quest settings for optimal app performance, has impressively reached 100,000 users. This accomplishment is noteworthy, especially considering the app is not available on the Store and requires sideloading. Congratulations to its creator!

Check out more here.

John Carmack on XR: Beat Saber vs. Half-Life: Alyx

According to John Carmack on X, "standalone VR was the biggest win that VR ever had by a huge margin, and Beat Saber was far more important than Half-Life Alyx." I agree that Beat Saber played a key role in VR adoption. However, both games were crucial for different reasons. Alyx highlighted VR’s potential for deep immersion to hardcore gamers (especially Half-Life fans).

Find out more here.

Ray-Ban Meta SuperBowl Ads Are Out

You can now catch two ads featuring renowned Hollywood actors promoting Ray-Ban Meta glasses during the Super Bowl. I watched the one with Chris Hemsworth—it was decent but lacked punch. The pacing was off, and the jokes only somewhat landed. Nevertheless, here’s hoping it boosts awareness of smart glasses!

More details here.

Spatial.io’s Foray into Gaming

Spatial.io has pivoted multiple times recently. Initially an enterprise meeting platform, then an NFT showcase, it found new life with a game called Animal Company—a hit reminiscent of Gorilla Tag. I’m pleased they’ve found their niche after so many pivots!

For further details, click here.

Civilization VII Ventures into VR

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII will be available on Meta Quest, along with traditional platforms. Gamers can enjoy the experience in both MR and VR modes. While it’s uncertain whether this aligns with current Quest market interests, as a millennial nostalgic for Civilization II, it certainly brings joy.

For more on Civilization VII’s Quest release, view the YouTube trailer or visit Upload VR.

Some Content Updates

• Synth Riders celebrates Super Bowl LIX with a Kendrick Lamar Experience on Apple Vision Pro
• FRENZIES launched a new Super Bowl-themed event on Quest
• Gorilla Tag marked its fourth anniversary with a Birthday Bash—Happy Birthday, GT!
• Harpagun, a fresh VR arcade game, begins early access on Quest starting February 13
• Project Aeroes, a mixed reality game guiding spaceships, debuts on Quest. It’s $9.99 but can be downloaded for free until March 5, accessible "for 30 days only"
• Boxed Out, a color-matching VR puzzle game, lands on Quest March 24
• DIVR Labs’ VR rail shooter Aim Assault will release a demo for PC VR on February 13
• An indie team is developing Duet—a co-op game evolving from silent strangers to cooperative partners

See more content details here.

Content Review

COLD VR offers an intriguing spin on SUPERHOT, though some levels might frustrate due to lack of polish.

Find out more about Cold VR here.

Other News

• Steam now alerts players when early access games haven’t been updated in over a year.
• Stereopsia and AWE Europe have merged into UnitedXR, a Brussels-based event.
• Meta is experimenting internally with a "Desk Mode" for Meta AI on Quest, allowing AI queries even when in standby. However, its release isn’t confirmed.

News from Partners and Friends

Support XR developers! The tech challenges have been tough, so whatever you can do—whether buying a game, leaving a positive review, sharing with friends, or shining a social media light on XR—will be immensely appreciated!

Some XR Fun

The real reason people use the UEVR universal mod is hilarious. Check out the funny link.

The post comments are a riot—explore more here.

Wondering if you can afford a new headset? See the funny link.

Men want only one thing—find out what by clicking here.

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