XR Week Highlights (December 31, 2024): Meta Quest Headsets Malfunction, Pimax Debuts New Headset, and More!

As we bid farewell to another year, it’s that time again to look back and reflect. I’ve penned a couple of reflective posts that delve into my experiences with XR in 2024; one highlights the various XR events I attended, while the other gives an overview of the state of XR throughout the year, showcasing both the highs and the lows. If you haven’t caught them yet, they’re worth a read. Meanwhile, here’s wishing you a joyous New Year’s celebration with your loved ones. Here’s to a fantastic 2025! 😊

Let’s dive into the top highlights from this week’s news:

Starting with a bit of drama over the holidays, it seems the latest v72 update of Meta Quest ended up bricking some headsets. Those most affected were the devices overdue for updates, resulting in them facing a daunting boot screen announcing that the system was corrupt. This timing was particularly unlucky as many received these headsets as holiday gifts or planned to use them during family gatherings. Initially, Meta’s response was sluggish due to the holiday season, with customer service refusing support for out-of-warranty headsets. However, following heaps of complaints, Meta swiftly resolved the issue, accommodating affected users with solutions to restore their headsets, even providing replacements like the Quest 3S, along with some complementary credits for the Horizon Store. Overall, Meta handled the situation commendably, but it serves as a reminder of the risks associated with launching major updates during vacation periods.

In more positive news, Pimax announced its latest headset, Dream Air, shaking things up with its compact design and features like hand and eye tracking, plus an intriguing self-adjusting strap. There’s potential to transform it into a sort of standalone device thanks to an external puck called Cobb. Full of advanced specs, it’s set to retail for around $1900, aiming for a mid-2025 release. Reactions have been mixed; while some consumers are thrilled, others question Pimax’s strategy given their frequent product launches. Many speculate Dream Air is a response to competitors like MeganeX SuperLight 8K, carving out a new market focused on clarity and comfort.

Switching gears to upcoming advancements, whispers from industry insiders suggest that Meta is enhancing its Ray-Ban Meta lineup with displays capable of showing notifications and AI responses. If realized, this could blend fashion with function seamlessly, potentially revolutionizing smart glasses.

As CES kicks off next week, anticipation builds for major announcements. Sony teases a presentation with “Create Infinite Realities” as the theme, while DPVR hints at unveiling a new mystery product amidst speculation that NVIDIA might debut its RTX 50 series.

There’s also buzz around the Meta Horizon app which topped app store charts over the holidays, reflecting robust Quest headset sales. Meanwhile, Pico introduced SecureMR, a new software solution promising privacy through passthrough analysis without sharing raw camera footage with developers.

Additionally, Magic Leap One owners face a disheartening reality as servers shut down, rendering these pricey gadgets obsolete, erasing countless cherished experiences.

On a lighter note, LiDAR enthusiasts can rejoice in the availability of global scanning data, providing precious resources for innovative projects.

Elsewhere, Road To VR unveiled its picks for the best games, while Fanatical launched a tempting VR games bundle, offering several titles at irresistible prices, tailor-made for VR aficionados.

In content news, a few highlights include Warpforg’s new game development with modding opportunities, the eagerly awaited release of “Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable,” and an intriguing party game “Game Night” for the Quest.

Rounding off the updates, noteworthy innovations like Samsung’s rumored integration of a ‘Find My Device’ feature in its XR headsets, and more discoveries around Meta’s Quest functionalities continue to intrigue users.

Wrapping up, as always, my heartfelt thanks go to my generous Patreon supporters. If you’re in the giving spirit, consider donating to the Red Cross to help with ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Stay tuned for more updates and Happy Holidays!