According to reports in the Financial Times, Meta has begun talks with Magic Leap in the hopes of creating a multiyear deal. The deal’s focus could centre around intellectual property licensing and manufacturing of Magic Leap AR headsets in the United States.   It’s believed that Magic Leap’s intellectual property surrounding custom components like its waveguides and optics is very valuable.  At a time when Meta appears to be doing an about-turn on its metaverse plans after ploughing billions of dollars into projects that are yet to yield results, where does this new deal sit in ..read more

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference starts on June 5 and will run for five days. But after speculations, rumours, and previous uncertainty, will this event see the announcement of the AR/VR capable headset the company has been reportedly developing? Believed to be branded as the Apple Reality Pro, there had been previous doubts over whether Apple would get the same level of hype surrounding the event as when they announced the iPhone back in 2007.  But there are clear signs that Apple is set to make the announcement in this year’s keynote address at 10 am PT on June 5.  Le ..read more

A Meta VR device, codenamed Eureka, has been previewed by Bloomberg correspondent Mark Gurman. Following a hands-on look at the new device, Gurman said that the device feels “far lighter and thinner than the existing Quest 2 from 2020.” Gurman’s preview confirms information shared previously by XR analyst and journalist Brad Lynch. Back in 2022, Lunch shared CAD images of the Quest 3, which showed three pill-shaped sensors at the front of the device. This matches the prototype Gurman has seen.  So, what does Gurman’s hands-on look at the device tell us? And when can we expect to see the M ..read more

After a difficult few months at Meta, there are reports of a shift in focus regarding VR. Following the company’s rebranding around the concept of the metaverse 18 months ago, it appears Meta has been rethinking the hand it wants to play next.  With interest in the metaverse dwindling and big layoffs in Reality Labs, Zuckaberg and Meta have turned their attention toward AI. But where does that leave VR? Now Meta hopes to raise the calibre of the games on offer in the Quest Store and wants to net a title like “Grand Theft Auto” or “Call of Duty.” Along with this comes the news that Meta ha ..read more

Meta’s social VR platform, Horizon Worlds, is now open to teens over 13 in the United States and Canada. The flagship Quest platform was previously only available to users aged 18 and above.  According to Meta, the new age policy will take effect within the “coming weeks”, allowing access to the platform’s entire user base in North America since the Quest device is restricted to 13+.  But opening up Horizon Worlds will mean that the company must make a few vital changes to the platform to safeguard its new younger users. So what will these changes entail? And, has the company mention ..read more

The Vive XR Elite is the latest headset from HTC. Released at the tail end of March this year, the XR Elite is pitched toward the top end of the consumer market, with a comparable retail price to the Meta Quest Pro.  One of the most notable things about the XR Elite, when looking at it in comparison to everything that’s gone before, is how much smaller and lighter it is. But while we’re always told size isn’t everything, the real questions are around whether the XR Elite is up to the task and if it’s worth its £1,300 price point.  With plenty of other headsets on the market and more ..read more

Back in January 2022, there was considerable buzz around the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft; a deal worth a staggering $68.7bn (£55bn)—the largest takeover in the history of video games. Now, 15 months on, the deal has potentially been quashed in the UK by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Activision Blizzard takeover would mean Microsoft will own a vast catalogue, including some of the biggest titles in video game history, including popular mobile apps like Candy Crush Saga, and console favourites like Call of Duty.  Microsoft had wanted to strengthen its ..read more

Microsoft is reportedly axing its social platform, AltspaceVR, along with Mixed Reality Toolkit, its XR interface framework. These changes come into effect as the company lays off thousands of employees.  The news comes in the wake of recent trouble with Microsoft’s major U.S. Army contract, where poor performance from the company’s military XR headsets led to the cancellation of orders by congress.  Reports indicate that 10,000 staff will go, which represents 5% of Microsoft’s current workforce. So, why is this happening? And what does it mean for Microsoft’s VR projects going forwa ..read more

VR was often hot news in 2022. The term “metaverse” became the buzzword of the year, and VR was talked about more than ever. A decade after the formation of Oculus, virtual reality looked set to hit the mainstream.  But 2022 wasn’t necessarily the best year for VR. A mixed offering of headsets hit the market, but many of the major players appeared to be struggling to achieve their own lofty aims.  Of course, there’s more to VR than Meta, and many of the major tech brands have announced exciting new products set to launch in 2023.  With lots happening in the world of virtual real ..read more

HTC has been teasing us all on social media recently with hints about its new headset, including the Tweet “go small, or go home”, which the Taiwanese tech firm shared in October. Now, after an official unveiling at this year’s CES, the wait is over. We know what to expect from HTC’s new VR headset.  The HTC Vive Elite XR is certainly small. The compact standalone headset features a battery pack that can be easily switched out, even weight distribution, and adjustable diopters built-in.  With some impressive specs and technical features, HTC’s new headset looks set to go head-to-head ..read more