Speakers Announced for AWE 2025: Oculus Founder, Meta’s VP of Metaverse Experiences, and ILM Immersive VP

AWE USA 2025 is gearing up to be an event to remember, boasting an impressive lineup that features some of the biggest players in the XR industry. Among the speakers are Palmer Luckey, the brains behind Oculus and Anduril, and Jason Rubin, a key figure in the Oculus realm and now Meta’s VP of Metaverse Experiences. Joining them is Vicki Dobbs Beck, VP of ILM Immersive, known for transforming blockbuster franchises like Star Wars and Marvel into cutting-edge XR experiences.

AWE USA isn’t just any conference; it’s one of the largest and longest-running XR events globally, and it’s an absolute must-attend for anyone in the field. Mark your calendars for June 10th to 12th when this year’s event will take over Long Beach, California. With over 6,000 anticipated attendees, 300 exhibitors, 400 speakers, and a sprawling 150,000-square-foot expo floor, it promises to be the biggest yet. Early-bird pricing is still available, and Road to VR readers can snag a special 20% discount on tickets.

The speaker roster is packed with over 400 names, but some standouts include Palmer Luckey and Jason Rubin, alongside Vicki Dobbs Beck.

For some background, Palmer Luckey, known for founding Oculus, started it all off. Meta acquired his pioneering company in 2014, fueling their XR ventures. Although Luckey left Meta under challenging circumstances after the 2016 election, ties were mended in a surprising twist: Meta offered him a sneak peek at their new AR headset, Project Orion. Andrew ‘Boz’ Bosworth, Meta’s top XR executive, even publicly praised Luckey, acknowledging his contribution to VR’s development.

Though leaving Meta was tough, Luckey landed on his feet, founding Anduril, a defense-focused tech firm now valued around $18 billion. He’s proven he’s more than capable of creating billion-dollar enterprises. And even though his move to military tech seemed like a departure from digital realms, Anduril announced it’s working on a military AR headset project initially developed by Microsoft. With any luck, we’ll hear more about this at AWE and what it means for XR in the military.

Jason Rubin, another big name on the AWE stage, has been with Oculus since 2014 and remains one of the few early leaders at Meta. His journey has been interesting, moving through various roles, most involving gaming content and collaborations. At AWE, Rubin is expected to dive deeper into Meta’s vision for the ever-evolving metaverse.

Vicki Dobbs Beck will also take to the podium. As ILM Immersive’s VP, she plays a significant role in integrating beloved franchises into immersive experiences. Her division is the force behind top-tier XR content like the Vader Immortal series and Marvel’s What If…?, now engaging users on Apple Vision Pro. She’s likely to discuss ILM’s future and the potential of immersive narratives as standalone headsets gain popularity.

Road to VR is thrilled to partner with AWE USA 2025 as the Premier Media Partner. We’re excited to bring our readers an exclusive 20% discount, inviting everyone to explore the limitless potential of XR at this incredible event.