The XR Weekly Digest (January 29, 2025): Google Secures HTC Talent, Meta Prepares Oakley Smartglasses Launch, and More!

Hello everyone, and a very Happy Lunar New Year to those celebrating! As we ring in the Year of the Snake, I hope it brings you an abundance of joy, prosperity, and maybe even a few XR headsets. For those marking this festive occasion, enjoy some special moments with loved ones and indulge in some delightful treats! 😊

Amidst the whirlwind of work, this week’s newsletter arrives a tad later and a bit more concise than usual. But rest assured, I’ve packed it with all the XR news essentials you’ll need to keep up to date.

Top News of the Week

Google’s $250M Acquisition of HTC Vive Engineers

In a surprising move, Google has invested a hefty $250M to acquire a team of XR engineers from HTC Vive, along with a non-exclusive license on some of their intellectual properties. The tech giant announced plans to leverage the expertise of these engineers to fast-track the Android XR platform, focusing on headsets and glasses. While the specifics were sparse, my bet’s on them primarily working on the Android XR platform over a ‘Pixel headset.’ This isn’t Google’s first dip into HTC’s talent pool; back in 2017, they acquired the design team. Clearly, there’s a blossoming partnership at play here. Google assures us that this time, their VR efforts won’t end up in the so-called Graveyard—yet, given the unpredictable nature of large corporations, I’m cautiously optimistic about their dedication to immersive tech. We can’t ignore what this means for HTC. Losing such a big chunk of seasoned engineers might indicate a strategic shift. Are they pivoting to manufacturing for others or winding down their headset releases? Only time will tell.

For those dicey on this shift, look into the further scrutiny by Road To VR and Upload VR, discussing the implications of this bold business decision.

Other Key News

Meta’s Expansive Plan for Smartglasses

After their success with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Meta is gearing up for more. According to a report from Mark Gurman, they’re partnering with EssilorLuxottica to release new Oakley-branded smartglasses aimed at athletes, featuring a central camera and speakers, but no display. There’s also talk of a premium model equipped with a notification display and innovative input methods. These aren’t meant to dominate the mass market but cater to tech-savvy prosumers, coming in at around $1000. Meanwhile, the original Ray-Ban Meta gets a push for the Superbowl with star-studded ads. Their AR glasses, Orion, should become more accessible to developers by 2026, ahead of a consumer release planned in 2027 under the name Artemis. Meta continues to cover all XR bases with a broad array of product lines.

You can dive deeper into the reports by Road To VR and Upload VR to explore what the future holds for smartglasses integration.

Meta’s Continuation with The Quest Pro Series

Despite the hiccups with the Quest Pro, Meta isn’t backing down. Reports suggest they’re crafting a successor—possibly the ‘Puffin’ headset. Given the fierce competition with pricier devices like the Vision Pro, it’s crucial for Meta to stay relevant in the high-end market. The Quest Pro’s failings lie more in its rushed launch than its price, underscoring the importance of perfecting the upcoming iteration for enterprise success.

For more insights, check out detailed discussions on the projected developments for Meta’s Quest series.

A Peek into Samsung and Google’s Moohan Project

Many expected Samsung Unpacked to reveal monumental XR news, like AR glasses. While that wasn’t the case, there were notable advancements. Samsung and Google announced better AI integration across Galaxy phones, suggesting a broader rollout beyond just the Moohan headset. Additionally, attendees caught a glimpse of the Moohan headset in person—albeit behind closed doors for demos. The well-known Marques Brownlee shared his observations, providing a closer look at this Vision Pro-inspired device and its VisionOS-like operating system.

Stay updated by following MKBHD’s coverage and Samsung’s official releases.

Other Tidbits Worth Mentioning

• Meta offered apologies and explanations over Quest headsets bricking over Christmas, citing an external bug from Android’s open-source project.
• CM Games boasted $3M in revenue for "Into The Radius 2," credited to early community engagement. The original title saw an impressive 800K sales.
• CREAL made significant strides in miniaturizing their lightfield engine, hinting at future AR glasses becoming more wearable.
• The next Quest 3 could feature an automatic room-scanning system, eliminating the hassle of individual room scans before MR use.

For all these nuggets of industry news, don’t hesitate to read more on sources like Road To VR and Bloomberg.

Quickfire Content Highlights

• Fitness Fables, a blend of fantasy and fitness in VR, hits Quest on January 30 for $12.
• FlatVR Studios’ FlatOut VR targets the best elements from existing games.
• Kung-Fu themed Path of Fury launches on Quest in March.
• Elsewhere Electric, a co-op puzzle game, is coming to Quest and PC VR this spring/summer, mixing VR and mobile gaming.
• The Smurfs—Flower Defense combines VR and mixed-reality for Quest 3.
• Crysis can now be experienced in VR thanks to a new mod.

Catch up on these content updates to see which projects catch your interest.

Additional Insights

• A GDC survey suggests that 35% of game developers are dabbling in XR tech.
• Students and educators can snag Snap Spectacles at half price.
• The neural bracelet Mudra Link sees a hands-on review by Vrgamerdude.
• Apple’s Miami store dedicates a section to the Vision Pro.
• Gabriele Romagnoli analyzes all MR apps available on the Horizon Store.

Keeping on top of these developments ensures a good pulse on the gaming and tech industries.

News from Friends and Partners

SkyClimb’s multiplayer mode, by VRMonkey, is now free for everyone—an exciting entry into the world of VR platform adventure with solid Quest reviews.

Jump into the multiplayer challenge of SkyClimb and experience arm-based locomotion like never before.

A Lighthearted XR Corner

Parenting a VR gamer? Prepare for unexpected surprises. Curious? You can even dive into Doom within a PDF. Discover the quirks and sneaky humor of the VR universe.

A Call for Generosity

As always, this week’s final note encourages support for those enduring hardships due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Please consider donating to the Red Cross to assist with the humanitarian crisis. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the generous patrons supporting my efforts through Patreon.

Should you wish to offer your support or learn more about contributing, here are the details you need.

Remember, every little bit helps make a difference.

For those curious about contributions and further reading, explore in-depth information with the provided links.

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