🥽 Angry Birds In VR?

PLUS: Meta's new Giant Screen, GTA San Andreas not coming to VR, and more

Author

Joel Johnson
August 16, 2024

Good morning, folks!

We’re just a few months away from the election and candidates are exploiting the s**t out of TV and social media. Y’all can stop sending me your campaign emails. My vote goes to the candidate who can improve the XR industry and ecosystem (and by that, I mean someone who can give me a free Apple Vision Pro). Democracy, baby!

 — Joel Johnson, Founder & Chief Editor

Headlines for people in a hurry:

  • 🖥️ Quest 3: Display Any Device on a Giant Screen Without Latency

  • 🚫 GTA San Andreas VR Put on Indefinite Hold by Meta

  • 🎮 Flat2VR Unveils Four Classic Games Getting VR Makeovers

  • 💰 MixRift Raises $1.6M to Create the 'Angry Birds' of XR

Read time: 3 minutes

TOP STORIES

META

Quest 3: Any Device on a Giant Virtual Screen Minus The Latency

Image Courtesy: UploadVR

Meta just dropped a game-changer for Quest users, and it's all about bringing your favorite devices into VR. Here's the scoop, minus the tech jargon:

  • Meta's new "Quest HDMI Link" app lets you view almost any device's screen in your VR headset. Want to extend your Macbook workflow to a bigger screen? No need to shell out money for an external display!

  • How does it work? You'll need a gadget called a "capture card" that connects your device to the Quest. It’s pretty inexpensive, and you can order it via Amazon or from your local electronics store.

  • Want to see your iPhone on a massive virtual screen? Now you can! Same goes for tablets, game consoles, and more.

  • While it's already possible to view your laptop in a Quest wirelessly using Meta Quest Desktop, Horizon Workrooms, or third-party apps like Virtual Desktop, using this new wired method removes the need for a Wi-Fi network and should have reduced latency.

Why It Matters: This update could make Quest headsets way more versatile. Imagine playing your Nintendo Switch on a cinema-sized screen, or turning your Quest into a giant second monitor for your laptop.

Just remember, folks - it won't work with most streaming services due to copyright protection. So no sneaky attempts at creating your personal VR Netflix theater... yet.

ROCKSTAR GAMES

Meta Puts GTA San Andreas ‘On Hold Indefinitely’

Looks like CJ's journey to VR just hit a major roadblock. Meta and Rockstar have put the brakes on the highly anticipated VR remake of GTA: San Andreas. This is disappointing to a lot of GTA and VR fans. If only there was a game where I could shoot up the entire city just to handle the frustration of hearing this news.

  • Meta confirmed to IGN that development of GTA: San Andreas VR is "on hold indefinitely." That's corporate speak for "don't hold your breath."

  • This comes after nearly three years of radio silence since the project was first announced back in October 2021.

  • Meta's saying they're redirecting resources to other projects.

Why It Matters: This is a major bummer for VR enthusiasts and GTA fans alike. San Andreas in VR could have been a system-seller for Meta's Quest headsets, especially with the rumored Quest 3S on the horizon. It also raises questions about the challenges of bringing beloved classics into VR, even for tech giants like Meta.

FLAT2VR

Flat2VR Announces Their First Four 2D To VR Projects

Speaking about 2D flat games like GTA San Andreas not coming to VR, there is some good news. Flat2VR, the studio that’s on a quest (no pun intended) to bring 2D games to VR, has officially announced its first four projects at the VR Games Showcase. They are:

  • FlatOut: A racing series known for demolition derby-style gameplay and destructible environments.

  • Roboquest: A fast-paced roguelike shooter with comic-style graphics set in a post-apocalyptic world.

  • Wrath: Aeon of Ruin: A 90s-style first-person shooter powered by the Quake engine.

  • Trombone Champ: Unflattened: A VR version of the popular rhythm game, featuring over 50 songs and a single-player campaign.

Why It Matters: Flat2VR Studios is bridging the gap between traditional gaming and VR, potentially bringing a whole new audience into the virtual fold. By adapting beloved titles and surprise hits, they're creating a comfy on-ramp for VR newbies. These adaptations could showcase how VR can enhance and transform existing gaming experiences, potentially driving more interest in VR gaming among traditional gamers.

POLLS

COOL APPS

TRAVEL

Fly The Word With the Google Maps of VR

  • 🌍 Fly: Explore the world in VR with Fly, bringing Google Earth VR to Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro.

  • 🕵️ Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded: Step into the shoes of Agent 47 with new gameplay for this immersive VR experience.

  • 🎮 Fracked: Get ready for action-packed VR combat as Fracked makes its way to Meta Quest.

  • 🔫 Vendetta Forever: A gritty revenge tale comes to VR with intense gunplay and dark themes.

  • 🎸 Metal: Hellsinger VR: Rock out in this rhythm-based shooter set in a heavy metal-inspired world.

  • 🎤 Band Space: Form your own band and jam out in this VR musical experience coming this fall.

  • 🧨 Action Hero VR: Become the ultimate action hero in this explosive VR game.

  • 🌌 Into the Radius: Survive in a mysterious zone filled with dangers in this upcoming PSVR 2 release.

  • 🌲 Silent North: A survival shooter where you must brave the cold and fight off threats in a frozen wilderness.

UNREAL MONEY

FUNDING REPORT

MixRift Secures $1.6M to Create the 'Angry Birds' of Mixed Reality

MixRift, a mixed reality game studio founded in 2023, has announced a $1.6 million pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by Outsized Ventures, Underline Ventures, and SOSV, with SOSV having previously provided an undisclosed amount of funding in May 2024.

Led by CEO Bobby Voicu, CPO David Pripas, and CTO Andrei Vaduva, MixRift aims to develop addictive, easy-to-play mixed reality games. The studio has already released two XR titles: "Hell Horde" for Quest and "Fractured" for both Quest and Apple Vision Pro.

MixRift plans to use the funding to continue game development, with a focus on rapid prototyping and market testing to identify successful game mechanics. The studio's goal is to create engaging MR experiences that appeal to a broad audience, potentially tapping into what they see as a huge untapped market in mixed reality gaming.

This investment reflects growing interest in the mixed reality gaming sector, as investors bet on studios aiming to create the next breakout hit in the evolving XR landscape. MixRift's strategy of focusing on "sticky" game mechanics over specific titles could position them well to capitalize on the expanding mixed reality market.

WRAP UP

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