The XR Weekly Roundup (February 10, 2025): Meta Quest Store Evolves, Apple Considers PSVR 2 Controller Integration, and More!

Lately, I’ve been feeling much better, so this newsletter is right on schedule (yay for that!). It’s been a solid end of the week for me. On the professional front, I’ve managed to break the news about camera access on Android XR (more on that in a bit), and on a personal note, I whipped up some tasty Italian pasta here in China for friends—with a little help from ingredients I smuggled from home, naturally. Here’s to hoping the upcoming week brings more good vibes not just for me, but for all of you too!

Top News of the Week

The Meta Quest Ecosystem is Facing Challenges

Henry Stockdale from Upload VR has penned an insightful article about the current state of the Horizon Store. With the unification of the main store with App Lab and changes to the Meta Horizon OS and mobile app UI heavily favoring Horizon Worlds, Quest developers are struggling to have their games discovered by users. If games aren’t visible, sales drop. Some studios are reporting revenue drops of 50-80% compared to 2023. Developers have been vocal about their struggles, and I wrote about this on my blog a while back. What’s needed is an update from Meta to boost visibility for quality titles rather than bombarding users with Gorilla Tag clones and constant Horizon Worlds promotions. Meta’s response? A blog post celebrating a successful year for Quest 3 and Quest 3S and pointing out demographic shifts in the store towards younger users who gravitate towards simple, free-to-play games. In essence, Meta acknowledged the rise of a younger audience, preferring free content, and indicated a shift towards catering to them. Those creating premium content? They’re left to fend for themselves. This approach is frustrating, especially since the store changes in 2024 coincided with revenue drops, not the influx of younger users. The store’s discoverability is the issue, not the kids. New layoffs in VR studios (like SideQuest and nDreams) underscore the urgency for Meta to act. Without change, developers might shift towards other types of content or platforms like Android XR. The vibrant Quest creator ecosystem, built over six years, is at risk if Meta persists in prioritizing cheap content on Horizon Worlds. Meanwhile, some community members on Reddit are urging others to support premium games or uninstall Horizon Worlds to shield themselves from unwanted search results. In a related development, Mark Rabkin, Meta’s VP of XR, has left the company for family reasons. The management shake-up at this time doesn’t bode well for a swift resolution to these issues.

Andrew Bosworth Says 2025 is Crucial for XR

One of the most buzzed-about topics this week is a memo from Andrew Bosworth to Meta employees, sounding like a rallying cry to fuel enthusiasm and dedication towards advancing XR. Bosworth predicts 2025 as XR’s critical year, but I disagree. XR is still in its infancy, and this year’s only significant event might be the launch of Android XR headsets, but Samsung’s offering is too pricey to challenge Meta. Meta is committed to hefty XR investments, projected to reach $100B by 2030, so it’s puzzling to single out this year. Others speculate the memo hints at potential failure, suggesting Meta might pivot towards smart glasses, but I find this unlikely. Selling a million Ray-Ban Meta glasses doesn’t indicate mass adoption. Shifting focus from VR, a proven sector, to an unproven, albeit hyped, one would be a misstep. Bosworth also mentions launching “half a dozen wearables,” likely referring to upcoming smartglasses, smartwatches, and neural bands. Notably, John Carmack appreciated the memo, though he critiqued two points—suggesting equal emphasis on VR and MR and cautioning against Meta’s perceived obsession with Horizon Worlds.

Apple Aiming to Integrate PSVR 2 Controllers

As reported by Marc Gurman, Apple continues efforts to make PSVR 2 controllers compatible with the Apple Vision Pro. These optional controllers would cater to those looking to play games requiring them on the Apple Vision Pro. Currently, Sony doesn’t sell these controllers separately, but may start if this partnership comes to fruition. While there’s no definite timeline for this, VisionOS 3 at WWDC in June seems a potential announcement time.

Android XR Assures Camera Access

I’ve received confirmation from Google that the Android XR OS will support camera access similar to mobile phones. Developers can utilize both front and rear cameras on headsets, pending user permission verified by a popup. The equivalent of the phone’s back camera will be the headset’s front camera, while the selfie camera function is represented by an avatar face reconstruction using headset sensors. This will allow existing mobile apps to run seamlessly, dealing with either user viewpoint or avatar visuals. This feature is pivotal; with camera access, developers can craft authentic mixed reality experiences while allowing user control over permissions.

Noteworthy Mentions

Quest Game Optimizer Hits 100K Users

Despite challenging times for XR, there’s a bright spot: Quest Game Optimizer, an app facilitating optimal settings on Quest for various applications, has reached 100,000 users, despite requiring sideloading outside the store. Kudos to the app’s creator for achieving this milestone.

John Carmack: Beat Saber Outshines Half-Life: Alyx for XR

John Carmack recently remarked that Beat Saber was significantly more influential for VR adoption than Half-Life: Alyx. While Carmack’s view may hold in terms of sheer adoption, both games were crucial for different audiences and aspects. Alyx drew in hardcore gamers and showcased VR’s immersive capabilities.

Ray-Ban Meta’s Super Bowl Ads Released

Meta has released two star-studded ads for Ray-Ban Meta glasses at the Super Bowl. Although I found the pacing and humor slightly off, they could still boost awareness for smart glasses.

Spatial.io Delves into Gaming

Spatial.io, known for its constant pivots, has recently found success with "Animal Company," a game inspired by Gorilla Tag, marking a significant turn after several shifts from its initial enterprise meeting platform.

Civilization VII Ventures into VR

Exciting news for Civ lovers: Sid Meier’s Civilization VII will be available on Meta Quest in both MR and VR formats. While it might not be what the current Quest market is craving, it’s a delightful announcement, especially for fans like me who nostalgically recall time spent with Civilization II.

Content Updates & More

• Synth Riders adds a Kendrick Lamar Experience for Super Bowl LIX on Apple Vision Pro
• FRENZIES launches a Super Bowl-themed Quest event
• Gorilla Tag’s Birthday Bash celebrates its fourth anniversary
• Harpagun, a new VR arcade game, enters early access on February 13 on Quest
• Project Aeroes, a mixed reality game, debuts on Quest, free for a limited time
• Boxed Out to launch on Quest on March 24
• Aim Assault demo for PC VR to be available on February 13
• Duet, a unique co-op game, is in development by an indie team
• Upload VR shares its latest XR News Round-Up

Steam and Industry Updates

Steam now notifies players if early access games aren’t updated annually.

Stereopsia and AWE Europe combine forces for UnitedXR in Brussels.

Meta’s potential "Desk Mode" for AI on Quest remains uncertain.

Supporting XR Developers

This newsletter sheds light on the challenges XR developers face. We urge you to support the community by purchasing apps, leaving positive reviews, sharing games, and spreading the word. Your support is invaluable!

A Touch of Fun in XR

Humor in the XR space is thriving, with hilarious universal mod usage reasons making rounds, and engaging commentary drawing laughs.

Making a Difference

In lieu of requesting donations for my blog, I urge you to support the Red Cross in addressing the dire humanitarian needs in Ukraine. I express deep gratitude to all my Patreon supporters who have contributed to my efforts.

Support the Red Cross in Ukraine

(Header image by Meta)

Keep supporting XR, and I hope the week ahead is fantastic for all of you!