After an exhilarating time at CES, I’ve returned to Italy with a sense of satisfaction that’s hard to top. The sheer size and scope of the event were astonishing, and every part of me felt it—physically with the post-show aches and intellectually with all I soaked up. Whether it was from a blogger’s perspective, my enthusiasm for new tech, or my entrepreneurial spirit, every facet of my identity found joy at CES. This experience will definitely be the centerpiece of this week’s roundup, but there’s also plenty of intriguing news from outside the event. Let’s dive in and explore! (Apologies for the delayed newsletter; I had a mountain of tasks waiting for me after returning from Las Vegas.)
### Top Stories of the Week
CES is renowned as the year’s premier tech gathering, and it was amazing to see a section entirely for XR companies, buzzing with enthusiasts. XR might not be mainstream yet, but it’s certainly on the upswing. This year, smartglasses were the dominant feature, many incorporating AI like the Ray-Ban Meta and the Halliday glasses with their minute displays. Companies like Goertek are pushing forward with new designs for smart glasses and AR, hinting at more releases in this vein soon.
While nothing groundbreaking was unveiled, two major players, NVIDIA and Sony, made noteworthy announcements. NVIDIA introduced its RTX 50 graphics cards, promising enhanced PCVR experiences with prices steady with the 40 series except for the $2000 RTX 5090. They also revealed that Geforce Now would be available on Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, allowing MR users to play flat-screen games on a large virtual display.
Sony, for its part, unveiled XYN, a fresh series of XR hardware and software for creatives. While somewhat vague, they hinted at a novel headset and doubled-down on body tracking with Mocopi. Despite the lack of cohesive detail, this signals Sony’s dedication to XR.
HDMI got in on the action with a new 2.2 standard sporting a staggering 96Gb/s bandwidth, which could see headsets reverting to this port type. I’ve been busy testing out some CES innovations like the Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K, Ray-Ban Meta, and Pimax Crystal Super. Still, my standout was the Play For Dream headset, and I’m not alone in this opinion—industry colleague Amanda Watson hailed it the best of the show too. For those who missed CES, I’ve captured the XR area on video, and the link is below. Overall, CES was solid for XR.
### Additional Headlines
The Meta Quest 3S became 2024’s top-selling console on Amazon, surpassing not only other VR devices but all gaming consoles despite its October release. A remarkable holiday sales surge solidified this trend, reflected by the Meta Horizon app topping the Apple App Store charts. While this growth doesn’t necessarily signal VR hitting mainstream status, it shows headway being made with new users embracing the technology.
In other news, Meta has officially pulled the plug on the Quest Pro. This device, hastily launched in reaction to Vision Pro, never lived up to the $1500 price tag, leading to a considerable price drop and eventual market withdrawal. While the Quest Pro’s eye and face tracking set it apart, ASUS’s upcoming headset leak suggests these features are not gone for good with upcoming Horizon-capable third-party devices.
In a surprising turn, Infinite Reality raised a whopping $3 billion to develop WebXR content, a sum almost as large as OpenAI’s recent funding boost. This investment, from a singular source, left industry-watchers puzzled, yet intrigued by the potential behind this venture.
As an aside, there’s a fascinating VR project that allows you to walk while lying down—quite the workout for your abs—and DotLumen’s innovation offering blind users navigational aid is truly revolutionary.
Meta’s currently offering a $50 discount on the 256GB Quest 3S, bundled with Batman Arkham Shadow, likely aiming to bolster slow sales of this configuration compared to its counterpart. I also have exciting news that Sanzaru Games is working on its next venture, moving from Asgard’s Wrath 2 to another thrilling project, potentially in mixed reality.
#### Content Updates
– Stress Level Zero’s Boneworks is headed to Quest 3.
– Synth Riders introduced an ’80s Mixtape update that even includes a cheeky rickroll.
– Newly released Human Within on Quest explores AI’s impact on humanity.
– Fitness enthusiasts can now enjoy Shardfall: FitQuest VR on Quest.
– Detective VR is set to launch on February 27 for Quest 3 series, promising an engaging mixed-reality narrative.
– New releases abound with Chrono Weaver on Quest and Steam, Dawn of Jets entering early access, and Virtual Hunter making its full debut mid-month.
#### Community Spotlight
Redditor innovation and other unique projects keep coming, like a VR combat addon for Oculus Touch controllers and Surreal Touch controller first impressions, among other exciting developments. Plus, a nod to Tyriel Wood’s insightful XR content—definitely check out his work for more from CES and beyond.
And as always, a heartfelt thank you to my Patreon supporters who continue to help make this journey possible. If you feel inspired to contribute to a greater cause, consider donating to the Red Cross’s ongoing efforts in Ukraine.
Crafting these updates continues to enrich my own XR experiences, and I look forward to sharing more of what the future holds. Until next time, keep exploring the immersive world around you!
