XR weekly round-up: High-end VR headset released, eye tracking gets more precise & Meta builds expensive smart glasses
Pimax Crystal Super launches, Meta's new smart glasses get expensive, and Civilization is looking great in VR — the XR news 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 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
Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate — A New VR Graphics Milestone?
The VR sequel to Wanderer dropped this week for Meta Quest and PlayStation VR 2, showcasing some seriously impressive visuals. While the PSVR 2 version really shines, even the Quest 3 version manages to impress despite some limitations.
Meta Quest's New Micro-Gesture Controls Feel Surprisingly Natural
Meta Quest is testing an experimental feature that lets you control VR with tiny hand movements. Our testing found these micro-gestures to be both intuitive and reliable for navigating VR spaces.
Hindenburg VR: A Time Travel Experience That Leaves a Lasting Impression
Our hands-on report explores "LZ 129 Hindenburg," a new DLC for the free TimeLab time travel simulator. The experience lets you explore the legendary airship in stunning detail, visit 1930s New York, and witness the historic disaster firsthand.
Can Meta Quest 3 Really Work as a 3D Scanner?
The experimental VR app Digitalizer claims to turn your Quest 3 into a 3D scanner. Unfortunately, our testing revealed disappointing results that fell far short of usable. We break down how the app works, share our testing experience, and explain the new camera interface that developers can now access.
MIXED Reader Questions
When Will Cloud Streaming Finally Come to VR?
This month's reader questions deep-dive into VR cloud streaming's current state and future potential. Tomislav walks through the technical and financial challenges, surveys existing and defunct streaming services, and explores what the next few years might bring.
XR Hardware: VR, AR, and Mixed Reality Headset Updates
Researchers Develop Ultra-Precise Eye Tracking for VR
University of Arizona scientists have created a new eye-tracking system that captures over 40,000 points on the eye's surface. This deflectometry-based approach promises significantly better accuracy than current methods and could make eye tracking viable for standalone VR headsets.
Pimax Crystal Light Gets Better Tracking with New Software
Pimax has rolled out a software update for its VR headsets, introducing customizable power-off timers and improving tracking stability for the Crystal Light. The company also confirmed compatibility with the latest Nvidia and AMD graphics cards.
Vision Pro Gets AI Features in visionOS 2.4
Apple is bringing AI capabilities to Vision Pro through the visionOS 2.4 update. New features include AI writing tools, image and emoji generation, and smart photo search. Users also get a spatial content gallery, companion iPhone app, and enhanced guest mode.
Pimax Crystal Super High-End Headset Hits the Market
Pimax has begun shipping its premium Crystal Super VR headset. The final specs include 3840 × 3840 pixels per eye, up to 138-degree horizontal field of view, eye tracking, and swappable optics. The company has reduced the entry price and added financing options.
XR Market and Business News
Meta's Display-Equipped Smart Glasses Likely to Cost Over $1,000
Bloomberg reports that Meta plans to launch its first HUD-display smart glasses, codenamed Hypernova, in late 2025. We detail the leaked pricing, features, interface plans, and Meta's broader AR roadmap.
VR Games and XR Apps: Latest Updates
Hands-On with Civilization VII VR on Meta Quest 3
New gameplay footage shows off the VR version of the classic strategy game, featuring the central "War Table," AI leader negotiations, seamless VR-to-AR switching, and dramatic event presentations.
Versailles Opens Virtual Time Portal to 1682
The Palace of Versailles now offers a VR experience where visitors can explore three lost gardens under the guidance of landscape architect André Le Nôtre. This detailed reconstruction draws from historical documents and expert knowledge. Virtual tourists can also explore Versailles through two free Steam VR experiences.
12 VR Games to Watch in April 2025
We spotlight 12 promising VR releases coming this April across various platforms, including Pinball FX VR, Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate, Titanic VR, Ghost Town, and the Hindenburg VR experience for TimeLab.
Virtual Desktop Update Brings Major Improvements
Virtual Desktop's latest update significantly enhances its macOS streamer with native Apple Silicon support, a redesigned interface, and built-in virtual monitor creation. The update also adds subtitle support, new audio formats, and various bug fixes.
Meta Quest+ April 2025 Game Lineup
Check out this month's Meta Quest+ subscription offerings, featuring two new monthly titles plus the rotating game collection.
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