Niantic Spatial’s Charming Pet Simulator “Hello, Dot” Exits Early Access on Quest 3

First off, imagine this: there I was, trying to keep up with all the latest tech mambo-jumbo when Niantic Spatial decides to drop a bomb on us. Not literally, but in the “Whoa, that’s cool” department. Their new game, “Hello, Dot,” finally crawled out of early access like a cat that’s been under the couch for way too long. And it’s only on Quest 3, mind you. Yeah, that thing.

So, what is “Hello, Dot,” you ask? It’s this mixed reality thing where your digital pet (let’s just call it a Dot because, well, that’s its name) can prance around your living room in a bizarre blend of reality and virtual magic. Spellbinding, right? Oh, they tried something like it on mobile with Peridot last year. I heard it was intriguing, but hey, I never played it. Too busy feeding my actual mushrooming collection of houseplants.

Now, if you’re into this kind of XR (cool speak for extended reality, I think), then you’d know Niantic’s kind of pushing all sorts of boundaries with these things. Besides “Hello, Dot,” they’ve got other stuff like Peridot Beyond on Snap Spectacles, and another thing for Apple Vision Pro. I won’t even pretend I understand all these gadgets. Honestly, who has the time?

So, back to “Hello, Dot.” With its grand re-debut, they’ve added some new gizmos and flavors to the mix. It’s like upgrading your old bicycle with streamers—suddenly there’s personality! Now the Dots have richer (emotion loaded word there) personalities. Imagine that! And there’s even an arcade machine where these Dots, I presume, have play dates. I mean, I thought play dates were for toddlers, but maybe we’re in a new era of toddler-like digital creatures.

Here’s where the really futuristic bit comes in: you talk to a virtual microphone (your bathroom mirror might get jealous) and say how you want your Dot to look. Voilà! It transforms like magic paintbrush-level stuff. Just try not to wish your Dot into a dragon. Or, do? Live wild.

This game is pushing boundaries so much, the marketing peeps from Niantic are all, “We’re making magic, not just games!” Which got me thinking, can we use that line when explaining where all the rent money goes? Anyway, “Hello, Dot” is free on the Horizon Store if you’re cruising with Quest 3. And, no, that’s not a spelling error. It’s called Horizon Store.

Well, that’s about it. Dive in if you must, and maybe your Dot will outshine all in those mini-games. Just don’t ask me to explain how that currency trading with accessories stuff works. I barely keep track of real-life currency, let alone the in-game type. Too much for one brain day.