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The XR industry continues to buzz with new developments, and this week is no exception! Let’s dive right in and explore some of the most compelling stories that have captured the community’s attention.
Top News of the Week
Niantic’s Gaming Division May Soon Have a New Home
In a surprising move, Niantic is contemplating the sale of its gaming division, with discussions reportedly in the works with Scopely, a Saudi Arabia-owned company, for a potential $3.5 billion deal. This strategic shift hints at Niantic possibly parting ways with its golden goose, Pokémon Go. Despite the ebb of its initial excitement, Pokémon Go still rakes in substantial revenue thanks to its dedicated player base. It’s quite unexpected, though, given that past ventures into other AR games, like the Harry Potter-themed one, didn’t quite match Pokémon Go’s success and were swiftly shelved. Analysts suggest this pivot will allow Niantic to focus on its dream of the "outdoor metaverse," emphasizing AR services and possibly AR headset technology in the future. Although it’s a bold and risky maneuver, especially without Pokémon Go’s financial cushion, as an XR advocate, it’s thrilling to see Niantic betting big on the future of augmented reality. Perhaps they foresee an impending boom in AR advancements in the upcoming years.
Meta’s Fresh $50M Push for Horizon Worlds
Meta is making waves with its newly announced $50 million fund to boost creator activities on its Horizon Worlds platform. This fund will reward creators contributing significantly to the ecosystem, based on parameters like time spent and in-world purchases. There’s also an enticing contest on March 11 with prizes up to $100,000, plus enhanced tools, like the Meta Horizon Worlds desktop editor, promising creators a more sophisticated development experience. While this fund underscores Meta’s commitment to nurturing its platform, there are growing concerns about timing. Developers have voiced frustrations regarding visibility on the Horizon Store, with some suggesting Horizon Worlds is overshadowing smaller startups. Meta’s response with this fund feels somewhat mistimed. Moreover, the fund’s distribution method has sparked debate; it’s not based on proactive pitches but retrospective success, leaving smaller teams hesitant to dive in without guaranteed returns. These dynamics suggest that while financial incentives can attract creators, Meta should focus more on the product’s intrinsic allure for genuine engagement.
XR Industry’s Continual Turmoil
The XR landscape is still experiencing turbulence, which includes layoffs and frustrations tied to the Meta Horizon Store’s discoverability issues. Despite these challenges, there are pockets of success. For example, 3R Games’ Thief Simulator VR has achieved impressive sales figures on Quest, giving hope amidst the industry’s broader struggles. But the larger narrative is one of concern, with companies like Toast Interactive scaling down due to underwhelming platform performance—something that resonates widely in developer forums and can stifle innovation and growth within the industry.
Upcoming Meta Connect Dates Announced
Mark your calendars for September 17 and 18 as Meta Connect 2025 approaches. Although the agenda remains under wraps, speculations abound—ranging from new smart glasses aimed at athletes to collaborations with Lenovo and ASUS for third-party headsets. In contrast, don’t expect news on a Quest 4 just yet. Interestingly, Meta has decided to separate AI-focused discussions into their newly introduced LlamaCon, indicating a more specialized focus moving forward.
Highlights Worth Mentioning
Palmer Luckey, the visionary behind Oculus, has teased intriguing developments about his new military-focused headset. He claims it surpasses existing tactical devices in many ways—an ambitious statement that certainly raises the bar for military AR/VR applications. Meanwhile, in a marketing twist, Meta now collectively refers to MR and VR as "MR," aligning more with Apple’s terminologies but causing confusion among VR developers fearing for their content’s visibility.
The Meta Quest’s latest update includes DisplayPort output—enhancing demo and exhibition capabilities on external monitors. This version also refines the casting experience and incorporates broader functionality improvements, making it user-friendlier across different contexts.
An Exciting VR Games Showcase is on the Horizon
Don’t miss the VR Games Showcase returning on March 11, promising sneak peeks at exciting upcoming titles and new announcements from Flat2VR Studios. Additionally, Humble Bundle has launched a dedicated offering for developers that includes resources for popular engines like Unity, Unreal, and Godot—perfect for those eager to explore VR game development.
Content Highlights and Reviews
Several intriguing titles are entering the scene, from ‘Detective VR’ offering a unique narrative experience to ‘Chronostrike,’ inspired by SUPERHOT’s mechanics. Meanwhile, noteworthy reviews spotlight the innovative mix of genres and engaging narratives that these games bring to the VR space.
Fun and Contributions
For a lighter note, the community is engaging with humorous XR-related links, highlighting industry quirks and shared experiences. In the spirit of kindness, consider supporting humanitarian efforts through the Red Cross in Ukraine, with details available to lend a helping hand.
Thank You to Supporters
None of this would be possible without the steadfast support from various patrons and sponsors. Each contribution keeps the XR dialogue alive and thriving. Thank you for making the XR community so dynamic and collaborative.
