The XR Weekly Overview (November 5, 2024): Google Play Store Gears Up for XR, Meta Reality Labs Financials Unveiled, and More!

Just got back from AWE Europe, and what an incredible experience it was! I’ve penned a few pieces about my journey there, and if you’re interested, feel free to check them out.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s big XR stories!

Top Headlines of the Week

Google Preps Play Store for XR Ahead of Samsung Headset Launch

In a cool scoop by Android Authority, Google is busy integrating XR support into the Play Store. Some keen-eyed data miners found an XR headset icon and mentions of XR compatibility buried within the store’s latest code. Although hidden for now, these updates signal Google’s intent to bolster support for XR headsets, likely tied to their upcoming collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm. This aligns with Samsung’s recent earnings call, hinting at XR devices as a 2025 target, suggesting the headset’s release may not be far off. Interestingly, earlier predictions had us hoping for a 2024 launch, but things seem to shift rapidly in this sector.

For more details: Google Play adding support for XR — Road To VR | Samsung headset may launch in 2025

More Must-Know News

Meta Reality Labs: Revenue Up, But Losses Rise Too

Meta disclosed its financials for Q3 2024, revealing $0.27B in revenue opposed to a whopping $4.70B in losses. While some debated the financial setback, others noted the revenue growth over last year’s Q3, a hopeful indicator for VR’s future. With analyst expectations at $0.31B, the actual figures were a touch underwhelming, sparking the usual debate about Meta’s spending sprees. Despite differences in opinion, it’s undeniable that Meta’s continuous investment could yield substantial future returns as XR gradually gears towards mainstream acceptance. My eyes are on Q4 2024 to see if the Meta Quest 3S will make a splash this holiday season.

More insights: Meta Reality Labs financial results — Upload VR | Meta Reality Labs financial results — Yahoo

Apple’s Economical Vision Pro Delayed Post-2027

News from renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests Apple might postpone its cheaper Vision Pro model to beyond 2027. The delay appears tied to cost-cutting and finding viable consumer use cases. Meanwhile, an M5 chipset-based refresh is expected in 2025. Kuo, though often hit-and-miss, stirs thoughts about the long development journey XR might need before becoming a developer-friendly ecosystem. This underscores the need for patience and adaptability, not solely relying on big tech or analysts’ forecasts.

Community reactions: Ming-Chi Kuo’s predictions

Breakthroughs and Experiments

Oasis: The First AI-Driven Playable Open World

Oasis represents a novel approach to gaming—an experimental project creating a Minecraft-style multiplayer experience without conventional game engines. Powered entirely by AI, this tech marvel generates gameplay and visuals autonomously, signaling a potential paradigm shift in computer science. The company behind Oasis, DecartAI, caught the attention of Sequoia Capital but also sparked critique, notably from Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney, who humorously expressed disdain for the project. While its current iteration remains amusingly faulty, the prospects of such technology evolving over the next decade are intriguing.

Explore more: Oasis, an AI-powered open world

Noteworthy Mentions

• Meta Boosts Quest 3 GPU Speed: Users and developers can rejoice with Meta’s early holiday gift, as they up the GPU speeds on Quest 3 by 16%, promising better performance.
• Niantic’s SPZ Format: Niantic open-sources SPZ, a new format likened to JPG for Gaussian Splats, fostering efficient storage which could become a new industry standard.

Catch more: Meta’s GPU upgrade | Niantic’s SPZ announcement

Litigation and New Developments

• ARM vs. Qualcomm Legal Battle: As Qualcomm chips dominate the Android device market, ARM has thrown a wrench in the works by initiating litigation over license breaches, with proceedings set for December.
• Meta Horizon v71 Updates: While not revolutionary, the v71 update brings a range of small improvements, enhancing the headset’s overall usability.

Stay updated: ARM vs. Qualcomm case

Fresh Releases and Reviews

• Somnium VR1 Ships: Kudos to Somnium Space for following through on delivering their VR1 headsets as promised.
• Comic Highlights from EGX & MCM Comic Con: Upcoming indie VR games took the spotlight, promising exciting releases ahead.

Dive deeper: Somnium VR1 shipping

New Content Releases

In other anticipation-building news…

• Alien: Rogue Incursion is garnering rave reviews.
• Behemoth and Metro Awakening trailers are out, sparking excitement.

Detailed updates: Alien: Rogue Incursion

Miscellaneous News

• Canon’s Spatial Video Lens: The new lens system is hitting the shelves this November for $449.99.
• MeganeX Superlight 8K: Ben Lang praises its comfort-focused design.

Further info: Canon lens announcement

From Our Partners and Friends

LEFX and MindPort’s AIXTRA project, chosen for the VOXReality initiative, aims to fuse AI with VR training, promising language barriers breakthroughs and AI-driven virtual training solutions.

And finally, a nugget of wisdom: Take a moment to breathe, and indulge in something delightful for yourself today! 😊

Donation Corner

Instead of asking for blog donations, let’s support those affected by ongoing conflicts. Consider donating to the Red Cross for the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Here’s the link to contribute.

Many thanks to my Patreon supporters, whose generous backing makes my work possible.