The XR Weekly Overview (March 18, 2025): Niantic’s Pokemon Go Sale, Meta’s Passthrough APIs Launch, and More!

It’s been quite the whirlwind of a workweek, but in the best possible way. Just when I thought my schedule couldn’t get any fuller, Meta unveiled the camera access for Quest, and I just couldn’t resist diving into it! So, let’s explore the week’s most intriguing XR news—which, trust me, is packed with excitement! Don’t skip out early; there’s a giveaway at the end you won’t want to miss!

Top News of the Week

Image by Niantic

Niantic’s Bold Move: Gaming Division Sold to Scopely

In a surprising twist, Niantic has announced the sale of its entire gaming division, including its crown jewel, Pokémon Go, to Scopely for a whopping $3.85 billion. This acquisition means Pokémon Go now falls under the umbrella of Scopely’s parent company, owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. With this decision, Niantic is pivoting to focus solely on its geospatial technology, blending AI, AR, spatial intelligence, and geolocation, through a new spin-off, Niantic Spatial, which kicks off with a $250 million fund.

This move is a massive gamble. While the $3.85 billion price tag is impressive, Niantic has essentially relinquished its major revenue stream, Pokémon Go, along with a promising new game, Monster Hunt Now, to bet on a technology that’s not yet generating significant income. It’s a daring wager on the future of XR, and I’m excited because it signals Niantic’s belief that AR will be profitable within a few years. However, it feels like they’re jumping without a safety net, especially if AR adoption takes longer than anticipated—traditionally, XR timelines do stretch out longer than hoped.

Hats off to John Hanke for his audacious pivot. Whether it pays off or not, I tip my hat to his boldness.

For more details:

• [Niantic sold Pokémon Go to Scopely – Road To VR]
• [Niantic sold Pokémon Go to Scopely – Upload VR]

Other Noteworthy News

Meta’s Passthrough API: Opening New Doors for Quest Developers

Meta has finally rolled out the Passthrough APIs, empowering developers to access camera frames so that MR applications on Quest can adapt interactively to the user’s environment. The development community is already buzzing with experimentation, and many creators, including myself, are eagerly helping others get started with detailed tutorials.

Meta’s approach is similar to Google’s planned strategy with Android XR, where applications will need user permission to access cameras, ensuring user control. This compatibility means that developing cross-platform applications across phones, Meta Quest, and Android XR headsets will be straightforward, which is fantastic news for developers.

The caveat: Passthrough Camera Access is currently labeled as an experimental feature, restricting applications using it from appearing on the Horizon Store. However, knowing Meta’s history, this restriction should lift within a few months—we’ll just need to practice a little patience.

For more information:

• [Roberto Coviello announcing camera access for Quest]
• [Meta releases camera access – Upload VR]
• [Famous developer studios are experimenting with camera access]
• [Dilmer Valecillos demoing camera access]

VR Games Showcase March 2025: Exciting Announcements Galore

This year’s VR Games Showcase, led by Jamie Feltham, was a treasure trove of exciting updates in VR gaming. While nothing was earth-shatteringly new, the consistent stream of updates was a treat. Here are some highlights:

• "Stay: Forever Home," which lets you embark on VR adventures with a virtual dog companion, is set to launch on Quest in April. The new trailer is worth a watch.
• "Hitman: World of Assassination" has a compelling new trailer for PSVR 2, stoking hopes for a solid VR installment when it releases on March 27th.
• Sci-fi survival horror title "Memoreum" will hit Quest in September, with an intriguing new trailer to boot.
• "Slender: The Arrival VR" is set to haunt PS VR2, PC VR, and Quest this spring. If Slenderman was eerie on PC, imagine the terror in VR!
• Flat2VR Studios has announced four new VR ports: "Out of Sight," "Surviving Mars," "Postal 2," and "Shadowgate VR," following the success of titles like "Trombone Champ: Unflattened."

Check out the links below for all the exciting announcements:

• [News from VR Games Showcase]
• [Titan Isles announcement]
• [Forefront – Triangle Factory Interview]
• [FLAT2VR Studio’s new title announcements]

Ultraleap’s Sad Farewell

A rather heartbreaking development this week is Ultraleap’s sale for parts. Once a promising startup renowned for its haptics and hand-tracking technology, the company has now disbanded. According to reports, it has sold its hand-tracking tech to Roli, a musical instrument company, while 30 employees have been laid off, and the remaining 24 join Roli. The startup’s intellectual properties have been acquired by US IP financing company SIM IP.

Ultraleap’s decision not to comment usually implies validity in the report. This could have been an opportunity for headset manufacturers to snatch up a thriving hand-tracking company before major brands developed such tech in-house.

For further reading, check out:

• [Sifted report on Ultraleap]

Samsung’s Project Moohan: Motion Controllers Incoming

Reports suggest Samsung is crafting first-party handsets for its upcoming Project Moohan headset, potentially including controllers with the model number ET-OI610. Unlike Apple, which embraced full hand-tracking, Samsung’s inclusion of controllers could simplify porting content from devices like Meta Quest, enriching its content library with ease. The reports have yet to confirm whether these controllers will be part of the headset package.

For more details, visit:

• [SamMobile report on Samsung Moohan]

Meta’s Not-So Immersive Push: Horizon Worlds Woes

New World Notes has shone a spotlight on Horizon Worlds’ struggles, revealing surprising reasons behind its lackluster performance. Developers, seemingly dispassionate about the virtual world, reportedly rigged headsets to fake usage rather than engage with it. Moreover, the team, primarily drawn from social app development using React, suggests interfaces more suited to websites than virtual realms.

One poignant excerpt slyly captures the passion deficiency: “The guy in charge of Horizon Worlds needed help putting on a headset after three months on the job.”

If this report holds true, Horizon Worlds’ development seems chaotic. It might be prudent for Meta to focus efforts on enhancing its overall Quest ecosystem, supporting developers facing challenges.

For further reading:

• [New World Notes report on Horizon Worlds]

Quick Mentions

• Google Eyes AdHawk Acquisition: Google’s $115 million bid for AdHawk Microsystems marks a significant step. Known for innovative eye-tracking tech using micromirrors instead of invasive cameras, AdHawk presents both privacy-conscious and energy-efficient options for XR.

• Valve’s Wireless Dreams: Data miners uncovered Valve’s work on a "SteamVR Link Dongle," set to enhance wireless PC VR reliability, potentially for the upcoming Deckard headset. Moving towards openness, Valve’s Steam Link software could arrive on Pico and HTC headsets, broadening access to Steam VR games.

• Meta’s Micro Movements: Adding to this week’s breakthroughs, Meta released SDK capabilities to detect micro-gestures—tiny finger movements enabling effortless app interactions.

• Visor Delayed Again by Immersed: Visor’s mass production postponement to "post-summer" adds to the ongoing saga, amid financial transparency fuzziness and community discontent.

• VR Industry’s Bumps: More turbulence as Phaser Lock closes its doors, and People Can Fly ceases VR game publishing post-2025, reflecting a trickling shift away from VR gaming investments, particularly from Meta.

• Whacky Experiments: From Cortical Labs’ biological-silicon computer to dream-interaction trials, some recent experimental tales had me double-taking—both futuristic and surreal.

For those interested in diving deeper:

• [Google AdHawk Acquisition]
• [Valve’s Wireless Dongle]
• [Meta’s Micro Movements Feature]
• [Visor Delays and Financial Concerns]
• [VR Industry Shifts Discussion]
• [Futuristic Experiments Details]

Exciting Games Awaits

Amidst the news frenzy, here’s a snapshot of upcoming and noteworthy games:

• Bustainable: A new rhythm game challenging you to hit the table in sync with the music, launching April 10.
• Path of Fury: Episode I: Currently available on Quest for $10, offering thrilling action.
• Quantum Threshold: A tech-forward VR shooter highlighting accessibility with its wheelchair combat mechanics.

For further exploration:

• [BEATABLE]
• [Path of Fury Details]
• [Quantum Threshold Information]

Reviews Roundup

A quick round-up of recent gaming experiences:

• Waltz of The Wizard on PSVR 2: Solid hand-tracking offset by minor hiccups.
• Deep Cuts: Playful behind-the-scenes movie creation gameplay.
• Path of Fury’s new episode offers rhythmical martial arts fun.
• Mythic Realms is a multi-faceted, strategic MR and roguelike game.
• Pixel Dungeon captures classic dungeon-crawling enthusiasm, with updates on the horizon.

Get more insights here:

• [Waltz Of The Wizard]
• [Deep Cuts Review]
• [Path Of Fury Review]

Final Tidbits

• Vicon showcases a new markerless motion tracking system at GDC.
• Tyriel Wood reviews True Gear, an affordable haptic suit.
• XR fun stuff: Memes and comics on XR enhancement needs and more!
• CES sneak peeks into XPANCEO’s smart contact lenses.
• Palmer Luckey interviews Andrew Bosworth.

And a touching note: Let’s not forget those affected by war’s hardship. Consider aiding the Red Cross’s efforts in Ukraine, as we express gratitude to all my Patreon supporters and fans who elevate this space into a community.

To donate, visit:

• [Support The Red Cross in Ukraine]

Signing off with a heartfelt thank you and a reminder to share the innovation journey with those around you!