XR weekly round-up: Nvidia RTX 5090 divides VR community, Quest update is here and VR industry in crisis
Sandbox VR breaks sales milestone, Palmer Luckey unveils military XR headset and Playstation VR 2 hand tracking review — the XR highlights of the week.
In our weekly XR update overview, you will always find the most important XR news from the past week with a brief summary. If you are interested in a particular topic, click on the link to the full article in the relevant paragraph. As usual, we provide you with background information and opinions in addition to the facts.
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Content
MIXED Reviews & Previews
Playstation VR 2: How good is the hand tracking?
The VR game Waltz of the Wizard is the first to implement Sony's hand tracking for Playstation VR 2. Our comparison video shows that it can keep up with Meta Quest's hand tracking, but still has its limits.
Selina in the Quest 3 short test: Journey into the surreal dream world of a child
The VR game Selina offers unusual gravity-manipulating locomotion through fantastic spaces. In the short test, the animations and voice acting are impressive, while the central puzzle mechanics become somewhat exhausting after 90 minutes.
Bridge Constructor Studio: This mixed reality game thinks I'm a terrible architect
The VR physics puzzle Bridge Constructor Studio lets you build bridges on Meta Quest. A successful VR implementation with passthrough mode makes the game intuitive and entertaining, even if it does challenge your own architectural skills.
Meta Quest: Escape Simulator VR is more than worth the money
Escape Simulator offers a wealth of multiplayer puzzles to break out of on Meta Quest. A solid VR port, varied locations and plenty of content make the game a clear recommendation for escape room fans.
Meta Quest: Watch this VR film if you haven't already done so
The VR film The Soloist VR about extreme climber Alex Honnold will soon be celebrating its second anniversary. On Meta Quest 3, the breathtaking documentary shines in new splendor thanks to improved image quality and is a must-see for VR fans.
Meta Quest: What is the new tool from the Quest Games Optimizer developer good for?
The Quest APK Installer from the developer of the Quest Games Optimizer enables Android apps to be sideloaded onto Meta Quest without the need for a PC. The tool searches for APKs on the headset and installs them at the touch of a button.
MIXED Reader questions
Will VR headsets one day replace physical screens?
A MIXED reader asks whether VR headsets will make monitors redundant. VR headsets have advantages such as portability and privacy, but also disadvantages such as having to wear a headset. A complete replacement of physical screens is not yet in sight.
XR hardware: News on VR, AR and mixed reality headsets
Palmer Luckey's military XR headset is set to overshadow everything else
Oculus founder Palmer Luckey reveals details about "EagleEye", an XR solution for the US military that promises a major technological leap forward. The system is designed to combine vision and hearing protection in one integrated solution.
RTX 5070 Ti: All the details about the new graphics card and its release
The RTX 5070 Ti uses the Blackwell architecture and offers 8,960 CUDA cores and 16 GB GDDR7 memory. At this price, it is a powerful and comparatively inexpensive option for gamers who want to play in high resolutions.
NVIDIA RTX 5090: Is it the ultimate for VR enthusiasts?
The RTX 5090 divides the VR community: while enthusiasts celebrate the enormous performance in VR, others criticize the high price and initial driver problems. For VR enthusiasts with high-end headsets, the investment could be worthwhile.
Meta Quest: New update brings many small improvements
Meta Quest Update 74 brings improvements to multitasking, multi-room setup and more. New features include the ability to save web links in the app library, optimized passthrough in night mode and enhanced spatial audio.
VR games and XR apps: all the latest news
Meta Quest gets a million-selling pinball simulation with cult status
Zen Studios is bringing its popular pinball tables to Meta Quest with Pinball FX VR. Three new tables as well as licensed tables from Indiana Jones, Star Trek and more are available at launch. Mixed reality, a campaign and mini-games round off the package.
Long-awaited VR tactical shooter finally launches on Meta Quest
Tier One: Direct Action appears in Early Access for Meta Quest. The game from Onward veterans focuses on realistic weapon handling and destructible environments. Further modes and improvements are to follow before the final launch.
VR Games Showcase offers an exclusive look at Hitman: World of Assassination for Playstation VR 2
The VR Games Showcase on March 11 promises big reveals for all VR platforms, including a first look at Hitman for PSVR 2. Given the current crisis in the VR industry, such events are becoming increasingly important to generate attention for VR games.
XR market and business news
VR arcade Sandbox VR opens in Berlin, reaches impressive milestone
VR arcade chain Sandbox VR reaches $200 million in ticket sales and opens its first location in Berlin. CEO Steve Zhao announces "cultural learning" content to revolutionize education.
Metro Awakening: sales below the publisher's expectations
Although the VR game Metro Awakening received good reviews, it fell short of financial expectations, according to the Embracer Group. The statement is reminiscent of Ubisoft's disappointment with the VR sales of Assassin's Creed and shows the challenges of the VR market.
VR industry in crisis: the next legendary studio hit by a wave of layoffs
Toast Interactive, known for Richie's Plank Experience, is forced to close offices and lay off employees. The studio joins a number of VR developers who have been forced to restructure due to difficult market conditions.
Meta's new PC program lets you create metaverse worlds and earn money
The Meta Horizon Worlds Desktop Editor enables the development of worlds for Meta's Metaverse platform on the PC. Meta is also launching a $50 million funding pot to boost development.
Meta Connect 2025 announced, will unveil "technology of tomorrow"
Meta announces Meta Connect 2025 for September and promises to unveil the "technology of tomorrow". There will also be a dedicated AI developer conference, Llamacon. No new VR headsets are expected for 2025, but AI wearables are.
Apple Vision Pro: new update to bring Apple Intelligence
According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, an upcoming update for Apple's Vision Pro will bring Apple's AI functions to the headset. An app for spatial media and an improved guest mode are also planned. A technical revision is also being worked on.
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