XR weekly round-up: Google demos AI Smart Glasses while Apple Vision Pro 2 rumors swirl
From Pico completing its full-body tracking solution to Google unveiling smart glasses with AI capabilities, and Half-Life: Alyx running on Quest 3 — here are this week's most significant XR developments.
Our weekly XR roundup brings you the most important developments in extended reality, with concise summaries of each story. For deeper dives into specific topics, follow the links within each section. As always, we provide context and analysis alongside the facts.
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How virtual reality influences your thoughts and actions
New research shows how XR can influence our behavior in different areas of life. A Finnish study explored how AR changes the way we perceive food, while researchers in Cologne, Germany, analyzed the impact of 360° VR videos on intentions to protect the environment. The results show that while immersive technologies do not automatically make us better people, they can be a valuable tool for positive behavior change when combined with compelling storytelling.
MIXED Previews & Reviews
Half-Life: Alyx on Quest 3: Developer ported the intro scene
Unity developer Boris Novikov has ported the opening scene from Half-Life: Alyx from Source 2 to the Unity engine and optimized it for Meta Quest 3. After optimizing the graphics settings, he was able to achieve a performance of 36-72fps with 2x MSAA, resolution scaling 1.0, activated depth buffer for volumetric fog and 2K-4K textures. The project impressively demonstrates how far mobile VR hardware has come in the last five years.
XR hardware: News on VR, AR and mixed reality headsets
Pico completes its own full-body tracking solution
Pico has added a new hip motion tracker to its full body tracking solution. The single tracker, with a longer strap, complements the existing ankle trackers and improves the quality of body tracking, particularly in sitting and lying positions. The total cost of the complete set is 140 Euros - 90 Euros for the ankle tracker and 50 Euros for the waist tracker.
Google presents smart glasses with display and Gemini features
During a TED talk, Google demonstrated a prototype of smart glasses with an integrated display and Gemini AI capabilities. The headset can use a built-in camera to track what is happening around the wearer, remember where everyday objects have been placed, and record, translate, or transcribe conversations in real time. According to reports, a product codenamed "Haean" could be released this year.
XR market and business news
Rumors about Apple Vision Pro 2: Allegedly already in production
According to a report by Chinese tech portal IT Home, the second generation of Apple's Mixed Reality headset could already be in production and released in 2025. However, this information contradicts previous analyst predictions, which do not expect a launch until 2026. Industry experts are more likely to expect a revision of the current headset, possibly with an M5 chip and Apple Intelligence.
Meta Quest 3 on Lufthansa flights: Almost 4,000 passengers have tried it out
Lufthansa is testing Meta Quest 3 as in-flight entertainment on selected long-haul flights. Nearly 4,000 passengers in the Business Class Suite have already been able to try out VR movies, games and even virtual test drives in an electric car. The service builds on the "Travel Mode" introduced in 2024, whose algorithms have been specially adapted to the movements of an aircraft to provide a stable VR experience.
Playstation VR 2: Studio trolls players with fake "Flight Simulator"
A studio has fooled PSVR 2 users with a VR game called "Flight Simulator 2025 VR". The title, based on the well-known Microsoft Flight Simulator, became the #1 best-selling PSVR 2 game in the EU and #4 in North America in March. After complaints and poor reviews, the name was changed to "Flight Simulator Delivery 2025 VR", presumably to avoid trademark issues.
VR games and XR apps: all the latest news
Meta Quest gets a new VR MOBA in a chic sci-fi world
StarVault, a new VR MOBA for Meta Quest, invites players to the closed beta. The hero shooter focuses on first-person team battles with different heroes in a semi-stylized sci-fi fantasy setting. The story takes place in the year 2300, in a future where humanity has colonized the galaxy and is fighting on a mysterious planet with ancient temples.
Meta Quest & Steam: VR shooter from the makers of Ghosts of Tabor launches in Early Access
Silent North, an open-world zombie survival shooter from Combat Waffle, the creators of Ghosts of Tabor, is now available in Early Access for Meta Quest and SteamVR. The title takes you to the infected Swiss Alps, where you must fight the harsh elements, zombie hordes, and other survivors for scarce resources.
Remake of the PC hit Besiege for Meta Quest announced
Developer studio 3R Games has announced Besiege VR for Meta Quest, a VR remake of the popular physics-based construction game. The VR version promises completely reworked 3D sound, haptic feedback on every impact and a VR-optimized user interface. Players can construct medieval siege engines from over 70 different components and even import PC creations into the VR version.
Meta Quest: Hollywood studio announces superhero VR shooter with book series
HEROmation has unveiled its first VR game "The Phoenix Gene" for Meta Quest. The narrative on-rails shooter lets you travel through alternate timelines to uncover the dark secrets of a corporation. The gameplay combines intense action with strategic elements inspired by classics such as Pistol Whip and Starfox. The game is accompanied by an exclusive VR book series that delves deeper into the story.
12 new VR games, DLCs and trailers for Meta Quest, PSVR 2 & PC-VR
This week brought many new VR game announcements: The Midnight Walk, a handcrafted horror game with real clay assets; Bull Hit, a free chaos game for Meta Quest; and Human Within, a sci-fi adventure. Other highlights include the physics-based mech combat game "Underdogs" for PSVR 2, the puzzle adventure "Bearly Escape" and the VR horror game "Tunnels", whose demo has already reached over 150,000 downloads.
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