The XR Weekly Digest (07/28/2025): Upcoming Quest Features Revealed, Brilliant Labs’ Smartglasses Launch, and More!

Hey, you enjoying the summer sun or what? If you’re not, maybe a dive into some wild XR news and a chance to win in this funky BEATABLE giveaway will do the trick.

So, let’s chat about what’s buzzing this week.

Quest’s Curious Stuff Unveiled

First off, digging through code or whatever, Luna found some Quest secrets. So, the whole Horizon Home thing? Yeah, it’s going from a snooze-fest to a party. Think more like your space is now an open door to Horizon Worlds with fun stuff like 2D windows you can share. Crazy, right?

Then, you’ve got your Horizon Worlds plaza getting a facelift. It’s all slick now, and, get this, your home space will hover like a ghost in the sky when you’re chillin’ in-world—like some cosmic connection. And let’s not forget the new Events Arena. Sounds like a blast or maybe just chaotic fun.

Oh, and remember Horizon Hyperscape? It’s no longer just a demo; it’s growing up into Horizon Photoreal. With just your phone, you can capture the world and dump it into this virtual playground. Social media for places—kind of mind-blowing, no? But, heads-up, this is all speculative. Could pop at Meta Connect, or maybe just fizzle out. Stay tuned.

Smartglasses Getting Smarter?

Brilliant Labs—sound familiar? These folks are back in the game with new smartglasses. July 31st is their big day, so mark your calendar if gadgets make your heart race. Their last hits, the Monocle and Frames, were DIY dreams for developers, so fingers crossed for this round. Bobak Tavangar’s doing his Reddit thing too, so ping him for gossip.

Sharp’s Mystery Contraption

Random alert—Sharp’s got this VR controller in the works, looking like a lovechild of a glove and a gadget. It’s all about "multi-segmented tactile elements" (try saying that three times fast) to enhance VR vibes. They’re pitching it for ¥100,000 if you’re in Japan and feeling tech-savvy. Imagine typing a review on those, ha!

Meta Wristband Doing What Now?

Meta’s teasing us with wristband magic. It’s all science-y with gestures like tapping, swiping—like a low-key Jedi. Could be easy-breezy right from the wrist. Check it out if you’re into future tech wizardry.

Oh Google…

Google’s dabbling in prototypes—thank Karl Guttag for the scoop. Their smartglasses might be just lab playgrounds with these Raxium microdisplays. Nothing official from Google, because why not leave us hanging in suspense, right?

VR Games and Some Sales

Mark August 12th. VR Games Showcase is bound to spill some tea on goodies from Triangle Factory and more. A parade of indie games kicks it off, but let’s see who steals the spotlight.

And if you’ve got a Pico headset, you’re in luck—massive summer sale up to 50% off till August 10. Seriously, check those deals.

Golfing in Your Living Room? Sure, Why Not

Quest 3’s Putt Window is legit letting you turn your living space into a mini golf course. Real club, real ball, virtual fairway—I mean, it sounds bonkers, but maybe that’s the future. Just, you know, clear the breakables.

The Sad Goodbye of Dungeon Full Dive

This one’s a bummer—TxK Gaming Studios is closing shop. They’re gifting their GM Edition toolkit for free next week, though, so grab it. It’s heart-breaking seeing funds dry up when dreams don’t fly high enough. Let’s hope the next wave plans better. Funds or no, the VR community’s got resilience, right?

Random Musings on Content

Lotta cool content flying around. Here are some quick takes:

• "The Pirate: Republic of Nassau" tosses you into pirate shenanigans. Swashbuckling and bartering—count me in.

• "Dreams of Another" will tug your heartstrings while you’re blasting through stories. A bit like book-club-meets-laser-tag.

• "Elsewhere Electric" keeps you guessing with a mysterious tale. Needs some streamlining, though.

• "Clone Drone in the Hyperdome" is your action fix with fresh new game modes.

Gizmos, Gadgets, and Say What?

• Xiaomi’s AI glasses and Viture’s super-bright specs are causing tech envy.

• VR Android File Manager makes APK sideloading painless. Devs rejoice!

• Pimax Crystal Light’s throwing discounts into the ring if you’re keen on an upgrade.

• Bhaptics Tactsuits teardown, anyone? Always cool to peek inside tech.

Google’s tossing virtual dressing rooms into the mix—just snap a selfie. Because what’s life without a makeover, right?

Here Comes the Fun: BEATABLE’s Beat Drop

BEATABLE’s vibing out of Early Access with jazzed-up features. Custom tracks, glammed-up visuals—you name it. Maybe you’ll snag a freebie key if fortune smiles on you.

Also, my buddy Medhi’s winding up a sweet Unity twist with visuals that literally bend around you. Support the creators, folks!

And don’t overlook the FM DUO camera ready to capture in 12K. Like, can you even comprehend that pixel count? Probably overkill, but still neat.

Stay Funny, Stay Generous

Oh, and by the way, sharing is caring. Some folks find VR freedom in shedding imaginary clothes—each to their own, right?

But if there’s room for one more thing, why not donate to a good cause while you’re at it? Support the Red Cross’s work in Ukraine. Helps keep compassion alive while you’re out there conquering VR worlds.

(Header image credits to Luna, from Upload VR. Support is always appreciated.)

Share it. Spread it. Let’s stir the pot!