New Quest 2 & Quest Pro Update Brings Performance Boost and New Home Environments
Meta says it’s has begun pushing out a software update which will bring some pretty profound performance boosts to both Quest 2 & Quest Pro.
[Industry Direct] Snapdragon Spaces Expands Support for the Next Generation of MR Devices
Industry Direct by the Snapdragon Spaces Team
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It’s clear that we’re undergoing another massive shift on how we connect, play, work and interact with the world around us. More specifically, a shift on the devices we use every day.
Mixed reality (MR) is taking the world by storm and headworn devices are quickly winning the hearts (and habits) of consumers. Extended Reality (XR) devices are getting lighter, sleeker, and more performant providing unprecedented immersive experiences. New players in the market means a boost for the industry and more options for developers looking to create the next generation of AR, VR and MR apps and experiences.
A New Wave of MR Devices and Experiences
At AWE 2023 (Augmented World Expo), Qualcomm announced that Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform now supports the new generation of MR devices, including Lenovo’s ThinkReality VRX, Oppo’s new MR Glass Developer Edition, all-in-one AR devices from DigiLens, TCL RayNeo, and other prominent headworn devices expected to be released later this year. Powered by Snapdragon chipsets purposefully built for XR, these devices are a game changer for developers looking to combine computer vision, AI, and 5G capabilities to build immersive and ultra-realistic experiences.
By expanding the perception technology stack from AR to MR, Snapdragon Spaces enables more developers to push the boundaries of reality, all thanks to the video passthrough capabilities combined with features that seamlessly understand environments and users.
With the wide variety of devices available and soon to be available in the market, developers can reap the benefits from working with a platform that is based on OpenXR. Snapdragon Spaces enables developers to easily deploy applications across multiple devices while being part of an open and rapidly growing ecosystem.
Strong Momentum for XR Developers
Developers are in the driver’s seat leading, disrupting and creating this new era of spatial computing.
Hugo Swart, VP and GM of XR, highlighted the incredible traction the Snapdragon Spaces ecosystem is getting: thousands of developers have joined the Snapdragon Spaces community, more than 80 members have joined Snapdragon Spaces Pathfinder Program, three new Metaverse Fund venture investments and an inaugural group of 10 companies joining the Niantic Lightship and Snapdragon Spaces developer initiative.
The platform has been a critical building block for developers across productivity, gaming and entertainment, health, education, training and other verticals to deliver innovative apps based on the world’s most popular development engines: Unity and Unreal.
Get Started with Snapdragon Spaces
The XR market is about to experience a huge influx of content, applications, new devices and increased adoption.
Snapdragon Spaces continues to expand and create an open ecosystem that enables developers to pioneer innovative experiences for the next generation of immersive technology. For developers who want to help build this new era of spatial computing, check out Snapdragon Spaces.
A Concise Beginner’s Guide to Apple Vision Pro Design & Development
Apple Vision Pro has brought new ideas to the table about how XR apps should be designed, controlled, and built. In this Guest Article, Sterling Crispin offers up a concise guide for what first-time XR developers should keep in mind as they approach app development for Apple Vision Pro.
Our Top 5 VR Demos from Steam Next Fest This Week
Valve is back at it with Steam Next Fest, the indie showcase that features free demos for upcoming PC games. We picked out some of the most promising demos among the two dozen VR games showcased this week.
Apple Vision Pro Will Support WebXR for Fully Immersive Experiences in the Browser
Apple has confirmed that Safari on Vision Pro will support WebXR, a web-standard that allows immersive experiences to be delivered through the browser.
One of PC VR’s Best-looking Games is Coming to Quest & PSVR 2 This Week
Hubris (2022), the VR shooter from Cyborn, is arguably among the most visually intense VR games out there. Now the studio is slimming it down the game to fit on PSVR 2 and the Quest platform, and it’s coming this week.
‘TOSS!’ to Bring Monkey-swinging Platforming to Quest, PSVR 2 & PC VR This September
Vertigo Games and VR indie Agera Games announced a new platformer that looks to test your agility, timing, and ability to grab bananas as you swing atop a maze of monkey bars high above the clouds.
Microsoft Reaffirms No Plans to Compete Against PSVR 2 on Xbox
Amid mounting pressure from Sony with the recent launch of its PSVR 2 headset for PlayStation 5, Microsoft again affirmed that it’s still waiting for the technology to mature before offering any sort of dedicated VR software or hardware for Xbox.
VR Adventure ‘Retropolis 2’ Now in Early Access on Quest App Lab
Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye is the next in the Retropolis miniseries, offering up more extendo-arm puzzling and neo-noir narrative goodness. The first episode is now available in early access on Quest and Oculus PC.
VR Shooter ‘The Burst’ Shows off High-flying Parkour & Rapid Shooting Action
The Burst is an upcoming high-speed shooter that seems to pack in a ton of our favorite VR-native stuff: Spider-Man-style swinging, fast-paced movement, and weapon juggling galore.
Meta to Reduce Quest’s Minimum Age Restriction to 10 Years
Meta announced it’s reducing age requirements for Quest users, bringing the previous 13+ minimum down to 10+. The company says the policy change will come alongside new parent-managed accounts for Quest 2 and the upcoming Quest 3, which the company says will help keep preteens safe.
PlayStation Announces 4 More PSVR 2 Games Coming This Year
Just a month after PlayStation’s big gaming showcase, the company announced it’s bringing four more titles to PSVR 2’s library of games, which includes an upgraded port, a remake, and two brand new titles.
‘INVERSE’ is a 4v1 Survival Horror for Quest, Free Early Access Now Live
Asymmetric Co-op Game ‘VR Giants’ is Another Great Fit for Steam Remote Play Together
Being able to get your non-VR friends in on the VR fun is often a challenge, especially if you’re trying to play with them remotely. Luckily VR Giants brings another rare opportunity to do so, offering up a fresh dose of asymmetric ‘VR + PC’ co-op gameplay that works just as well online as it does with local play.
VR’s Favorite Rhythm Shooter ‘Pistol Whip’ Releases Level Modding Tool
Cloudhead Games released a modding tool for its hit rhythm shooter Pistol Whip, which lets you create your own scenes from the ground-up for some very John Wick-style combat.
