Happy Thanksgiving weekend to my American friends! While we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy, I know it’s a cherished holiday in the U.S., Canada, and a few other places. I hope everyone who participated enjoyed quality time with family. And for those who didn’t, I trust you snagged some fantastic deals on Black Friday! As for me, I grabbed a new phone since my old one was quite battered and beyond functional. The tipping point came when a friend in Helsinki jokingly asked if there was a donation fund for a replacement after seeing my device. And one more thing before diving into this week’s XR updates: I’ve joined Bluesky! Feel free to follow me there if you’re on the platform. I’ve noticed engagement on X has dwindled, so I’m giving Bluesky a shot. However, I’m still active on X, so you can catch me on both platforms.
Top News of the Week
Roy Controllers 3D Models Found in SteamVR Files
Dataminers recently uncovered 3D models of the Valve Roy controllers in SteamVR’s code, which adds more credence to the recent leaks surrounding these devices. This discovery suggests that Valve might be on the verge of launching the Deckard headset. Given that these 3D models are already present in SteamVR, a full headset kit could potentially hit the market by 2025. The leaked models confirm expected features: bumpers, D-pad, thumbsticks, and various buttons. The Roy controllers seem designed to mimic a complete gamepad experience, enabling users to enjoy the vast array of Steam games on a large screen via the headset. Additionally, datamining has revealed that Valve employs Arcturus Technologies’ advanced inside-out tracking, which showed promising results in a 2020 demonstration and bodes well for excellent mixed reality passthrough in the upcoming Deckard headset.
For more information: Valve Roy controllers 3D models, Arcturus Technologies, 2020 Arcturus showcase
Other Relevant News
Discover Cyber Monday Deals!
The excitement of Black Friday/Cyber Monday extends into the weekend with plenty of deals in the VR world. Below are some hand-picked highlights:
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PSVR 2 is marked down to $350 in a bundle that includes the captivating Horizon Call of the Mountain. It’ll be interesting to see the sales impact given the spike seen after previous discounts.
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Pico 4 Ultra bundles the Pico Motion Trackers, three games, and a month’s subscription to VRChat Plus.
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In some U.S. stores, Quest 3S is available for $299.99, bundled with a $75 gift card.
- HTC offers various discounts: Vive Focus Vision includes a free DisplayPort adapter and several games, Vive XR Elite is reduced by $100, or up to $150 in a bundle with three Vive Ultimate Trackers, and Vive Pro 2 enjoys a $400 reduction for the full package.
On the Horizon Store, using the code ‘BFCM24’ at checkout can get you up to 40% off select games, usable multiple times.
For more deals: Quest, Pico, SteamVR, PlayStation, Horizon Store discounts, VR headset deals, Meta Quest deals, PlayStation VR deals, HTC Vive deals, KIWI Design deals
Apple May Have Been Experimenting with XR Since 2008
Apple’s work on the Vision Pro reportedly spans about seven years, fitting its well-known strategy of perfecting products before release. Yet, it appears Apple may have started even earlier. A journalist from Mac World unearthed a 2008 Apple patent describing a VR headset with notable similarities to the Vision Pro. The patent reveals a wearable display that mimics virtual environments using intelligent sensors capable of tracking head and eye movements. While patent filings alone don’t prove ongoing development, it’s clear Apple has considered immersive technology long before devices like the Oculus Rift made waves. This insight suggests internal research was ongoing, which is quite intriguing.
VRChat Introduces Age Verification
In a significant move for social VR, VRChat is teaming up with Persona to offer age verification through government ID and camera-enabled devices. While not mandatory across the entire platform, it’s necessary for accessing specific ‘Age Verification’ instances. Verified users can opt to display a "Verified 18+" badge on their profiles. The gradual rollout, starting with certain groups, aims to iron out issues with initial users. VRChat is also trialing age-verified events with select organizers. This step is crucial for facilitating age-appropriate interactions: adults can engage in mature discussions, and kids can play freely with peers. However, it remains to be seen how many will opt in, given privacy concerns. Earlier suggestions at VRROOM for similar mechanisms faced resistance over sharing ID, so VRChat’s optional and context-specific approach may be a smart compromise.
News Worth a Mention
Pimax Launches Crystal Super and Prime Subscription
Pimax is now taking orders for the Crystal Super, a headset boasting impressive specs:
- Interchangeable Optical System: Available
- Weight: Approx. 815g (with headstrap)
- Resolution: 3840x3840x2
- PPD: 57
- Refresh Rate: 72Hz/90Hz
- FOV: 120° (Horizontal)
- Mode: PCVR
- Screen: QLED+MiniLED (Local Dimming)
- Eye-tracking: Available
- IPD Adjustment: Auto
- Foveated Rendering: Dynamic
The Crystal Super offers near-retina resolution for ultra-realistic VR. It features interchangeable optics, allowing easy swapping of lens-display blocks. Pimax also sells optional optical systems for broader FOV or micro OLED displays. While Pimax is known for innovation at accessible prices, delivery issues and delays have marred its reputation. Reading a few reviews before purchase might be wise.
The device costs around $1700, with an initial payment of $999 followed by $32.99/month over 24 months for Pimax Prime, which covers software usage. This subscription model has stirred debate within the VR community due to lack of clarity on the fees if returning the headset.
More info: Pimax Crystal Super, Pimax official page, Road To VR concerns
XREAL Is Launching New AR Glasses
XREAL plans to unveil new glasses on December 4th at 10:00 AM EST. While details are scarce, it’s possible these could be 3DOF or 6DOF devices, the teaser leans towards an AR experience.
More info: XREAL teaser
Virtual Reality for Insects
In an amusing discovery, some insects seem to have better VR setups than us humans! At Flinders University, researchers have developed small-scale CAVE VR systems to simulate environments for studying insect behavior. This innovative approach offers fascinating insights into animal science.
More info: Insect VR research
A Virtual Lollipop
Major developments in sensory VR emerge from a University of Hong Kong project: a new virtual lollipop. By using hydrogels with flavor chemicals and iontophoresis, this lollipop delivers tastes like sugar, salt, and even the infamous durian.
More info: Virtual lollipop research
Tom Emrich’s New Book Is Out
AR trailblazer Tom Emrich recently released "The Next Dimension: How to Use Augmented Reality for Business Growth in the Era of Spatial Computing." The book explores AR’s transformative potential for sectors like automotive and entertainment and offers data-backed insights for leveraging AR in business.
More info: Tom Emrich’s book
A New Mod Lets You Play Halo in VR
The Halo: Combat Evolved campaign can now be played in VR on PC, thanks to a mod available on GitHub. This mod delivers full 6DOF motion controls and more, creating an enjoyable and interactive gaming experience.
More info: Halo VR mod, Reddit user’s thoughts
Some News About Content
- Home Sports, akin to Wii Sports, launches on Meta Horizon Store on December 11th for $20.
- Premier League Player debuts on Meta Quest on December 3rd.
- Trivia Crack World challenges VR multiplayer knowledge on Quest for $10.
- Spatial Web Shooter allows for Spider-Man-like web launching on Vision Pro.
- Upload VR’s XR News Round-Up recaps minor updates in the XR realm.
More info: Home Sports, Premier League Player, Trivia Crack World, Spatial Web Shooter, XR News Round-Up
Some Reviews About Content
"Trombone Champ: Unflattened" is a delight, creatively adapting its original flatscreen gameplay to VR with great success.
Other News
- Miroslav Kotalík rolled out the Zero V2, the latest version of his AR glasses.
- The ANNAPRO A2 strap promises to boost the comfort of Apple Vision Pro.
- New stats reveal the PCVR market remains stagnant or shows minimal growth.
News from Partners (and Friends)
GroKit Core is a low-code development library by 3lbXR for Unity, facilitating efficient XR game development by handling interactions, physics, and multiplayer setup, allowing you to focus on high-level coding.
More info: Grokit Core offical site, Grokit Core tutorials
Some XR Fun
- Check out this SUPER BLACK FRIDAY DEAL for the Quest! Link
- Here’s a side-by-side of two seemingly identical headsets. Link
- Enjoy this fun compilation of XR fails! Link
Donate For Good
Instead of seeking donations for my blog, I urge you to consider the humanitarian needs resulting from the conflict in Ukraine. Contributing to the Red Cross efforts in Ukraine would be greatly appreciated. Below is a link for your convenience.
Thank you to my Patreon supporters:
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Here is the link to donate: Support The Red Cross in Ukraine
(Header image by Upload VR)
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