VR Publisher VRAL Acquires 30% Stake in Studio Behind VR Shooter ‘EXOSHOCK’
Miami-based VR publisher VRAL Games announced it’s acquired a 30% stake in PolarityOne, a Seattle-based indie studio developing the upcoming co-op VR shooter EXOSHOCK.
‘Path of Fury’ Preview – A VR Beat-’Em-Up That Packs a Nostalgic Punch
Path of Fury – Episode I: Tetsuo’s Tower is an upcoming combat sim that’s all about punching your way through gangsters while making a one-way trip through the ’80s-inspired underworld. We went hands-on with the first two levels ahead of its March 13th release on Quest, so read on to find out more.
Upcoming VR Flight Combat Sim ‘Aces of Thunder’ Expected to Launch This Year
Gaijin Entertainment, the studio behind War Thunder (2013), announced that its upcoming aerial VR combat game Aces of Thunder is headed to PSVR 2 and PC VR headsets sometime this year.
Pioneering VRMMO ‘OrbusVR’ is Shutting Down in April, Removed from Stores Next Month
OrbusVR (2019), the MMORPG for VR headsets, is shutting down, with creator Orbus Online stating it will stop sales on all platforms starting next month and shut down servers completely in April.
Meta Reportedly Working on a High-end Quest Pro Successor Alongside Quest 4
Meta Quest Pro wasn’t really the prosumer hit it was chalked up to be, leading the company to discontinue its first mixed reality headset a little over two years after release. Now Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Meta is not only working on an ostensible Quest 3 consumer follow-up, but also a “high-end” model that could succeed Quest Pro.
Meta is Experimenting with a Home Theater Environment for Quest’s Horizon OS
Meta already has a way to watch your own content on Quest, although browsing through a file system and viewing on a windowed panel is decidedly less immersive than a proper home theater. Now the company says it’s experimenting with the idea.
Sony Shares PSVR 2’s Most Downloaded Games of 2024
Sony released its annual wrap-up of top downloads across its various PlayStation platforms for 2024. And while there hasn’t been a lot of movement in comparison to PSVR 2’s first year, we can’t really say we’re particularly surprised at the outcome.
Google Acquires Vive Engineering Talent for $250M, Raising Questions About HTC’s Next Move
Google has acquired a number of HTC’s XR engineers for $250 million, something the company says will “accelerate the development of the Android XR platform across the headsets and glasses ecosystem.”
Snap Makes Spectacles AR Glasses More Affordable for Students & Teachers
Snap, the company behind Snapchat, is making its latest Spectacles AR Glasses more affordable to students and teachers with a new educational discount that cuts the $1,200 launch price in half.
Samsung Shows First Glimpse of Near-final Android XR Headset, But No Controllers Yet
Samsung Unpacked didn’t have any big XR revelations this year, although the South Korean tech giant has finally shown off the near-final version of its Android XR headset, codenamed Project Moohan.
Meta Reportedly Plans Smart Glasses with Display, Targeting 2025 Release at Premium Price Point
Even with onboard AI, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses aren’t as smart as they could be, since the glasses lack any sort of display for doing simple tasks, like reading incoming messages. Now, a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman maintains Meta is not only looking to expand its line of smart glasses with the inclusion of a sportier model this year, but also a high-end model that includes a built-in display.
Google Responds to Developer Concerns About Long-term Commitment to Android XR
Google’s announcement of Android XR last month was largely met with excitement, but there was a notable undercurrent of concern about Google’s long-term commitment to the platform. The company has a storied history of launching new products and platforms, only to drop them a few years later—often leaving third-party developers in the lurch.
35% of All Game Developers Are Building for XR, According to GDC Industry Survey
Despite industry woes, XR development has largely stayed consistent, according to the annual Game Developer Conference (GDC) State of the Game Industry Survey, noting that 35% of developers who responded are building for XR.
