Meta says it will get rid of Quest's unlisted App Lab and instead make the store much more open. The current Meta Quest Store has faced both criticism and praise for its highly curated console-like approach. That approach avoids the "shovelware flood" problem some other stores suffer from, but also heavily constrains the reach of independent developers, including those with new and interesting ideas Meta's curators don't like but consumers may love. Since 2021 Meta has offered a secondary option for on-platform app sales and distribution called App Lab. App Lab offers hosting, distribution, an ..read more

Meta is partnering with Microsoft's Xbox to create a "limited edition Meta Quest" headset. The announcement comes as Meta also announced it's renaming the Quest software platform to Meta Horizon OS, and letting third-party hardware companies such as ASUS and Lenovo make headsets running it. Meta Horizon OS Will Run On Headsets From ASUS & Lenovo Meta is rebranding its Quest software platform Meta Horizon OS, and it will also run on new headsets from ASUS, Lenovo, and more. UploadVRDavid Heaney Unlike the ASUS and Lenovo headsets which are described as new headsets though, the Xbox head ..read more

Meta is rebranding its Quest software platform to Meta Horizon OS, and opening it up to third-party headset makers. Headsets running the platform will feature a "Built with Meta Horizon OS" sticker on the box. They'll have access to the same core software and platform services as Meta Quest headsets, including Meta's tracking and mixed reality technology and store. As with Quest headsets, using them will require a Meta account. The Meta Quest Store will also be rebranded to Meta Horizon Store. Quest will remain only as the hardware brand for Meta's first-party headsets. Two third-party compan ..read more

Episode 2 of Prehistoric Planet Immersive is out now on Apple Vision Pro. Prehistoric Planet Immersive is an Apple Immersive Video documentary series directed by Jon Favreau, based on his existing flatscreen Apple TV+ series Prehistoric Planet. The Apple Immersive Video format is 180-degree video with 8K resolution, stereoscopic 3D, and spatial audio. It's served from the Apple TV+ subscription service with much higher bitrate than most other immersive video platforms. We highly praised Apple Immerise Video in our Vision Pro review. It's not possible to cast or record Apple Immersive Video tho ..read more

Laser Limbo turns your living space into a mixed reality laser tag arena, and an open beta is available on Quest App Lab. Developed by freeroam.ar, Laser Limbo gives you laser pistols and overlays each person's body with an avatar vest. Previously released as a location-based entertainment experience, the Quest, Laser Limbo features several modes: Coin Chase for collecting cash, the more strategic Team Puzzling, and Shooter, which pits you against AI enemies in solo play or other players. Reminiscent of Laser Dance, each mode also includes laser traps that you must avoid touching. Once you've ..read more

Mannequin, a social VR stealth game, sneaks onto Quest App Lab next month. Supporting five players in online 2v3 matches, Mannequin sees two Agents hunting down shape-shifting aliens. As the aliens, you can freeze to blend in with your surroundings by striking a pose. While an open alpha test is currently ongoing via SideQuest, Fast Travel Games confirmed that's ending on April 28, and it's marking the end with a Discord community tournament. Fast Travel Games confirmed that Mannequin's early access launch includes all four maps, which were previously split up during the Open Alpha ..read more

CONVRGENCE is a post-apocalyptic VR survival shooter reaching Steam Early Access today. Created by solo developer Monkey-With-a-Bomb, CONVRGENCE is a STALKER-esque shooter with horror elements similar to Into The Radius and its upcoming sequel. Playing as a mystical artifact hunter scavenging for loot, each expedition across the Chernokamensk exclusion zone occurs in a procedurally generated location. "Be sure to return to base before duskfall, for when night arrives the hunter becomes the hunted," states the description. Joined by a companion dog who aids you in battle and can scavenge for s ..read more

Smalland: Survive the Wilds VR is a new open-world survival crafting game reaching Quest soon. Released in February on flatscreen platforms, Smalland: Survive the Wilds VR is a single-player adventure that involves exploration, scavenging, crafting and giant insects. Developed by Pocket-Sized Hands, the VR version features a new story that sees you play as a Smallfolk in a giant world. Following the Giants' disappearance, you're tasked with reclaiming the dangerous Overlands. Publisher Merge Games previously announced that, unlike the flatscreen version, the Quest release won't supp ..read more

We’re excited to announce the return of the UploadVR Showcase, and we want to hear about all of the interesting and original games you’ve been working on. UploadVR has been a trusted source for everything VR/AR for the better part of a decade, and it’s an honor every time a developer or publisher chooses us to showcase their most inspiring and compelling projects.  The UploadVR Showcase is brought to you by UploadVR, IGN, and our kind sponsors. Special thanks to our sponsors from the last showcase, especially our generous main sponsor, Perp Games, as well as our supporting sponsors: Timel ..read more

Searching for this week's biggest VR stories? Here's our latest news roundup. With VR hardware, Pimax revealed two new wired PC VR headsets - Crystal Light and Crystal Super. Two undocumented features were discovered in Quest's v64 update. Meta discounted its Quest 2 accessories by 50%, while YouTube on Quest 3 now supports 8K 360° and 180° 3D videos. We also learned that OpenXR 1.1 moved extensions like foveated rendering into its core spec. In VR gaming, we interviewed the Zombie Army VR developers alongside going hands-on with COLD VR, Umurangi Generation VR, Metacity Patrol and Escape ..read more