Feeling better these days, I’m thrilled to have this newsletter out on schedule again! The end of the week has been gratifying. On the professional front, I uncovered some intriguing updates about camera access on Android XR (we’ll dive into that shortly). Personally, I succeeded in whipping up a delicious Italian pasta for my friends here in China, thanks to some ingredients from back home. Here’s hoping next week will be wonderful—not just for me, but for all of you as well!
Top News of the Week
The Meta Quest Ecosystem Faces Challenges
According to Henry Stockdale at Upload VR, the Horizon Store is in a tricky spot right now. Following the merger with App Lab and some changes to the UI for Horizon OS and its mobile app, which now heavily promotes Horizon Worlds, developers are finding it increasingly tough to get their games noticed. This means fewer sales, with some studios reporting up to 80% less revenue compared to last year. Developers have been vocal about these challenges for weeks now, and I’ve shared a personal take on my blog too. Meta really needs to update the Horizon Store to improve visibility for quality games rather than prioritize cheap clone content.
Instead, Meta’s recent response was a blog post praising the success of Quest 3 and Quest 3S and noting a shift in store demographics. A significant number of new users this year are kids, who tend to gravitate towards free-to-play games. Essentially, Meta’s response seems to prioritize catering to this younger audience, suggesting developers of premium, high-quality games are left to fend for themselves.
The situation is disheartening. On one side, the influx of young users is promising for the growth of XR technology. However, the platform should strive to support all developers, not just those creating free-to-play content. Revenue losses started when Meta revamped its store, not with the arrival of younger users.
As we face more layoffs in VR studios like SideQuest and nDreams, developers are losing hope with Meta. We might pivot to creating flat-screen content or head toward platforms like Android XR if no changes are made. Meta risks losing the vibrant ecosystem it’s nurtured over the years if it exclusively pursues Horizon Worlds-focused content.
The community is rallying in support of developers, with some on Reddit encouraging others to invest in premium games and uninstall Horizon Worlds to clean up search results. Meanwhile, Mark Rabkin, Meta’s VP of XR, has departed for family reasons, adding more uncertainty to an already chaotic situation.
For further details and discussions:
- Upload VR’s take on the situation
- My earlier blog piece
- Meta’s blog post via Road To VR
- Meta’s blog post via Upload VR
- A humorous Reddit translation of Meta’s post
- Quest 3 and Quest 3S market data on Steam
- Mark Rabkin’s departure
- nDreams’ layoffs
- SideQuest’s layoffs
- Reddit discussions about premium content
- A Reddit suggestion to uninstall Horizon Worlds
Other Relevant News
Andrew Bosworth Pins 2025 as a Pivotal Year for XR
A memo from Andrew Bosworth at Meta has caught everyone’s attention this week. It reads as a motivational push for employees to enhance their efforts in XR. Bosworth declared 2025 the "make it or break it" year for XR, though I’m not convinced. The field is still in its early stages, with no earth-shattering events expected this year apart from the Android XR launch. Meta’s financial commitment to XR is set, with around $100 billion potentially going to this domain through the 2030s, so 2025 doesn’t seem uniquely critical—more like a motivational tactic.
Bosworth’s comments about potential failure sparked speculation about possible cuts in VR funding, with some fearing Meta might shift focus to smart glasses. But I don’t buy it; no manager would hint at failure as a strategy. VR isn’t dying, and Meta’s interest in smart glasses alone wouldn’t warrant abandoning VR—a market with its own successes, like the Ray-Ban collaboration.
Bosworth also teased launches of "half a dozen wearables,” likely including smart glasses, watches, and neural smartbands. John Carmack appreciated the memo but critiqued its emphasis on "MR" without including VR and the persistent focus on Horizon Worlds.
Further insights:
- Meta’s potential $100 billion XR investment
- Details of Bosworth’s memo
- Speculations on the new wearables
- John Carmack’s thoughts
Apple’s Ongoing Work with PSVR 2 Controllers
Apple is reportedly continuing its efforts to integrate PSVR 2 controllers with the Vision Pro, according to Marc Gurman. The controllers, once available separately, would cater to those wanting to play controller-requisite games on Vision Pro. We may see an update at WWDC in June.
Further details:
Camera Access in Android XR Confirmed
Google assured that Android XR will provide camera access similar to smartphones, with users consenting through popups. The headset’s front camera will mirror a phone’s back camera functionality, while the “selfie” view will be generated by avatar sensors. This open access paves the way for authentic mixed reality experiences.
Learn more:
News Worth a Mention
Quest Game Optimizer Hits 100K Users
In these trying times, let’s highlight something positive: Quest Game Optimizer, which enhances Quest performance by tweaking settings, has garnered 100,000 users—a remarkable feat for an app that requires sideloading. Kudos to its creator!
Learn more:
Carmack Values Beat Saber Over Half-Life: Alyx for VR
John Carmack stated that "standalone VR was the biggest win for VR," praising Beat Saber’s impact over Half-Life: Alyx. Both games tremendously influenced VR, each appealing to different audiences—Beat Saber for mass appeal and Alyx for hardcore gamers.
Further thoughts:
Ray-Ban Meta Super Bowl Ads Released
Meta unveiled two Ray-Ban Meta glasses ads for the Super Bowl featuring Hollywood stars. While entertaining, they were slightly off in pacing and humor, yet should still boost awareness for smart glasses.
Learn more:
Spatial.io’s New Game Adventure
Spatial.io is now gaining traction with "Animal Company," a game reminiscent of Gorilla Tag. Having pivoted from an enterprise meeting space to an NFT platform, it’s rewarding to see them find success with gaming.
Learn more:
Civilization VII Goes VR
Exciting news for gamers: Civilization VII, the newest installment of the legendary franchise, is launching on Meta Quest in both MR and VR formats. While it may not instantly captivate the current market, for those of us millennials who cherish memories with Civilization II, it’s a delightful surprise.
More details:
Some News About Content
- Synth Riders is marking Super Bowl LIX with a Kendrick Lamar Experience on Apple Vision Pro.
- FRENZIES began a Super Bowl-themed event on Quest.
- Gorilla Tag celebrated its fourth birthday with a Birthday Bash event.
- Harpagun, a new arcade shooter, arrives on Quest in early access on February 13.
- Project Aeroes, offering a unique experience where you guide spaceships, launched on Quest for $9.99, though it’s free to try until March 5.
- Boxed Out, a color-matching VR puzzle game, is heading to Quest on March 24.
- DIVR Labs’ Aim Assault rail shooter debuts a demo on February 13 for PC VR.
- An indie co-op game called Duet is in development, encouraging communication between strangers.
- Upload VR’s XR News Round-Up highlights smaller updates in the XR world.
For further info:
- Synth Riders
- Frenzies
- Gorilla Tag
- Harpagun
- Project Aeroes
- Boxed Out
- Aim Assault
- Duet
- XR News Round-Up
COLD VR Review
COLD VR, inspired by SUPERHOT, has an intriguing take but suffers from some frustration due to certain level designs that could be refined.
Further insights:
Other News
- Steam has started notifying players if early access games haven’t been updated in over a year.
- Stereopsia and AWE Europe have joined forces for UnitedXR, a new event in Brussels.
- Meta is experimenting with a "Desk Mode" for Meta AI on Quest, for possible AI queries in standby, though its future release remains uncertain.
Further info:
Supporting XR Developers
Our community faces challenges, and your support matters. Whether buying a game, leaving a review, or sharing with friends, every action aids XR developers tremendously.
A Lighthearted XR Moment
Curious why people are hooked on UEVR’s universal mod? Follow these funny links and join the laughter:
- [Hilarity ensues](Funny link)
- [More laughs](Funny link)
- [Wondering about new headsets?](Funny link)
- [What do men really want?](Funny link)
Donate for Good
As always, I encourage donations to help those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Consider supporting the humanitarian efforts by the Red Cross. Thanks to my Patreon donors for their continued support!
Patreon supporters include:
- Alex Gonzalez VR
- DeoVR
- GenVR
- Eduardo Siman
- And many others…
Head over to this link to offer your help:
(Header image by Meta)
Disclaimer: This blog may contain advertisements and affiliate links. Clicking on an affiliate link might earn me a small commission, which helps maintain the blog. Full disclosure is available here.
Share this with fellow innovators and let’s keep the conversation going!
