Quest v60 Update Is BIG

Good morning folks!

I’ve always wondered how Beat Saber made $255 million in just a short period of time while most VR games barely manage to scrape by. I spent dozens of hours uncovering their story and growth secrets and made a detailed Twitter thread about it. You can read it here.

Headlines for people in a hurry:

• 🥽 Quest v60 Update Comes With Some Welcome Changes

• 🏊 FORM Launches AR Visual Coaching For Swimmers

• 📈 Quest 3 Becomes 5th Most-Used Device On Steam

• 💸 Steam VR Fest Is Live With Demos & Discounts

Read time: 3 minutes

TOP STORIES

META

Quest v60 Update Comes With More Boundary Recall Capabilities

The new Quest v60 update brings a lot of improvements including remembering more of your boundaries. Now, if that sounds like your perfect boyfriend, also keep in mind that just like him, you might need to wait some time to get one, as Meta is only rolling out the update slowly.

The enhanced boundary recall is possible with cloud computing capabilities, allowing the headset to remember more boundaries. It also introduces passthrough during app load, replacing the black void with a real-world view for a smoother transition. The update boosts Quest Pro's mixed reality performance, with up to 34% increase in CPU and 19% increase in GPU performance.

Additionally, Horizon Worlds destinations are now listed in the library, and three new home environments are also added. My favorite change is that phone notifications are discontinued in this update (Finally! I’ve had enough of getting work notifications while I’m in the virtual world).

AUGMENTED REALITY

FORM Launches AR Visual Swimming Coach

If you’re a swimmer who gets constantly yelled at by your coach when you’re out of the water and thinks, “What if I can keep getting yelled at underwater as well?”, then we have the perfect product for you!

FORM, a sports wearable technology company, has launched 'HeadCoach,' a first-of-its-kind digital swim coach for its AR Smart Swim Goggles. This innovative platform provides swimmers with real-time, in-goggle coaching, addressing the challenge of technique improvement without a coach's presence.

HeadCoach offers visual coaching via the goggles' AR display, showing technique feedback with metrics like 'FORM Score' and 'HeadCoach Skills.' This technology aims to enhance swimmers' technique awareness, skill development, and performance.

GAMING

A Plethora Of VR Games Launching In December For Quest & PSVR

December 2023 is an exciting month for VR enthusiasts, with a slew of game releases across Meta Quest and PSVR 2 platforms. Asgard's Wrath 2 is the most anticipated out of the list as it comes free with Meta Quest 3 headsets, offering a rich 60+ hour campaign. Hundreds of thousands of Quest 3 buyers have been eagerly waiting for the title’s release.

For Meta Quest, the lineup includes "Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut," "Arizona Sunshine 2," "LEGO Bricktales VR," "Racket Club," and "Towers & Powers." Each of these titles brings a unique flavour to the platform, ranging from action-packed adventures to creative and strategic experiences.

On the PSVR 2 front, gamers can look forward to "Among Us VR," "Ancient Dungeon," "Resident Evil 4 VR mode," "Vertigo 2," "Five Nights At Freddy's: Help Wanted 2," "Not For Broadcast VR," and "Tiger Blade."

NEWS FLASH

STEAM

Steam VR Fest Kicked Off Yesterday

• 🎮 Steam VR Fest December 2023: Steam VR Fest offers deep discounts on top PC VR titles, including popular games like "Hitman 3" and "No Man’s Sky," available until December 11th.

• 📊 Quest 3's Rise in Steam Hardware Survey: Just one month after launch, Meta Quest 3 becomes the 5th most used VR headset on Steam, indicating its growing popularity among PC VR users.

• 🕺 VRChat with Vive XR Elite Body Tracking: VRChat is now available on Vive XR Elite, supporting body tracking via Vive Ultimate Trackers for an enhanced immersive experience.

• 🧱 Lego Sets in VR with VRBricks: VRBricks, a YouTube channel, offers a unique way to view Lego sets in VR, with up to 8K resolution on Meta Quest TV and DeoVR.

• 🌍 DPVR & Schenker Bring E4 VR Headset to Europe: DPVR partners with Schenker Technologies to expand the reach of its E4 VR headset in Europe

BOOKMARKS

Immersive Articles From The Web

• Is the Immersed Visor Even Real?

• Valve's Steam Link For Quest Underscores Just How Much The VR Industry Has Changed

UNREAL MONEY

FUNDING REPORT

Victory XR Raises $2.5 Million

VictoryXR, an edtech company providing immersive education solutions, has successfully completed a $2.5 million investment round.

This funding was led by Hartmann Metaverse Ventures I, specializing in immersive technology, gaming, and extended reality (XR), along with contributions from Juvo Ventures, Tamiami Angels, and Kendall Hunt publishing.

The investment will be utilized to expand the global reach of VictoryXR's 'metaversity' platform. The company, known for integrating XR technologies like AR, VR, and mixed reality, is currently used in over 120 university campuses.

VictoryXR's focus is on enhancing education through technology, including the recent introduction of conversational AI avatars, which represent a significant advancement in remote teaching and quality instruction. The firm has also partnered with major players like Meta, Qualcomm, T-Mobile, Lenovo, HTC Vive, and Pico, strengthening its position in the edtech space

COOL PROJECTS

SPORTS

VR Is Going To Change Sports

WRAP UP

MEME OF THE DAY

“But Can Your Home Do 4K 90 FPS? ”

Have a great week folks.

I can’t wait for Asgard Wrath 2’s release. Some say it is Meta’s most ambitious project to date but I don’t think the gameplay visuals justify that fact. Nevertheless, I’m still waiting to try it out and I’ll let you know how it goes.

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