Sure, let’s dive into this whirlwind of XR world happenings. Ah, but first, let me just say, despite the vacation lull—hello, May 1st!—it’s not exactly been the most thrilling week in XR. Still, there’s intrigue in the air since I’m gearing up for some exciting trips. What can I say? The wanderlust is real. Stay tuned for more on those adventures in tomorrow’s piece. But, for now, buckle up for some of the more eye-catching bits from the XR sphere.
### The Week’s Top News
So, let’s just dive right into it—Meta Reality Labs not having its best moment. Feels like when you’re desperately holding onto a triple-scoop ice cream, and the top scoop just slides off—Q1 2025 revenues dipped a tad, 6% lower compared to last year. Not disastrous, but hey, who wants less ice cream, right? Turns out most of that fortune in losses was shielded by Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses. Meanwhile, VR gear’s sales played hide-and-seek with the previous year’s numbers. Was Quest 3S the buzz it was meant to be? Maybe… maybe not. Meanwhile, sales told a different story, pointing downwards like my Wi-Fi icon in a thunderstorm. Thanks, Ray-Bans, for being the MVP here, tripling your sales when it mattered most.
### Other Buzz-worthy Tidbits
Oh, let’s chat about this—Meta’s given a green light for apps with camera access over on the Horizon Store. Hallelujah! We can now dive deeper into spatial computing, blending reality with some cool virtual stuff, woohoo! All while holding our collective breaths over privacy—because really, who doesn’t love a sprinkle of suspense in their tech journey?
Wait, there’s more—data miners, bless ’em, have teased some nifty features coming to the Quest. New UI updates, touch-typing on any surface, and, drum roll please, eye-tracking device authentication. It’s this wild cocktail of thrill and “oh my god, really?”
### Giggles and Sighs
Meanwhile, out in Ridiculous News Avenue, Pimax is teasing updates—as if the world isn’t full enough of VR gadgets already. Let’s all just pray they don’t decide to throw 73 more headsets our way, because let’s be honest, my wallet is still hiding from the last Pimax announcement.
What’s that distant murmur? Oh, right, EA hitting the pause button on Rally Games… A major bummer for anyone who loves VR racing sims. Codemasters and rally games were like PB&J, and now… well, you might say the jam’s gone sour due to budget cuts and layoffs.
And then there’s Julian Triveri, the deep dive tech wizard who’s conjured 3D mapping on the Quest 3—without camera access, surprise! Depth APIs to the rescue. Just imagine your phone going “beep beep” in epic battery drain harmony.
### Tiny Morsels
Did you catch that? Elsewhere Electric, a hauntingly quirky multiplayer effort combining VR and phones. Throw in some nostalgia from arcade classics with “I, Robot” and you’ve got a tasty mixed bag of gaming goodness.
And, before I forget, I can’t not mention the adorable fluff of joy called Under the Pillow: Kitten Mormitten. Only €2, and you’re whisked away into the whimsical tales of two kids and their toy friend.
### Ah, Before You Go…
Look, it’s a chaotic world out there. Let’s do our bit, though. Consider pitching in to support those in dire straits in Ukraine. Kudos to all the patrons who back my work, you’re the stars that make this all tick.
The universe unfolds in mysterious ways—take a moment, smell that virtual lavender, and until next time, keep it quirky and unpredictable!
