Hello, Dot on Quest 3 leaves early access and a lot to be desired
Niantic's mixed reality pet simulation Hello, Dot has left Early Access. Is it worth downloading now, and for whom?
Hello, Dot was released a year ago. In my initial hands-on, it felt more like a tech demo, showcasing the (still quite limited!) capabilities of mixed reality on the Meta Quest 3. Now that the Early Access phase has ended, has Hello, Dot evolved technically or expanded in content?
I revisited the app, and at first glance, there aren't any fundamentally new mixed reality features. In fact, some earlier elements seem to be missing—such as shadow casting and object occlusion. When Dot walks behind the couch, the virtual pet remains visible, even though the space was correctly mapped.
The most notable additions are in gameplay. A new arcade machine-like contraption can now be mounted on your wall, offering various activities and mini-games. For instance, you can play a version of dodgeball with Dot or have an eating contest with the virtual pet. Completing these activities earns you in-game currency, which can be used to unlock outfits and other items for Dot.
Mixed reality for a young audience
Another new feature is the Gen AI-powered customizer. You can speak into a microphone and customize your pet using voice instructions. However, this didn’t work for me—I only received an error message. The AI feature might be regionally restricted.
After my brief hands-on, I’m left disappointed with Hello, Dot. The app is clearly aimed at the youngest VR users, and there isn’t much here for mixed reality enthusiasts.
Unlike other MR pet simulations such as Eggy and Stay: Forever Home, Hello, Dot is free. You can download the app from the Horizon Store if you own a Quest 3 or Quest 3s.
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