➀ IO Interactive has announced major upgrades to the PC VR version of HITMAN World of Assassination; ➁ The update includes features like dual-wielding, full ambidexterity, and room-scale implementation; ➂ The team has also made improvements for greater immersion, such as improved two-handed aiming and 3D cutscenes.
Recent #VR news in the semiconductor industry
➀ Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has been officially announced for PS5 with support for PSVR2; ➁ The game is set to release on December 8, 2025; ➂ The title will take advantage of the PlayStation 5 Pro and support PlayStation VR2 with a future update.
➀ UKRI, through Innovate UK, invests £3.6 million in 17 XR projects to develop scalable mental health solutions, focusing on conditions like ADHD, autism, and addiction recovery;
➀ Technologies include virtual reality therapy programs mimicking real-life sessions and smart glasses to assist individuals with depression in daily tasks;
➂ The initiative aims to integrate immersive technology into the UK's formal healthcare system, enhancing care delivery and economic growth.
➀ Microsoft's 'This is an Xbox' campaign promotes the idea that various hardware can access its Game Pass service.
➁ Meta confirmed in April 2024 that it was working with Microsoft to create a limited-edition Meta Quest inspired by Xbox.
➂ Leaked images suggest the upcoming Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition will cost $399 MSRP with 128GB of storage and include an Elite Strap, Xbox wireless controller, and three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
➀ RayNeo Air 3s offers improved sharpness and audio quality over its predecessor;
➁ The design remains similar but still feels slightly cheap;
➂ RayNeo Air 3s provides a compelling AR experience at a lower price point.
➀ Microchip Technology introduces a comprehensive audio-to-haptic reference design tailored for next-generation VR, AR, and gaming devices. This design provides immersive haptic feedback by converting audio input into tactile sensations.
➁ The system features a low-voltage board containing a Bluetooth module (BM83) for wireless synchronization of stereo audio and a microcontroller with DSP for processing and conditioning audio signals. A high-voltage board with amplifiers and a Boost regulator drives up to four haptic actuators.
➂ The reference design is pre-programmed with firmware for immediate use and offers flexibility for customization. It supports battery-powered applications, making it ideal for portable VR and gaming devices.
➀ Researchers from Hanyang University, Yonsei University, and Sogang University in South Korea have developed a silicon-integrated hole transport layer using microlithography to enhance OLED performance without sacrificing energy efficiency.
➁ This innovation significantly improves charge balance, resulting in enhanced luminance and reduced crosstalk in OLED displays.
➂ The new structure achieved an ultra-high resolution of 10,062 pixels per inch (PPI) on a six-inch wafer, opening doors for high-definition OLED displays in VR, AR, smart glasses, wearables, and next-gen smartphones.
➀ Pico is integrating Nvidia GeForce Now into its VR headsets, offering AAA gaming experiences without the need for a powerful PC or console. ➁ The collaboration allows for streaming games directly from Nvidia's GeForce RTX servers, with high-fidelity visuals and smooth gameplay. ➂ The GeForce Now app will be available for download from the Pico Store, supporting up to 1440p resolution and various subscription plans.
➀ After two quarters of declines, Q3 shipments of AR/VR headsets rose 12.8% according to IDC, driven by Meta's Quest 3 and Sony's PSVR2. ➁ Mixed Reality headsets, like the Quest 3, are expected to grow 21.7% in 2025. ➂ Extended Reality devices are forecasted to have a 85.7% CAGR through 2028.
➀ TrendForce estimates that 2024 shipments of VR and MR headsets will increase by 8.8% y-o-y to 9.6 million units; ➁ Three trends are identified: the dominance of low-cost devices, the shift from entertainment accessories to productivity tools, and OLEDoS becoming the preferred display technology for high-end near-eye devices; ➂ Meta leads the VR and MR device shipments with a 73% market share in 2024, driven by the affordable Quest 3S, while the high-end Quest Pro 2 is suspended.
➀ Google has announced Android XR, a new version of the Android platform designed to bring Gemini AI to Android-based headsets and glasses; ➁ The platform promises to extend reality for exploration, connection, and creation; ➂ Samsung will build the first headset, codenamed Project Moohan, which will be available for purchase next year.
➀ A UK consortium is establishing the Virtual Reality Semiconductor Fabrication Training Facility (VRSFT) with a £500,000 Innovate UK grant; ➁ The facility aims to train staff in the semiconductor industry with virtual reality and augmented reality, addressing the growing demand for experts; ➂ VRSFT will provide an immersive virtual model of a modern fabrication facility, allowing trainees to interact with realistic representations of equipment and processes.
➀ Tesla is hiring for its AI Teleoperation team; ➁ Candidates will use advanced VR rigs to remotely operate and train robotaxis and humanoid robots; ➂ The team is responsible for providing remote access to robotaxis and humanoid robots, operating autonomously in challenging environments.
➀ The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) has developed a Universal Display Data Converter (UDDC) for seamless image data transfer to microdisplays. ➁ The UDDC converts various video interfaces to a standard for driving microdisplays and facilitates development in AR and VR. ➂ The system uses an FPGA and supports industry-standard video protocols, including MIPI D-PHY+DSI and SMPTE SDI.
➀ Andrew 'Boz' Bosworth, Meta's CTO and Reality Labs chief, has publicly apologized to Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus, who was fired from the company in 2017 due to political reasons. Boz admitted that his previous statements about Luckey's departure were incorrect and expressed gratitude for Luckey's impact on the company and VR development. ➁ Former Oculus CTO John Carmack expressed regret for not supporting Luckey more at Facebook, suggesting that a unified front of Oculus founders could have changed the outcome. ➂ After a nearly five-month online rift, Luckey was invited back to Meta for the first time since his departure in 2017, where he received a face-to-face apology from Bosworth and had the opportunity to try out Meta's Orion AR glasses prototype.
➀ Meta has announced the Meta Quest 3S, a more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3; ➁ The Quest 3S retains the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor and has a lower price due to cheaper lenses; ➂ The headset lacks the advanced 4K pancake lenses and has a smaller field of view.
➀ Shipments of AR/VR headsets in Q2 2024 fell 28.1% year-on-year to 1.1 million units, with IDC forecasting a 1.5% decrease in full-year shipments. ➁ Next year, sales are expected to rise 41.4% due to new technology and more affordable devices. ➂ Mixed reality (MR) headsets are predicted to grow, driven by advancements in technology and consumer-friendly designs.
➀ The Meta Quest 3S is expected to offer powerful performance similar to the Meta Quest 3 but with a more affordable price by excluding controllers, relying primarily on hand-tracking for control. ➁ This decision could position the Quest 3S as a standalone computing option rather than a gaming console, similar to Apple's Vision Pro. ➂ Despite the lack of controllers, users can still enhance their experience by purchasing Touch Plus controllers separately, though this may narrow the gap between the Quest 3 and 3S.