XR Weekly Roundup (March 31, 2025): Samsung Could Debut XR Glasses This Year, Vivo Unveils Vision Headset, and More!

As March comes to an end, I’ve got a moment to chat about some of the most intriguing developments in the world of AR and VR over the past week. Plus, there’s been quite a buzz around the AI-inspired Studio Ghibli, which deserves a quick mention.

Kicking things off, there’s talk that Samsung might be gearing up to introduce XR glasses later this year. Rumors from ETNews in Korea suggest these glasses, currently codenamed “Haen” (which translates to “coast”), could be quite comfy and come loaded with cameras and sensors to enhance user interaction. Samsung has been flirting with the XR idea for a while now, so fingers crossed they make a splash soon, especially with Project Moohan and the Haen on the horizon. If they reveal these this year, 2025 could mark a major comeback for Samsung in the XR scene.

In other exciting news, Vivo is stepping into the XR spotlight by announcing their Vision headset. While details are scarce, the design shared so far looks strikingly similar to Apple’s Vision Pro. Set for an official reveal in 2025, it’s refreshing to see Vivo diving into the XR competition.

Shifting gears to Meta, I stumbled upon an interesting insight regarding Quest users. According to Chris Pruett’s discussion at GDC, the Quest platform is increasingly attracting a segment of adults more interested in using their devices for media than gaming. These users, often in their 30s, enjoy high-quality ways to view entertainment and sports, which might significantly shape the future of how Quest is marketed. This evolving interest could mean that upcoming iterations like Quest 4 might prioritize features for movie enthusiasts, setting up Meta for a direct face-off with Apple’s Vision Pro.

Meanwhile, Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will kick off on June 9, possibly unveiling the new visionOS 3 for Vision Pro. Unfortunately, this overlaps with AWE, making it tricky for fans to follow both live.

On the hardware side, Pimax is set to begin shipping their high-definition, wide field-of-view Crystal Super headset by April 7. It’s reassuring to see Pimax sticking to their timelines.

Over at Sony, they’ve launched a massive PlayStation Spring Sale until April 23, featuring plenty of PlayStation VR2 titles at great discounts. Time to snag some great deals on those!

Recognition was given to trailblazers in the WebXR community at the 5th edition of The Polys. This event remains crucial in pushing forward the potential of web-based virtual and augmented reality technologies. Hats off to the organizers and all the deserving winners!

A provocative editorial by David Heaney challenged Valve’s commitment to the XR ecosystem. Though Valve hasn’t released a major VR game since Alyx, they hold the financial muscle and direct benefits from Steam game sales, making their silence puzzling to many. Heaney’s perspective invites plenty of thought on Valve’s future in VR content production.

In other creative circles, developers are putting the new camera access on Quest to unique use, experimenting with elements like real-world copy-paste and dynamic lighting for virtual realities. And speaking of upcoming content, ILM and Lucasfilm are crafting a new mixed reality Star Wars adventure, promising to be a hit on the Quest platforms, while classics like Hitman World of Assassination add VR features.

Sadly, Meta has pulled the plug on System Shock 2 VR, hinting at a reduction in their VR game investments. RoboCop: Streets of Anarchy hits a roadblock too, with legal setbacks blocking its development.

For gaming nuggets, Hard Bullet is on its way to Quest 3, and both Elements Divided and the major update for Onward are set to enrich your VR experiences soon. Meanwhile, the VR adaptation of No Man’s Sky: RELICS offers some extraterrestrial archaeological adventures.

Lastly, Quest’s Horizon OS updates suggest enhanced social sharing potentials with 2D windows, and the Pico 4 Ultra’s recent update improves photo experiences. News of Cyan’s layoffs also reminds us of the unpredictability in the XR industry.

In a lighter vein, if you’re diving into Reddit threads about XR content geared towards women or exploring new AI models, there’s always something exciting in the mix.

As always, give a thought for those in need during these trying times. Consider supporting the Red Cross’s efforts in Ukraine if you can. A word of thanks to all the patrons supporting this exploration into the world of XR, you make all this so engaging and possible. Stay curious and keep exploring!